Mentorship and Career Advancement
12 Mentorship
Learning Outcome
- Recognize the value of mentorship and try to find your potential mentor.
Mentorship
When was the first time you developed your resume? Do the skills or knowledge you trumpeted on that resume look different from those on your recent resume?
Have you wondered what your resume would look like in 5 years?
In today’s labor market, job requirements are changing so dramatically that they are forcing workers to become “continuous learners” (Geremia, 2018). Sometimes, it is hard to stay motivated with “continuous learning.” . Also, you may not know where to start to continue your learning in your field.
The best way to spark your continuous learning is to surround yourself with people who will challenge you to do so – mentors! In this section, you will learn why mentorship is important and how you can find great mentors.
The Power of Mentorship
Historically, Indigenous people shared knowledge from one generation to the next orally through stories. Sharing cultural knowledge was also demonstrated with songs, games and group activities. Indigenous wisdom suggests that there are certain things that young people need to survive and flourish; mentoring is one of them (Weinberger, 2006)
Key Benefits of Mentorship
“A mentor is someone who has faith in you and your abilities, especially when you do not, and in doing so, inspires you to reach for your dreams and teach others to reach for their worth and potential” (Alberta Education, 2007)
According to the research findings in Mentoring and Professional Development (ABP BC Strategy, 2013), participants who joined the mentoring program witnessed the following benefits.
- Development of professional knowledge and skills: The majority of participants (82%) reported that mentoring helped them improve their professional knowledge and skills.
- Over 60% suggested that mentoring fostered an environment of continuous learning
- Life skills development: Some participants shared that they were able to develop life skills that were helpful outside of the workforce.
- Expanding connections: Participants also reported that they were able to improve relationships both within and outside of the work environment. Many were able to strengthen their connection to other staff and build their connections outside of the workplace (Elders, family members, and the greater community)
- Staying in the company: Interestingly, two-thirds of participants shared that mentoring opportunities contributed to their sense of belonging to their organization and supported their decision to stay in the organization. Additionally, some participants reported that the mentoring helped them to get a promotion or preferred position
“The deeper the sharing of knowledge, the deeper the responsibility. Mentorship is far greater than just exchanging information. It is about impacting each other’s lives.” (ABP BC Strategy, 2013)
Stories about Mentorship
Let’s listen to Neil Thevarge and James W