Making the most of your mentor
Having a mentor can have plenty of benefits, but it shouldn't be a passive experience. Lifetracks explains how to get the best out of a mentoring partnership.
Kyle and Darren discuss their mentoring relationship
Produced by Lifetracks
Having a mentor is a great way to receive encouragement and support whilst achieving your goals. Kyle has Darren as a mentor and they discuss what benefits they both get from their involvement together.
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"Your mentor will encourage you to reach your goals – whatever they are."
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a person who volunteers to spend some time with you, usually on a weekly basis, helping you with problems and questions. They can be from any background, professional or otherwise, and their role is to guide you. They might help with school or college issues, giving career advice, or just listen when you need someone to talk to. Mentoring is almost always a free service.
Will anyone know what I say to my mentor?
No. Mentors are always people who don't know you beforehand and won't talk to people you know about anything you say to them.
What are the benefits of being mentored?
Having a mentor can have many benefits, such as:
- Improve your self-confidence
- Help you decide what to do about a particular problem
- Give you information you might not know how to get from anywhere else
- Help you get things off your chest and make you feel supported
- Help you fill in forms or deal with the benefits system
Whether you want specific advice about how to get into a certain career, help with bullying, self-harm, probation and court issues, or just someone safe and friendly to talk to on a regular basis, a mentor will listen to what you have to say without judging you.
What kinds of things do mentors do?
Your mentor's role is to listen to you and offer advice or guidance. You can do this over almost any type of activity – having coffee, going bowling or swimming, visiting a library or workplace, or just chatting at your school or college. Or you can do an e-mentoring scheme, where you chat online. Your mentor will encourage you to reach your goals – whatever they are. But you need to communicate and tell them what it is you want to achieve.
How do I get the most from my mentor?
Being mentored shouldn't be a passive experience. For you to get the most out of it, you should:
- Think about what you want from your mentor
- Make a list of goals you want to achieve with your mentor's support
- Tell your mentor how best they can help you. Do you want advice, someone to talk to or help in doing something?
- Talk to your mentor in every session and tell them how you're feeling
- Follow up any suggestions your mentor has, such as asking a local college about courses available, or going to your doctor if you feel depressed
- Come to every session with a topic in mind that you want to talk about
- Be open and willing to learn
- Give your mentor feedback, i.e. what is working for you, and what isn't?
How do I find a mentor?
There are two main ways of finding a mentor:
- Agency referral: When you find a mentor through an agency, such as Jobcentre Plus or the Probation Service
- Self-referral: When you contact an agency yourself, or ask at your school or college, or at a local volunteer or community centre
By Laura Canning
Updated:15/04/2010Did you know?
The Government has set aside £3m until 2011 for a Youth Mentoring Programme. It can be 1:1 or group mentoring, in sports, music or media.
You can also become a mentor.
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