Getting Started In Mentoring
First steps to becoming a mentor
It is well known that becoming a mentor can have a profoundly positive impact on both your personal and professional life. Indeed, one study found that 43% of mentors interviewed “continued to find that mentoring helps them learn, grow, garner new insights, and stay sharp.”
The motivations behind taking on the role are many and varied (check out our blog post on The Motivation to Become a Mentor) and 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.
A Quick 5-Step Checklist:
1. Identify Your ‘Why’: Determine if you want to support schools, businesses, or community causes.
2. Choose Your Path: Decide between voluntary roles (great for experience) or professional, paid positions.
3. Assess Your Skills: Take a free introductory course to understand the core theories of mentoring.
4. Get Qualified: Check the requirements for your chosen sector (e.g., Level 1 for awareness or Level 2/3 for practitioners).
5. Find a Role: Use job boards or contact local charities and organisations directly.
There are three main questions that you need to ask yourself when you are getting started on becoming a mentor:
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.
How do I choose the right type of mentoring role?
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?
Is there a free way to see if mentoring is right for me?
Yes. The Mentoring School offers a free Basics of Mentoring course designed to give you a foundation in mentoring principles without any upfront cost. This is the perfect first step before committing to a full qualification.
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.
Not sure where you fit? View 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 qualifications are required to become a mentor?
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 too can the stated requirements of the position you are interested in.
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.
Do I need a qualification to start mentoring?
While some volunteer roles only require lived experience and internal induction, most professional and school-based roles require a formal qualification. Starting with a Level 1 Introduction to Mentoring is the best way to ensure you understand boundaries and safeguarding.
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.
Where can I find mentoring opportunities in the UK?
You can find roles on major job boards by filtering for “Mentor,” or by contacting local charities and community groups directly. Many organisations run mentoring programmes in cohorts and will keep your details on file for their next intake.
Additionally, the attached role descriptions can help you to further refine what it is you are looking for.
Mentoring Path Comparison
| Feature | Volunteer Mentoring | Professional Mentoring |
| Typical Setting | Charities, Schools, Youth Groups | Corporate, Management, Private Practice |
| Experience Needed | Lived Experience + Basic Training | Sector Expertise + Professional Qualification |
| Commitment | Flexible/Hourly | Contractual/Part Of Job Role |
| Typical Training | Mentoring Awareness/Level 1 | Practitioner Level 2, 3, or 4 |