We are looking for experienced communication professionals with at least five years of experience. Mentors benefit from learning new tools and techniques and understanding local cultures from the region’s bright young minds, and share their knowledge of the industry with the next generation of public relations practitioners.
Mentors must be a MEPRA member in good standing.
Mentor FAQs
When does the program start and finish?
The MEPRA Mentorship Program will start in April 2014 and end in May 2015.
What is my commitment during that time?
You are expected to meet with your mentee in-person at least once a month. You are able to contact your mentee via email, telephone or Skype, if this has been agreed upon by both parties.
How do you match mentees to mentors?
Our Mentorship Program committee reviews each application and determines which mentor will best fit your goals. We look at various aspects, including location, career goals, interests, language and other information to make sure your mentee will meet your expectations.
Do I have to be a MEPRA member?
Yes. The program is just one of the benefits of being a member of MEPRA.
What should I do with my mentee?
We suggest the first meeting be at your workplace, so they can see what the inside of a public relations team looks like. After that, you can meet them for coffee or continue to meet at your office, or a mutually convenient location. If you have a work event coming up, it would be a fantastic learning opportunity to bring them along – whether that’s a conference, a board meeting, or a workshop/ seminar. This type of insight is invaluable to students and young professionals.
What should we talk about?
Work and your experiences! Talk to them honestly about your current role, how you got to where you are and what you look for in new employees. You can (and should) tell them about the challenges and the good things that come with your role. A good topic of conversation starter is introducing them to an issue you are currently dealing with and brainstorming solutions.
Can we meet more than is suggested?
Of course! The Program is meant to build strong, lasting relationships between each mentor and mentee pairing. If you don’t have the time to meet more than once a month, that’s okay. Mentees will benefit from all types of communication – email, Skype, telephone – in addition to the regular monthly in-person meeting.
My mentee is not living up to my expectations, what should I do?
Many students and young professionals may not be familiar with what is expected of them. Try to guide them as best you can. If this doesn’t work, feel free to get in touch with the Mentorship Program committee to resolve the situation.
What if I can’t complete the program?
Unexpected circumstances happen, and we understand that. However, with the small time commitment and the short timeframe, we hope anyone applying for the program is doing so expecting to complete the program in its entirety.
Are they expecting a job?
No. Mentees are told from the beginning that the program is not for them to get a job, but to help them gain a better understanding of the communication industry. If you happen to like your mentee enough to offer them a job, great, but it’s is not expected of you.
Are you looking for specific types of public relations professionals?
No, the only criterion is that you are a member of MEPRA and have more than five years of communication work experience. Beyond that, we want a good range of public relations professionals, in public, non-profit and private sectors, working for large organizations and small.