What is the most appropriate course of action for a trainee who has a problem with a mentor?

Appropriate course of action for a trainee who has a problem with a mentor is to seek guidance from someone who is senior to the mentor only after a direct conversation with the mentor has no results.

While most trainee-mentor relationships become steady after 2-3 interactions, there are also the cases in which an effective communication is not established at all. In cases like these, the trainee should talk directly to the mentor about his problems and help understand the mentor what his position is.

Usually, a direct and open discussion works. When it doesn't, the trainee should seek proper guidance from someone who is senior to the mentor is close to his position. An endless back and forth between the trainee and the mentor leading to no conclusion will also waste both of their time. Moreover, the education of the trainee will be compromised in the process. A senior person will help in two ways:

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