Everything you need to know before signing up for Mentorship.

Signing up for mentorship is not just submitting to a random person, you must ensure that you are dealing with the right individual or agency. I understand that a lot of people have different views on who a mentor is and what qualifies the person to be a mentor, but the truth is we can always find the right kind of mentorship suitable for the change that we desire if we know what to look out for.

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What is Mentorship?

Mentorship can be referred to as the guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person in a company or educational institution. It's the period of time during which a person receives guidance from a mentor. There are two key words that you need to take notice of in the above definition. They are:

  • Guidance
  • Mentor

There are different mentors or mentorship programs near you. Your job is to check these programs out and match them with the change that you want, to see if they are the right fit for you, but to make the right decision, you have to know what to consider before signing up for a mentorship program. Below are a few things you need to know before you adopt a mentorship program.

Be clear about where you need help.

Clarity of purpose is key. You have to know where you need help. Is it in your career, job, academics, marriage, relationship, or health? It has to be clear to you. Never sign up for a mentorship program if you don't know what exactly you want to get out of it because that will result to a waste of your time and resources, and those of your would-be mentor. Most people do that anyway; they follow the crowd. They just sign up for the program hoping that things will change along the way. It doesn't work like that. You have to take care of identifying your mentoring needs before you enroll, this will help you choose the right kind of program and most importantly, help you monitor your growth and development during the mentorship sessions.

Do your research first.

To avoid research is to place your development, growth and ability to make the right choice to chance. You don't want to ignore this. You must ensure that you carefully research your proposed mentor or mentorship agency. Ensure that the person or agency has the requisite knowledge, skill, experience and the abilities that you are looking for. This is vital to your growth. You don't want to submit to someone who doesn't have the technical know-how to move you from where you are to where you want to be. Through careful research, you will be able to identify the right fit for you and commit to their programs. Remember that mentors are not spirits. They are human beings like you. They will need your cooperation to be able to help you. That is why you have to ensure that you are connecting with the right person based on the changes you want to see.

Look out for track records.

Another key thing you should look out for is the agency or the proposed mentor's track record. This is beyond his or her ability to do the job, but to see if he or she had successfully facilitated the change that you desire before. If your case is unique, you want to be sure that your would-be mentor has handled something similar before. How do you make this happen? Ask for testimonials. Let them show you real feedback from those that they have worked for in the past. Find out if their previous students are doing great and if possible, ask for their contacts and reach out to them.

You must be ready to step out of your comfort zone.

Never sign up for a mentorship program if you are not ready to make definite changes. If you are comfortable with your state, you don't need a mentor or a mentorship program because it will stretch you and make you uncomfortable. Your mentor is experienced and has been to where you haven't, so in a mentorship program, you are the one to step up your game based on the counseling you will be receiving. Your mentor's job is to take you to where you haven't been and show you new possibilities that you haven't considered, but you must be ready for a change. You must be ready to unlearn some of the things that you have learned and pick up new philosophies and ideas.

You must be ready to adopt a new lifestyle

Implementation is the key to any successful and effective mentorship. The proof that you have learned is a change in character. Until you are ready to pick up new ways of living and do away with your old ways, you shouldn't get mentors because they will require you to make certain changes in the areas of your life and career, if you must have your desired results. The results you want will not show up when you are doing the same things you have always done, you must be ready to implement what you will be taught. Most people have gone for different mentorship sessions but didn't get anything from it, don't let that be you. See to it that all you learn is implemented, that's the only way you will have results.

What if there was a platform that provided you with all the information you need to get proper guidance and mentorship?

Well, there is!

Mently is your one-stop point for all you need to have the best mentoring. Finding vetted and verified mentors and mentoring programs has never been easier. By signing up as a student on Mently you get access to mentors who are experts in over 70 mentoring categories, have the opportunity to meet and connect with a wide range of skills and talents and enjoy updates on mentoring events, cohorts and bootcamps from top-organizations in your areas of interest. With Mently, you get all the help you need to connect with mentors you are excited to work with and build valuable and effective professional relations in a vibrant community.

More Resources

  • How to Sign up and Apply for a Bootcamp on Mently
  • The ultimate guide to finding the right mentor

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Thank you for reading!

July 13, 3 min read