Mentoring relationships aren’t intended to last forever. Some may only be relevant prior to employment or during a specific career phase. Others may stretch out for years. And some might never develop the trust required for a valuable mentorship.

Evaluations allow both mentors and mentees to look honestly at the state of the relationship, what it has accomplished, and what, if anything, it has left to offer. At the discretion of those involved, these evaluations can be formal or informal, and could occur annually, quarterly, or just whenever the moment seems right.

When deciding how to structure your mentoring relationship, be sure to discuss how you’ll evaluate its effectiveness. Below you’ll find guidelines for what you should discuss during an evaluation.