GENERAL
What is the SQA Mentoring Program in SQA Connect?
The SQA Mentoring Program is one of our services to support members’ professional development needs. It is an online tool – including a searchable database – that facilitates the establishment of mentoring relationships. It is user-driven, allowing registered Mentees to search among registered Mentors using specified criteria to find individuals whose experience and expertise match areas in which they wish to be mentored. Likewise, registered Mentors can search for and identify potential Mentees.
Is there a fee associated with the SQA Mentoring Program?
The Mentoring Program is a benefit of membership and is available only to SQA members. There is no extra charge to use this resource.
What is the difference between training and mentoring?
Training is generally delivered according to a predetermined curriculum, with the trainee carrying the burden of meeting the curriculum's deliverables. Mentoring is a more customized activity, that assigns deliverables to the Mentor as well as to the Mentee. In addition, the role of Mentor may be to serve as a "role model," whereas the role of a trainer is generally to deliver a specific content without having a "partnership" with the trainee.
What is the difference between consulting and mentoring within the context of this program?
Mentoring, in the context of SQA's Mentoring Program, is structured with the intent to provide guidance to the Mentee that is aimed at their personal development. Consulting involves a contractual agreement that generally revolves around specific tasks to be performed for the betterment of a company. The Mentoring Program is not intended to be used to provide no-cost advice at the company level.
How are Mentors and Mentees matched?
Members must first enroll as a Mentor, Mentee or both. During the enrollment process, members will select preferences for various demographics to establish their personal criteria.
A registered Mentee will visit the “Find a Mentor” page and fill in their search criteria to search for currently enrolled Mentors. The Mentee will click the names of the potential Mentors to view their profiles. Once the Mentee has decided on a Mentor, they will click on the Mentor button (seen below the registered Mentor's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentor. An email will be sent to the Mentor alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentor. The Mentor will be able to accept or decline the request. Please note: You may want to return to the search regularly during the application window to search for Mentors if you do not find a good match initially. More Mentors may be applying all the time, and you will get different search results depending on the day you search! Similarly, you may want to request a suitable Mentor as soon as you identify one - if you wait, another Mentee may request them instead.
A registered Mentor can also visit the “Find a Mentee” page and fill in their search criteria to search for currently enrolled Mentees. The Mentor will click the names of the potential Mentees to view their profiles. Once the Mentor has decided on a Mentee, they will click on the Mentee button (seen below the registered Mentee's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentee. An email will be sent to the Mentee alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentee. The Mentee will be able to accept or decline the request. Please note: While a Mentor can request a Mentee, it is more common for Mentees to find and request Mentors. Mentees should take ownership of this process and not necessarily wait for a Mentor to request them.
How long does a mentoring relationship last?
Mentoring partnerships are actively supported by SQA for six months. The time spent on deliverables is dependent on the goals and availability of the participants. Participants may choose to continue their relationship beyond the SQA-supported time frame on their own.
How will I communicate with my partner? Will we need to meet face-to-face?
Communication may be in person, via phone, e-mail, video chat, text or instant message, or other form of communication. The method of communication will be determined by the partners involved, and communications are at the expense of the participants. Examples of communication methods that partners have used include: Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, SMS text messaging, WhatsApp, AOL Instant Messenger, and more.
Will the personal and professional information I share through the Mentoring Program be kept confidential?
Yes. All program applicants are required to sign a confidentiality statement at the time they apply. In addition, confidentiality statements are built into the MPC Standard Operating Procedures. Finally, all participants should adhere to all applicable privacy policies and procedures instituted by their employers.
FOR MENTORS
How do I become a Mentor?
If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Mentor. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your Mentoring profile.
Do I have to be a subject matter expert to be a Mentor in the SQA program?
Subject matter expertise helps, but to mentor a junior-level QA professional, you only need to know what resources are available and where to direct the Mentee.
Who are the Mentees?
Mentees are other members who need you to help support their careers.
Can I have more than one Mentee?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only Mentees who are most suited to learn from your expertise and experience. You can limit the number of Mentee requests you are willing to accept on the Mentor enrollment page.
How do I find Mentees?
Usually, Mentees will find you. But if you want to proactively search for a Mentee who you will be able to help, you can do that too! Once you have enrolled as a Mentor, go the Find a Mentee page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentee search. Click on the Mentees' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentee button (seen below the Mentee's profile image) to send the Mentee an email request.
How will I know if a Mentee has selected me as their Mentor?
You will receive an email from the Mentee requesting you to be their Mentor. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request.
Is it okay to reject a request?
Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to at least have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If a potential Mentee has misinterpreted information in your profile, you may find them to be an inappropriate match. If you want to decline a request, go to the My Mentoring Relationships page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.
As a Mentor, how many hours am I expected to spend communicating with my Mentee during the six-month partnership?
There is no set requirement; however, in Program evaluations, Mentors have indicated that they typically communicate with their Mentees from one to four times per month. Seventy percent report spending less than 1 hour per week in communication, research, and preparing materials for their partnership; thirty percent report 1-2 hours weekly.
What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?
Go to the Mentor Enrollment page, click the “Mentor Status” link and then click on the check box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any Mentee requests at the moment, and your mentoring profile will not be included in a Mentee’s search for a Mentor. It is your responsibility to communicate your availability to your existing Mentees as well as to uncheck this box when you are available again.
How do I end a mentoring relationship?
If the mentoring relationship is complete after six months or so, go to the My Mentoring Relationships page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
If the mentoring relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your Mentee. Go to the My Mentoring Relationships page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
What are the expectations for participating Mentors?
We expect that you will fulfill your commitment to develop at least one mentoring relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from Mentees in a timely manner and that you communicate with your Mentees as agreed upon by both you and your Mentees.
How much time will I need to invest as a Mentor?
We recommend that you and your Mentees agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or email exchanges with you can make a big difference to your Mentees. The SQA Annual Meeting also offers a convenient venue for getting together with your Mentees over coffee or lunch.
What benefits do I receive from the organization if I participate as a Mentor in the program?
All Mentors are volunteers. As an active program participant, you will receive a ribbon identifying you as a Mentor. If you hold an RQAP credential, you will also have the opportunity to claim RQAP re-registration credits for each completed mentoring partnership, and all program participants who complete a six-month partnership will also have the opportunity to claim a certificate documenting their program participation.
FOR MENTEES
How do I become a Mentee?
If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Mentee. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your Mentoring profile.
Who are the Mentors?
Mentors are other members who have volunteered their time to support other members' careers.
Can I have more than one Mentor?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only Mentors who are most suited to your mentoring needs. Please keep in mind that Mentors have limited time to offer and may have other Mentoring relationships.
How do I find a Mentor?
Once you have enrolled as a Mentee, go the the Find a Mentor" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Mentor search. Click on the Mentors' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentor button (seen below the Mentor's profile image) to send the Mentor an email request.
What should I do if I don’t hear from the Mentor I requested?
If you don’t hear from the Mentor within one or two weeks, feel free to follow up with them using the contact information found on their profile page.
What if the Mentor isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?
Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, Mentors and Mentees don’t always "fit." If this happens, we suggest that you discuss your decision honestly and kindly with your Mentor, thank them for their time, and then start a new Mentor search.
Where can I meet with my Mentor?
It is up to you and your Mentor to decide how, when, and where you want to pursue your mentoring relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or electronically. The SQA Annual Meeting offers a great opportunity to meet in person.