Setting the Record Straight: 4 Common Mentorship Myths Debunked

As a career mentorship platform, we really believe in the power of mentoring to change lives – that’s what inspires us to do what we do. That being said, we often encounter myths and confusion around what a Mentor is and what they can do for you. Unfortunately these myths are often limiting, placing unnecessary barriers between would-be Mentees and the amazing success they’re capable of.

That’s why today we’ve put together a list of the four most common mentoring myths we encounter on a regular basis and why they could be standing between you and that next step in your career journey.

1. You Need to Formally Ask Someone to Be Your Mentor

When looking for a Mentor, many people feel that they need some type of formal arrangement such as a contract. Others think of Mentors like doctors or therapists, as qualified professionals with legal rules and restrictions but this is not the case.

A Mentor is, in the most basic sense, just what it sounds like. Anyone can be a Mentor to you, whether it’s the parent who helps teach you how to put your DIY furniture together, or the colleague who shows you the ropes at work.

That being said, a more formal mentoring relationship can be beneficial and this is where career mentorship platforms come in. On Career Navig8r, you can arrange a professional relationship with your Mentor. Between the two of you, you can set out and negotiate the terms of what you’re looking for. How often do you plan to meet? What ultimate goals do you have in mind?

The important thing to remember, however, is that there’s no restrictions on what you and your Mentor can agree to. At the end of the day, this is all about coming to a mutually beneficial arrangement and the best people to decide on that are the Mentor and Mentee in question.

2. Your Mentor Has to Be in Your Field

Sometimes, when looking for a Mentor, it’s easy to get far too focused on a career ‘field’ as opposed to a job role.

What’s the difference between a field and a job role?

A field/industry is broad and relates to the type of business a company conducts while a job role has much more to do with your day to day work. For example, a fast food restaurant and a lettings agency might not have all that much in common in terms of field but both require managers and management is a transferable skill.

Ultimately, whether or not your Mentor needs to be in your field is, once again, a matter of your choice. It’s all about what you’re looking to get out of the relationship. 

If you’re looking for someone who can help you build a professional network then you’ll want to work with a Mentor in the right field. Alternatively, if you’re looking to learn a set of role specific skills that can transfer across fields then you may prefer to choose your Mentor based on other factors such as how long they’ve been in the role and the variety of fields they’ve worked in.

3. Your Mentor Has to Live in the Same City as You

You and your Mentor do not have to live in the same city. In fact, you don’t even have to live in the same country – that’s the beauty of an online career mentorship platform!

With the rise of remote working and the decline in traditional offices, online mentoring is not only an efficient way to work but is also a great introduction to the benefits of remote working. Without being tied to a commute, you have more freedom to plan and organise your hours and, when it comes to mentoring, you can arrange and rearrange meetings as needed.

Furthermore, online mentoring means that you’ll never have to settle for less based on location. With online mentoring you have the opportunity to find and work with the best Mentors in your field.

4. You Can Only Have One Mentor

While having a single Mentor can be a very effective approach, there’s nothing to stop you working with multiple Mentors at the same time, or switching Mentor if you feel another might be better suited to your needs. Even within a single job role, different Mentors will excel at different aspects of the role and you may find that working with multiple Mentors allows you to split your needs across different people.

All in all, the most important thing to remember about mentoring is that there are no rules. Everybody learns in different ways and how you and your Mentor/s choose to work is entirely your choice. After all, they’re the expert on the job and you’re the expert on you!

Did you know that you can be a Mentee and a Mentor at the same time? Teach, learn, and earn by signing up with Career Navig8r today.