Mentoring

 A mentor is a trusted adviser who provides insight and support when needed. The objective is for you to help the person you're mentoring—often referred to as the mentee—achieve their aspirations and goals. While the relationship can be informal or formal, it's always considered professional. The ground rules can change over time as both people develop and grow. 

 A mentor can provide value to a mentee by:

• Sharing knowledge and life experiences
• Offering encouragement and inspiration
• Listening when needed and providing guidance or advice when asked
• Helping the mentee set goals and explore different career paths
• Reviewing the mentee's resume and helping them prepare for interviews
• Helping the mentee develop their own leadership skills
• Suggesting new opportunities for the mentee to take on to advance their skills

Mentor relationships can last anywhere from a one-time session through the lifetime of your career. Some mentors help people in the workplace with a variety of issues such as pursuing promotions, taking on new responsibilities and developing interpersonal relationships. 

As with any relationship, a mentee-mentor relationship works best when you invest time. Get to know your mentee on both a personal and professional level and learn about their long-term goals, education and wants/needs within their current career or personal life.

Request an interview or a personal discussion with your mentee. This can help you give the attention and time to get to know more about your mentee on a personal and professional level. The stronger your relationship with your mentee, the more you both can benefit.