Mentors

BE THE HARBINGERS OF CHANGE

Can you be a BIMP mentor?

Are you a pharmaceutical/ biotechnology/ scientific industry professional? Are you willing to share your knowledge and experiences to facilitate the career goals of our mentees?

If your answer is YES, BIMP is the right medium for you!

Eligibility

Industry professionals who fulfill the following criteria are eligible to participate in BIMP:

>0 years industry experience
Active engagement in pharmaceutical or healthcare industries
Willingness to donate time and effort for the upliftment of our mentees
Large professional network and updated availability on professional social networks (e.g. LinkedIn and Bloomberg)

Mentor-Mentee Relationship

Like all relationships, your relationship with your mentee will require a lot of work and will hopefully flourish and last a lifetime. We suggest some ice breaking conversations to begin with.

Get to Know your Mentee

Ask thoughtful questions about the mentee’s interests, experiences and background.
Follow up on any important steps they have taken, such as a job interview and remark on their learning.
Be an avid listener, avoid interrupting and show interest in your demeanour and by providing feedback.

Share your Story

Start with building trust and rapport with your mentee through personal anecdotes.
Talk about your journey and any important events that shaped your life.
Share your mistakes and what you learnt from them.

Offer Options versus Solutions

Avoid giving quick solutions. Ask the mentee what they are thinking of and help them process their own ideas into actions.
Suggest things they may try by using phrases such as, “Have you looked into…” or “Something I found helpful when I was at uni…”. Avoid using direct speech such as, “You should…” or “You need to…”.
Remember, often times people will not do what we say, so don’t get discouraged if your mentee does not heed your advice.

Be a Coach!

Encourage your mentee to take risks. They may need a little push, but it will help them in the long run.
Students have much to learn from a professional like you – everything from how to dress to being on time.
Don’t hesitate to critique your mentee if they are not behaving in a professional manner – it could make a huge difference for their first interview, job and other life experiences.

Mentorship Roadmap

Each mentor-mentee relationship is unique and the two of you must build it together. Remember to iterate your individual goals and expectations at the very beginning.

Each mentee is provided with a similar suggestion sheet.

Career Conversations

Discuss your educational background and the role of educational preparation in your field
Share information about a current event or issue in your field
Schedule a workplace shadowing visit during the university break period, if appropriate

Tell Your Story

Share how you have balanced personal life and career and what to expect
Discuss what you would have done differently at any career/education point if you had to do it over
Talk about how you have dealt with intercultural workplace challenges

Networking Pursuits

Introduce your mentee to colleagues or other contacts
Attend a professional association meeting or conference together
Guide your mentee in how to conduct an informational interview

Higher Study Consultations

Share what you gained as a result of your postgraduate studies
Discuss how you worked with your advisors
Tell the mentee about how you prepared for your transition from academics to the professional world

Job Search Process

Critique the mentee’s resume and cover letter
Practice for the main event via mock interviews
Offer guidance on where to best look for job/internships in your field

Professional conduct

Professionals participating in mentoring programs are expected to observe good conduct in accord with the culture of respect. We realize that not all mentoring relationships will be productive. If a mentor deems a mentoring relationship to be unsuccessful, they should inform both the trainee and the program organizers. BioPatrika reserves the right to remove a mentor from the program any time at the sole discretion of the BioPatrika mentoring advisory committee.

Become a BIMP MENTOR

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