Tailored Advice, Not Platitudes

Mentors should recall the unfortunate ease with which they can offer general advice to those who are essentially unknown—but not unknowable—persons requesting their assistance, and refrain from speaking too quickly.

In worst case scenarios, even mentors with impeccable intentions can resort to an undemanding reliance on platitudes instead of the tailored advice that depends on a solidly grounded and detailed informational profile of the mentee.

To prevent the use of generalities, mentors can specifically utilize the data provided by mentees in the initial sessions regarding such basic matters as prior education, training, and work experience as a factual foundation.

In addition, the views of mentees regarding their career and academic aspirations should be solicited directly. Even in the preliminary stages of interpersonal interaction, it is important to ensure that the planning effort is based on a coherent, data-based model of reality.