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Mentor Match Program

Available only to AHE members, the MyAHE Mentor Match provides a tool for environmental services professionals to connect with more experienced professionals in the field. The process of mentoring is as rewarding for the mentor as the mentee. You are able to use your experience in a new way and contribute to the success of someone working in the very same field you are.

Additionally, you may learn something new yourself! As a mentee, a mentoring relationship can help you with career planning, working through a particularly challenging issue, or simply finding an encouraging role model. As a mentor, guiding the next generation of EVS professionals can be an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience.

No matter what you’re looking for, MyAHE Mentor Match will help you to connect with and learn from your peers. To serve as a mentor or mentee, join AHE today!

1

Visit MyAHE

Complete your user profile for the Mentor Match program.

2

Sign Up

Fill out the form to become a Mentor, Mentee, or sign up for both!

3

Search

Use the Mentor Match tool to search for a mentor or mentee.

4

Match

Find someone you think would be a good match? Send a request!

Start Now

Mentorship Plan & Guidelines

This plan outlines a general framework. Both mentors and mentees should actively participate in shaping the specific activities and timelines that best suit their individual needs and goals.

Key Considerations:

  • Flexibility: This plan is an outline and should be adapted to your specific needs and goals.
  • Communication: Regular and open communication is crucial for a successful mentorship.
  • Mutual Respect: Both mentors and mentees should approach the relationship with mutual respect and a commitment to learning and growth.
  • Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information shared during mentorship sessions.

  • Work with your mentor/mentee to arrange your meetings and set expectations.

    • Relationships typically last about six months but you are free to talk more frequently depending upon your schedules and needs.
    • Meetings typically take place once a month for about 30-60 minutes but even brief phone calls or e-mail exchanges can make a big difference.
    • Discuss and set communication methods and schedule.

    Develop a plan – share career journeys, goals, areas for improvement and what you are looking for - career planning, working through a particularly challenging issue, or simply finding a role model.

    • What do you both wish to get out of the mentorship?

    Network – connect on MyAHE and share relevant contacts within network that may help with goals.

  • Follow up/track progress on goals with each call. Discuss challenges, lessons learned, and achievements.

    Provide constructive feedback, support and guidance.

    Adjust goals as needed.

    If timing allows, attend a Conversation Circle together allowing for further discussion and connections with peers.

  • Discuss progress on goal and long-term plan for maintaining goals.

    Develop a plan for maintaining contact and leveraging the mentorship experience in the future.

    Adjust goals as needed.

    • Potential ongoing support mechanisms (e.g., occasional check-ins, introductions to other professionals).

Tips

  • If you have at least 5 years of EVS experience, you should be able to assist a peer who is newer to the job. In many ways a closer gap in experience is beneficial because you can still remember some of the same things they might be experiencing. The best match for a mentee is not always the person with the most years’ experience or highest level title, it’s someone who can relate to the person and help them move their career forward.
  • Once you do find a match, click on that member's name, the link will bring you to their profile page. Look around. If you think it's a good match, look under their profile image for the Mentor Match badge, which when clicked will allow you to request a connection.
  • You can be both a mentor and a mentee. Just go in and complete both forms and you can be set up for both. If done right, the experience on both sides can be a benefit to everyone!
  • "I would like to sign up to be mentored, but I am so new to the field I worry about where to start." The mentoring program is designed to help all levels of experience in the healthcare environmental services field. Your level of experience will be matched appropriately to a mentor so that if you are new to EVS, you are matched with someone with more experience, but not so much that they can’t relate to your situations.