Applying Mentorship Lessons to Real-World Scenarios

In career development, the importance of mentorship is hard to overstate. Consciously or not, the most successful people in their fields are always those who’ve had the benefit of first class mentoring. Sometimes that’s from a colleague in the workplace or a knowledgeable friend but mentoring can also be more deliberate.

Here at Career Navig8r, our aim is to support people with natural mentoring ability in finding those who need their help the most.

But is mentoring really as effective as we claim? Today we’ll be exploring some real-world scenarios and how mentoring can truly change lives.

Bridging Theory with Practice

Theory may be the foundation of your learning but practice makes perfect.

Imagine a person at the start of their career – let’s call her Teresa. She’s spent years studying to be an engineer. She’s excelled in all her qualifications and she’s all set for a stellar career. There’s only one thing she’s missing: real-world experience.

That might not sound like the biggest gap but the truth is that a job is about more than just theory. Teresa knows the principles inside and out but there are some things you just can’t learn in a classroom. During her first year on the job alone, she’ll learn:

• How to handle customers
• What to do when faced with a problem you’ve not encountered before
• How to work effectively as part of a team
• How it feels to be an engineer on the day to day

These might sound like soft skills but they’re all part of the learning curve and they’re far easier to pick up with an effective Mentor on hand. An experienced Mentor will be able to teach her helpful tips and tricks for handling customers, advise her on dealing with unfamiliar scenarios, and provide an insider perspective on the role before she’s even started work.

A Step-by-Step Approach

When we talk about the importance of mentorship, we’re always eager to encourage a step-by-step approach to career growth but what exactly does that look like?

Picture Colin. Colin has been working in his entry level role as an accountant for several years now and while he’s good at what he does, he’s consistently passed up for promotion. He’s tried applying to more senior roles at other companies but he never seems to get past the interview stage despite having the ideal experience and qualifications.

The problem for Colin is that while he’s not making any big mistakes, he’s also not quite found the best way to sell himself. It’s the little details he needs to work on and a Mentor is the perfect person to take him through that process. With a Mentor, Colin can practise his interview approach, they can go over his CV together and talk about how to better sell his perfect experience and qualifications.

By solving one problem at a time with the help of an experienced professional, Colin will be in the perfect position to sell the very best version of himself.

Challenges and Solutions in Mentorship Application

Of course, not every Mentee will start in the ideal position. While they might have a dream job role in mind, it could take them years to get there. In this scenario, the real importance of mentorship is about more than just guidance – it’s about inspiration.

Lastly, let’s talk about Charlie. Charlie dropped out of university in second year due to personal issues and they’ve been working as a fast food server ever since. They’re passionate about Chemistry but they’re not sure they’ve got the confidence to reapply to university and ultimately find their way towards a full-time position.

Working with a Mentor, Charlie can find someone in the exact role they’ve always dreamed of, whose support and first-hand experience will help get them back on their feet. In a few years they’ll be on the road to a truly successful and fulfilling career. 

The Real Importance of Mentorship

If there’s one thing Teresa, Colin, and Charlie all have in common, it’s that they’ve got a goal and they’re doing what it takes to achieve that goal. Sometimes, seeking out help can be the simplest thing in the world and yet it can feel so challenging.

The help of a Mentor is so effective because they’re whole role is to support you in achieving your dream job role and they can tailor their help to your situation.

If you’re looking for a Mentor or you’d like to become one yourself then please do sign up for free with Career Navig8r. We’re always excited to bring more people on board from a wide range of backgrounds to share their knowledge and experience with those who could benefit from it the most!