Most mentoring programs, including the IAA's, use an application process for selecting participants. You can create your own application based on the requirements you have established in your Qualifications Descriptions. A copy of the IAA's Mentor and Mentee Applications are available in the templates section of this website. You can use all or part of these applications for your own. If you choose to create a variation, here are some tips for creating a useful application form:

• Gather complete contact information;
  
  
• Have the applicant list job experience, as well as perceived skills and abilities, personal or professional strengths and challenges;
  
  
• Include a way for applicants to reflect on what they have to offer in relationship to the criteria;
  
  
• Ask questions that help the applicant clearly state why they want to participate and what they anticipate gaining as a result;
  
  
• Mentors should be asked to describe what they can offer a mentee;
  
  
• Mentees should be asked what strength and skills they would like in a mentor;
  
  
• Each applicant could be asked to briefly describe their ideal mentoring relationship; and
  
  
• Be sure that the applicant includes personal or professional goals for participation as well as their desired outcomes.
  
  

Do not be afraid of asking too many or too pointed questions. It is important that you have a clear understanding of each candidate, their readiness to participate, their desire and ability to enter into this highly interactive process, and their clarity about the program's goals as well as their own.

Like the IAA applications included here, there should be a place to sign the application. It may also be prudent to have them acknowledge that submitting an application does not guarantee a placement in the program. It is difficult at the outset to know if there will be either enough mentors or mentees applying to make matches for everyone. Some people may feel rejected or that they were not qualified enough to participate. It is important for potential applicants to know that the matchmaking process has many complex factors and that making an appropriate match is preferable to making any match.

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Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation
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Chicago, Illinois 60601
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info@artsalliance.org