Mentor Program FAQs

Mentor Match FAQs

GENERAL

What is Mentor Match?

Mentor Match is the latest addition to an expanding line-up of our services to support members’ professional development needs. It is an online tool – including a searchable database – that facilitates the establishment of mentoring relationships. It is user-driven, allowing registered Mentees to search among registered Mentors using specified criteria to find individuals whose experience and expertise match areas in which they wish to be mentored. 

Is there a fee associated with using Mentor Matching?

There is no extra charge to use this resource. Mentor Match is a benefit of membership and is available only to members. 

How are Mentors and Mentees matched?

Members must first enroll as a Mentor, Mentee, or both. During the enrollment process, members will select preferences for various demographics to establish their personal criteria.

Matching recommendations will be provided to the Mentee in your Profile under Mentoring. The Mentee will click the names of the potential Mentors to view their profiles. Once the Mentee has decided on a Mentor, they will click on the Mentor badge (seen below the registered Mentor's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentor. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentor alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentor. The Mentor will be able to accept or decline the request.

How long does the mentoring relationship last?

IAFP asks that you commit to a 12-month relationship starting June 1 and concluding May 30 of the following year. We recommend that you and your Mentor agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship.

FOR MENTORS

Each person has a unique set of skills and experience to share with others. Whether you are a Ph.D. student, a newbie in an industry, or a professional with many years of experience. You have lessons that another person can draw on!

How do I become a Mentor?

If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Mentor. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.

Who are the Mentees?

Mentees are IAFP members of all career stages that can draw upon your unique set of skills and experience to enhance their careers.

Can I have more than one Mentee?

IAFP asks that you select no more than two Mentoring relationships and that you be judicious in selecting only Mentees who are most suited to learn from your expertise and experience. You can limit the number of Mentee requests you are willing to accept on the Mentoring enrollment page.

How will I know if a Mentee has selected me as their Mentor?

You will receive an email from the Mentee requesting you to be their Mentor. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request.

Is it okay to reject a request?

Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If a potential Mentee has misinterpreted information in your profile, you may find him/her to be an inappropriate match. If you want to decline a request, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.

What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?

Go to the "Mentor Enrollment" page, click the “Mentor Status” link then click on the check-box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any Mentee requests at the moment, and your mentoring profile will not be included in a Mentee’s search for a Mentor.  It is your responsibility to communicate your availability to your existing Mentees.

How do I end a mentoring relationship?

If the mentoring relationship is complete, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”

If the mentoring relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your Mentee. Go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”

What are the expectations for participating Mentors?

IAFP asks for a 12-month commitment. We expect that you will fulfill your commitment to developing at least one mentoring relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from Mentees in a timely manner, and that you communicate with your Mentees as agreed upon by both you and your Mentees.

How much time will I need to invest as a Mentor?

We recommend that you and your Mentees agree to meet at least once a month. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or email exchanges with you can make a big difference to your Mentees. The annual meeting also offers a convenient venue for getting together with your Mentees over coffee or lunch.

What benefits do I receive from the organization if I participate as a Mentor in the program?

All Mentors are volunteers. As an active program participant, you will receive a ribbon on your Profile page identifying you as a Mentor.

FOR MENTEES

How do I become a Mentee?

If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Mentee. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.

Who are the Mentors?

Mentors are IAFP members who have volunteered their time to support other members' careers.

Can I have more than one Mentor?

We recommend limiting to one Mentor per mentorship period. Please keep in mind that Mentors have limited time to offer and may have other Mentoring relationships.

How do I find a Mentor?

Once you have enrolled as a Mentee, you will receive Mentor recommendations in your Profile under Mentoring. You may also go to the "Find a Mentor" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentor search. Click on the Mentors' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentor badge (seen below the Mentor's profile image) to send the Mentor an email request.

What should I do if I don’t hear from the Mentor I requested?

If you don’t hear from the Mentor within one or two weeks, feel free to contact them using the contact information found on their profile page. You may also contact Dina Siedenburg at dsiedenurg@foodprotection.org. If you are a Student Member Mentee please reach out to your SPDG Networking Chair.

What if the Mentor isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?

Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, Mentors and Mentees don’t always "fit."  If this happens, we suggest that you discuss your decision honestly and kindly with your Mentor; thank them for their time then start a new Mentor search. You may also reach out to Dina Siedenburg at dsiedenburg@foodprotection.org.

Where can I meet with my Mentor?

It is up to you and your Mentor to decide how, when, and where you want to pursue your mentoring relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or virtually. The annual meeting offers a great opportunity to meet in person.

Getting Started Resources

The Mentor Match program will provide you with resources and topics on a recurring basis to help facilitate your conversations.

IAFP Connect has created Communities for Mentors and Mentees where they can share questions, discussion, and resources. You will automatically be included in the Community when you enroll in Mentor Match.