Assigned Mentorship

Assigned Mentorship: Making the Most of Your Mentor Relationship

Mentorship is a cornerstone of your Springboard experience. Your assigned mentor is an industry expert who will guide you through your program, providing valuable insights, feedback, and support. Building a genuine, professional relationship with your mentor will help you maximize the benefits of their guidance. This article covers everything you need to know to make the most of your mentorship.

What Can You Expect from Your Mentor?

Your mentor is:

An Industry Expert: They bring real-world experience and insights to your learning journey.
A Guide and Technical Advisor: Mentors help you develop technical skills, understand concepts, and navigate your course completion.
A Supportive Resource: While they won’t give you all the answers, they’ll guide you toward solutions and provide feedback on your work.

How to Build a Strong Mentor Relationship

Be Prepared and Punctual: Share your call agenda in advance of each call and arrive at your calls on time.
Be an Active Participant: Engage in discussions, ask clear questions, and be open to giving and receiving feedback.
Listen and Reflect: Take notes during your calls and consider your mentor’s advice carefully.
Set Clear Goals: Make your learning objectives and needs known so your mentor can support you more effectively by personalizing their mentoring approach.
Respect Their Time: Mentors have their own schedules. Respect their time by communicating any scheduling conflicts in advance. And keep communication outside calls professional and concise.

Suggested Questions to Ask Your Mentor:

What was most challenging when transitioning into your field?
How do you approach problem-solving in your role?
What do you think differentiates a great candidate from a good one in interviews?
Can you recommend additional resources to deepen my understanding of [topic]?

Communicating with Your Mentor

During Regular Calls

Calls are scheduled for 30 minutes via Springboard Zoom. You can join through the Mentor Call tab on your dashboard. Prepare an agenda at least 24 hours before your call to stay focused and maximize your time. Also, don’t forget to share links to your Google Docs in advance.

PLEASE NOTE: Mentors have a 5-minute grace period to leave the call if you’re not present on time, therefore, it’s essential to be on time for calls, and email them directly in advance, with the Springboard Advising Team cc’d, if you expect to be late.

Outside of Scheduled Calls

Communication outside of scheduled calls is not mandatory, and mentors set their own boundaries. We recommend discussing expectations for asynchronous communication during your first call. If you need to reach out, email is the preferred method, and you can find your mentor’s email on the dashboard.

Best Practices:

Be clear and concise in your messages.
Respect their response time and availability.
Align on communication preferences early on.

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not attend your scheduled mentor calls, your assignments will not be graded; calls are required to provide feedback and validate learnings.

Providing Feedback to Your Mentor

Giving constructive feedback is key to optimizing your mentorship experience. Here are some tips:

Focus on Behavior: Talk about actions and outcomes, not the person themselves.
Be Specific: Clearly describe what is working well, what could stop, and what could be improved.
Offer Solutions: Suggest alternative approaches that might work better for you.

Example:
“I find it really helpful when we review [x] together. Could we spend a bit more time on that during our next call?”

If you’re unsure how to approach feedback, the Advising Team is here to help! Reach out to advising@springboard.com for support.

Capstone Project Support

How Can My Mentor Help With My Capstone Projects?

Your mentor is your primary point of contact for capstone guidance. They can:

Help you brainstorm viable and meaningful project ideas.
Provide feedback as you develop and refine your project.
Offer guidance on structuring and executing your work.
Review and assess your final capstone submission.

How Do I Pick an Idea?

Start by exploring topics you're passionate about. Research similar projects and bring your findings to your mentor. Sharing concrete examples will help generate a more productive discussion and lead to a stronger project direction.

What If I Want to Change My Capstone Project?

If you and your mentor decide that a different capstone project would be a better fit, feel free to draft a new proposal and share it with them. As long as both you and your mentor agree, you can move forward with the new project.

Tips from Mentors on Capstone Projects:

Avoid vague or overly broad project ideas. Get specific to receive more actionable feedback.
Choose something original and interesting—it will stand out more on your resume.
Don’t focus solely on complexity. Aim to showcase your skills and learning in a clear, meaningful way.
Consider writing a blog, Medium post, or Kaggle kernel to showcase your project work.

Remember: you are the driver of your education. Your mentor is there to guide you, but it’s your responsibility to lead your learning and research.

Troubleshooting Mentor Issues

My Mentor Isn’t Responding

Be Patient: They may be busy or experiencing challenges.
Follow Up: Send a polite, respectful reminder.
Contact Advising: If you still don’t hear back after 72 hours, email advising@springboard.com for assistance.

I Don’t Feel a Good Connection

If the mentorship dynamic isn’t working, start by giving direct, respectful feedback to your mentor. If things don’t improve after a couple of calls, reach out to the Advising Team to discuss possible next steps, including mentor rematching.

I Missed a Mentor Call

If you miss a scheduled call, it is considered taken and cannot be made up. Always communicate in advance if you know you’ll miss a session. Chronic rescheduling may result in losing the call, so plan responsibly.

Making the Most of Mentor Calls

Preparing for Your First Call

Introduce yourself and share your background.
Clarify your goals and expectations for the course.
Set communication preferences.

Setting an Agenda

Draft your agenda at least 24 hours before the call.
Include key topics and questions you want to cover.
Prioritize items to ensure the most important topics are discussed.

Following Up After Calls

Summarize key takeaways and action items.
Implement feedback and share progress during your next call.
Agree on the next call agenda with your mentor support

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Switch Mentors?

Ideally, you’ll work with the same mentor throughout your course, as switching may slow your progress. We encourage you to have an open conversation with your mentor about your learning needs and their approach. Our mentors are committed to supporting you and will tailor their guidance to best fit your learning style. If the mentoring connection still doesn't work for you and you had at least two calls with them, a rematch may be considered. Contact the Advising Team to discuss your concerns and explore next steps.

Can I Get a Recommendation from My Mentor?

Recommendations are at the mentor’s discretion and depend on your relationship. Be professional and thoughtful when making such requests.

Can I Stay in Touch After the Program?

If your mentor is open to it, feel free to connect on LinkedIn after completing the course!

Need More Support?

The Advising Team is here to help with any mentorship-related questions or challenges. Reach out to us at advising@springboard.com if you’re feeling unsure or need guidance.

Your mentor is a vital part of your learning journey—build a genuine, respectful relationship to make the most of it!