Mentoring is an active partnership between committed AAPC members to foster professional growth and career development. For participants to have an effective and successful relationship, both individuals must understand the expectations and considerations of the partnership. A successful mentoring program requires both the mentor and mentee to be active and committed participants.

How does the Mentorship Program work?

AAPC has partnered with a third-party mentoring software platform, MentorCity, to provide free online mentoring matching to AAPC members. At different stages of your life, you will need advice on diverse topics, depending on your personal life, career path, and specific projects. At other times, you may be perfectly positioned to help someone else by sharing your expertise and experience. MentorCity creates a community that enables these mentoring give-and-take relationships. The website offers matches of mentees to mentors based on your selected filters of priority, including specific industry positions, job functions, geographic locations, languages, genders, and/or preferred meeting formats.

Use the MentorCity link at the bottom of the page to create your profile with MentorCity and start matching with potential mentors/mentees. The fastest way to create a MentorCity profile is to import your information directly from LinkedIn.

Why should I become a mentor?

Expertise grows stale and complacent without opportunities to use it. Exercise your leadership and professionalism by sharing what you've learned with those who are still learning it. This process will help you grow more than you thought possible, and your positive influence will help shape the workforce of tomorrow.

When your mentor profile is complete with MentorCity, you may start receiving invitations to become someone's mentor.

Mentor expectations

• Has at least 5 years of experience in the applicable field of expertise

• Learns about mentee, including career and personal goals, strengths and weaknesses, etc.

• Guides mentee to create clear goals and steps to achieve these goals

• Asks questions to help mentee devise their own solutions instead of telling mentee what to do

• Shares reliable, career-related resources

• Is NOT responsible for personal introductions, job placement/interviews, or training

Why should I become a mentee?

Set yourself apart by honing your skills and receiving honest feedback from a great mentor. This process will require growth, which can be challenging, but the more positive change is made, the greater the reward.

When your mentee profile is complete with MentorCity, you can search for mentors that match criteria that are important to you, such as specialized skills/development areas, industries, job functions, languages, locations, etc. Once you find a potential match, you can invite the mentor to an initial meeting through the MentorCity platform.

Mentee expectations

• Takes lead on the relationship, driving their own development

• Clearly explains desired ultimate objectives to mentor to facilitate goal-setting

• Seeks feedback often, taking suggestions and constructive criticism with humility and appreciation

• Understands that mentorship is about meeting goals toward professional growth and does NOT fundamentally include personal introductions, job placement/interviews, or training

Mentor and mentee expectations

• Contribute the necessary time to foster a successful mentoring relationship

• Actively listen to each other to appropriately fulfill respective roles

• Communicate clearly, positively, specifically, and succinctly

• Set healthy boundaries from the beginning regarding length of relationship and meetings, acceptable times and forms of communication, and regular meeting schedule

• Maintain confidentiality and respect each other's privacy

• Keep commitments

• Evaluate the mentoring relationship regularly, communicating needs and updating goals accordingly