Luke shared his experiences of mentoring over the years. He has mentored, and managed several people and was also heavily involved in running the Brighton Internship Programme during his time at Wired Sussex. He focused on his experience of the UX Brighton mentoring programme so far and included tips for mentors and mentees to help them get the most from their time together.

1. Making the
Most out of
Mentoring
January 2023
1

2. About me
Senior UX Researcher, Clearleft
Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 2

3. “How did you get into UX?”
Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 3

4. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 4

5. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 5
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

6. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 6
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

7. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 7
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

8. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 8
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

9. Wired Sussex
UX Brighton, 2023 9

10. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 10
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

11. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 11
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

12. Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 12
Didn’t get great
A-levels
First job at a
‘Web’ agency
Dot-Com
Bubble
Web Manager,
Wired Sussex
Research Director,
No Pork Pies
Various roles,
Fresh Egg
Senior UX
Researcher, Clearleft
Freelance UX
consultant/trainer

13. So what?
Making the Most out of Mentoring
UX Brighton, 2023 13

14. What does this
mean?
Making the Most out of Mentoring
● I wouldn’t recommend following my career
path (and you’d probably struggle to!)
● I’ve been lucky, and feel the need to give
something back and I’ve also enjoyed
mentoring and managing people
● Based on my experience over the years I’d
like to give some tips for both mentors and
mentees…
UX Brighton, 2023 14

15. Seven tips for
mentees
Making the Most out of Mentoring
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16. #1 - Decide if
it’s for you
Tips for mentees
● Do you have reasons to get involved?
● Do you have the time to get involved?
● Is working with a mentor right for you?
UX Brighton, 2023 16

17. #2 - Decide
where you
want to start
Tips for mentees
● What are you looking for in a mentor?
● Do you already know someone who would
make a good mentor for you?
● Should you join an organised mentorship
programme?
UX Brighton, 2023 17

18. #3 - Think
about the
commitment
Tips for mentees
● How often are you prepared to meet?
● Do you want to stay in contact outside of
those times?
● What will help you stick to the commitment?
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19. #4 - Keep it
regular
Tips for mentees
● When’s a good time to meet?
● What other commitments do you both
have?
● How, and where, can you be flexible?
UX Brighton, 2023 19

20. #5 - Set an
objective
Tips for mentees
● What do you want to achieve in nine months?
● What’s realistic?
● How can a mentor help you?
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21. #6 - Review
and give
feedback
Tips for mentees
● What have you achieved?
● Are you progressing towards your goal?
● How can your mentor change their
approach to better help you?
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22. #7 - Don’t feel
indebted
Tips for mentees
● Don’t feel the need to be overly grateful to
your mentor, they signed up for this too.
● Recognise where they have helped but don’t
be afraid to push back on anything.
● You deserve this!
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23. Seven tips for
mentors
Making the Most out of Mentoring
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24. #1 - Decide if
it’s for you
Tips for mentors
● Do you have reasons to get involved?
● Do you have the time to get involved?
● What have you got to offer?
UX Brighton, 2023 24

25. #2 - Decide
where you
want to start
Tips for mentors
● Have you thought about mentoring before?
● Do you know someone who would benefit
from your mentoring already?
● Should you join an organised mentorship
programme?
UX Brighton, 2023 25

26. #3 - Commit
and set an
SLA
Tips for mentors
● How often are you prepared to meet?
● What do you have the time, and brain
space, for?
● What will help you stick to the
commitment?
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27. #4 - Agree an
objective
Tips for mentors
● What do they want to achieve in nine
months?
● What’s realistic?
● How can you help?
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28. #5 - Stay in
contact
Tips for mentors
● Is once a month enough?
● If not, what’s the best way to stay in contact
for quick questions?
● How much time are you willing to commit
outside of the monthly meeting?
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29. #6 - Know
your limits
Tips for mentors
● Where can’t you help?
● What are you going to do if “life things”
come up?
● How do you support yourself?
UX Brighton, 2023 29

30. #7 - You know
more than you
think
Tips for mentors
● You may not consider yourself an expert, but
to others you probably are.
● You’ll likely have plenty of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’
skills.
● Your experience alone is invaluable.
UX Brighton, 2023 30

31. Thank you
If you have any questions please drop me a
message.
luke@lukehay.co.uk
@hayluke
Making the Most out of Mentoring
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