Far from having all the answers, I have been a mentor and mentee for years — here I share the wonders of this underrated ability to give and receive mentoring.
As a mentee
How do I know I need a mentor?
As much AI as you want, it is fair to acknowledge that not everyone can follow the self-learning path relentlessly — and it is completely valid to seek extra help, especially when you have no clear idea of what the future could look like with a certain skill.
A mentor will:
- Understand your current context and where you want to go, and can also suggest the goal if it is not yet clear.
- Create a learning path and steps to achieve an objective within a set timeframe.
- Accompany you with resources and experience so your journey feels less lonely than you might have imagined.
- Constantly follow up to understand whether your expectations from the mentoring sessions are being met.
Sounds great, right? If 2 or more of these points resonate with you, a mentor can help you channel your learning of a skill.
How to make the most of your mentor?
First, you need commitment. Since both your time and your mentor's time are valuable, not connecting enough with the process can lead to feelings of frustration and impatience.
In the first session, beyond getting to know each other, it is important to set expectations on both sides. Questions like: What do I need help with? How can this person help me? What will the working methodology be? How many hours per week will be dedicated synchronously and asynchronously? What is the cost of the sessions? Which tools are needed? For how long will we collaborate (having an end date is important)? These should be answered or at least pointed in a direction.
The following sessions will likely involve finding the right working rhythm for both, where your learning can be maximised.
It is important to give your mentor feedback so they can understand whether the learning journey is valuable to you, or if there are things that need to be adjusted.
Where do you find a mentor?
Depending on the skill you want to learn, you can start by searching online, in existing communities, or at events in your city where you can connect with people who share your interests — through networking, someone will surely know a mentor.
As a mentor
How to know if you would be a good mentor?
If teaching is something you enjoy and you see the value in sharing knowledge and helping others, this is undoubtedly a worthwhile experience. Organizations like Laboratoria.la are constantly looking for mentors to help women prepare for job interviews in the tech world, for example.
It requires session preparation to deliver a quality service to the mentee. That is why knowing the person, understanding their expectations, and truly validating whether you can help with their growth and learning is so important.
Your first sessions will likely need to be free so you can practice your skills and expand your network.
I hope that from whichever of the two roles, it is something that motivates you to try — and please tell me how your experience with this underrated skill has been.
