Being a Mentee - Mentoring

Being a Mentee in the APS Digital Traineeship Program

Starting your journey as a digital trainee in the Australian Public Service (APS) is an exciting step into a career of public impact, innovation, and lifelong learning. A central feature of the Digital Traineeship Program is the opportunity to be mentored by experienced APS professionals—an opportunity that, when approached intentionally, can be transformative.

But mentoring is not a passive experience. As a mentee, you drive the relationship. You are not just receiving guidance; you are actively shaping your own development.

What It Means to Be an APS Mentee

Being a mentee isn’t about waiting for your mentor to “download wisdom.” Instead, it’s about building a proactive, respectful, and reciprocal relationship.

As an APS trainee, you should:

Take initiative – you lead the relationship
Come prepared – bring goals, questions, and challenges
Follow through – act on advice and reflect on progress
Be professional – show respect, integrity, and responsiveness

Laying the Groundwork for Mentoring

Before you meet with your mentor:

Clarify your goals: What do you want to learn? What kind of APS career are you aiming for?
Understand your role:
- You drive meeting agendas
- You maintain regular contact
- You take ownership of your development
Reflect on your style:
- What kind of communication do you prefer?
- What kind of feedback works best for you?

📝 Tip: Use the program’s tools—like the Individual Learning Plan and personal SWOT analysis—to map out where you are and where you want to go.

Finding Value in the Mentoring Relationship

In the APS Digital Traineeship Program, your mentor is:

A guide, not a manager
A supporter, not a problem-solver
A professional peer, not a therapist

To get the most out of the relationship:

Be open to advice—especially constructive feedback
Maintain confidentiality
Ask questions about APS culture, job roles, technologies, and career progression
Provide your mentor with updates—don’t disappear between sessions!

💡 Remember: You are responsible for your own learning. Your mentor helps you make the most of your opportunities—but you make the decisions.

Participating Actively

Throughout the program:

Set agendas for meetings
Take notes and reflect
Ask for specific feedback: “How can I improve in [area]?”
Discuss your Individual Learning Plan regularly
Be prepared to adjust goals as you grow

🎯 Use the SMART framework:

Specific – What exactly do I want to achieve?
Measurable – How will I know I’ve done it?
Achievable – Is this realistic with the time and support available?
Relevant – Does it support my APS and digital career?
Time-bound – What’s my deadline?

Using Feedback to Grow

Feedback is an essential part of your journey. A great mentee:

Welcomes both praise and criticism
Avoids being defensive
Acts on suggestions
Checks back in to show progress

✔️ You should also offer feedback to your mentor about how the relationship is working. Mentoring is a two-way street—mutual honesty and respect build the strongest outcomes.

Navigating Common Challenges

Even the best mentoring relationships face hurdles. Be mindful of:

Becoming too passive – always initiate, don’t wait
Over-relying on one mentor – consider a broader “mentor network”
Unclear expectations – revisit goals and boundaries regularly
Only reaching out when you need something – keep the connection alive with regular updates

🧠 Don’t expect your mentor to have all the answers. Their role is to help you find your own path through insight and support—not to “fix” things for you.

The Benefits of Being a Mentee in the APS

By investing in the mentoring process, you can gain:

Increased confidence and clarity
A deeper understanding of APS digital roles and culture
Exposure to career pathways and networks
Practical advice and insider knowledge
Lifelong professional connections

As the APS embraces digital transformation, your journey as a trainee—and as a mentee—places you at the heart of building a better, more tech-savvy public service.

Final Thoughts

You are not just a learner in the APS—you are a contributor, a future leader, and a digital changemaker. Take your mentoring seriously, be curious and consistent, and make the most of this structured opportunity.

🌱 Mentoring is just the beginning. How you show up as a mentee now can set the tone for how you grow across your entire APS career.