Getting Started In Mentoring
First steps to becoming a mentor
Deciding to become a mentor is an exciting step to take, however getting started can be difficult.
We believe that everybody should have the opportunity to benefit from the positive impacts of mentoring, so we have put together this handy guide for getting you under way.
There are three main questions that you need to ask yourself when you are getting started on becoming a mentor:
- What type of mentoring do you want to do?
- Do you want to be paid or act as a volunteer?
- What relevant training do you need?
Answering these provides a great foundation for deciding what shape you want your mentoring to take, which in turn guides how you find and begin your role. Read on, or download the PDF version, for an in depth look at what points to consider moving forward, as well as practical advice for how to find and apply for roles.
What type of mentoring do you want to do?
This is a key first step on your mentoring journey, and is something that you should take the time to consider carefully. Whilst the fundamental principles of mentoring are universal, their application and the context of your practice can vary widely.
When getting started, have a think about the reasons why you want to become a mentor, and what you hope to achieve by doing so. Are you passionate about supporting children in school or your local community? Do you want to improve your contribution at work, perhaps in a team support of leadership role? Is there a specific cause, such as rehabilitation, that you wish to contribute to?
If you are completely new to the concept of mentoring, it would be worth taking a look at our free Introduction to the Theory of Mentoring course. This will give you a basic understanding of what mentoring actually involves, which in turn can help you to determine how you would aim to use those skills.
You can also refer to our Career Pathways Guide for more information on some of the roles and responsibilities that mentors can choose to pursue.
Do you want to be paid or act as a volunteer?
Whilst you can certainly start in one role and transition to the other at a later time, it is definitely worth considering this aspect from the beginning.
For many, volunteering is a great way to first get involved with mentoring due to the wider variety of roles available, such as through charities. These can prove valuable opportunities to gain experience and develop your skills.
Bear in mind, the un/paid status of your mentoring practice may have an effect on the level of qualification required for a role, as well as time commitment and expectations around your experience. We will explore this further in the next section.
What relevant training do you need?
Once you have identified your desired type of mentoring role, the next step to getting started is to investigate further as to what training will be needed in order to fulfil it.
Some key points to consider include:
- Is there a specific qualification level needed for the role?
- Will the organisation in charge of your mentoring programme provide training, or will you need to complete this independently?
- Is there a timeline for completing training or gaining qualifications?
Just as mentoring scenarios can vary widely, so to can the stated requirements of the position you are interested in.
As previously mentioned, our Career Pathways Guide provides more information on various roles and training. Additionally, our free Introduction to the Theory of Mentoring course is great for getting started on building your basic understanding of mentoring, whilst providing an idea of training options and expectations.
You can also feel free to contact our friendly team at any time to learn more about training details, including support and guidance around what options could be most suitable for your needs.
Getting started
All that remains now is for you to find a role to begin your mentoring practice. With the three key questions answered, you should have a solid idea of exactly what it is you are looking to do. This helps enormously to narrow down the options and find the best fit for achieving your immediate and long-term goals.
Job search boards and websites can be a good place to start, especially with the options of filtering results by paid/voluntary and sector parameters. These tend to be regularly updated with current vacancies that you can apply for. Additionally, the attached role descriptions can help you to further refine what it is you are looking for.
You can also contact local charities and community groups directly about the mentoring programmes which they may be running. This can be done via social media, or often their webpage will have a dedicated contact form or email. Whilst they may not have a current opening, for instance if they run programmes in cohorts or at particular times of the year, you can arrange to be notified of the next opportunity.