TOOLS OF A GOOD MENTOR
The essential tools of a good mentor are quite diverse. The goal is to foster the next generation of IT talent, assist in accelerating their career growth, and facilitate the development of their knowledge and its transfer. A good mentor should provide careful guidance, help build confidence, and support budding professionals to make the appropriate connections to a variety of networks and institutions. What the mentor provides will not only help shape the mentee, but by extension the future of the IT industry itself.
To help a prospective student or young professional early in their career, a mentor can provide constructive feedback, identify areas of improvement, and open doors to professional networks. It’s important to help identify trends in the industry and suggest potential areas to invest in. In a 2024 article, “Why Every IT Professional Needs a Guide,” the IT consulting firm Business Centric Technology pointed out that “IT mentorship is like having a personal guide on your career journey. It goes beyond simple advice; it’s a team effort where you can learn faster, grow your skills, and get the help you need to tackle tough problems and seize new chances. A mentor can be your sounding board, cheerleader and trusted advisor, all rolled into one.”
FINDING THE RIGHT MENTOR
For students, one of the most important aspects of mentorship is choosing the right mentor. The most obvious starting place is to consider people in one’s immediate circle or environment, but there are many other potential sources. Professional organizations, especially when looking for established professionals in IT, are a great resource. One notable example is EDUCAUSE, which also offers scholarships to “support students working or volunteering in IT or tech-heavy roles at colleges and universities who are considering a higher education IT career, so they can participate in the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference.” The Center for Digital Education and the Center for Digital Government* have an established network of Senior Fellows, of which I am one, who are "experienced and respected state, local government and education practitioners and scholars who have demonstrated records of success in support of public service and the mission of education.” They can provide mentorship and professional development in almost every aspect of IT.
Colleges, universities and corporations are important environments to locate potential mentors, and they also provide opportunities to connect with professionals through internships and research projects. Additionally, linking with alumni groups and university foundations can help students locate established professionals who might make ideal mentors.
Other mentorship sources can be found by enrolling in LinkedIn or connecting with SCORE, which boasts a nationwide network of 10,000 volunteers.
There are also benefits in having multiple mentors for students. In a 2014 article on the lifelong benefits of mentoring, the American Psychological Association paraphrased W. Brad Johnson, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, explaining why it's best for students to find more than one mentor: “Creating that constellation of mentors — faculty members, peer students and outside professionals — takes a multi-pronged approach and a willingness by students to be assertive.”
PREPARING FOR THE MENTOR EXPERIENCE
Before contacting a potential mentor, students should fully prepare themselves. They should define what their objective is in having a mentor. What do they want to accomplish in their career, and how do they see their future in five or more years? They should build mentorship relationships organically and specific to their expectations. To be successful, the mentor-mentee relationship requires both parties to be consistently and actively engaged throughout the process. Effective two-way communication is paramount.
HOW THE MENTORSHIP BENEFITS THE MENTOR
Serving as a mentor can be time consuming, which might make professionals hesitant to take on the assignment. However, there are many benefits. The relationship can be a source of professional growth and satisfaction for both parties, giving mentors their own new perspectives from the experience. In a 2023 article for the professional-development company BetterUp regarding the benefits of mentorship for professional development, Associate Certified Coach Elizabeth Perry wrote, “Mentoring connects senior staff with younger employees, some just out of school. These newer professionals have learned up-to-date practices, tools and competencies, and most will be happy to teach older staff about them. This upward knowledge sharing, or reverse mentoring, keeps mentors at the forefront of their field.”
Mentorship can provide a strong foundation and a sense of helping a new generation of IT professionals either in educational or corporate settings. Helping a mentee with support and encouragement, especially during challenging times, can be extremely satisfying and rewarding.
MENTORSHIP AND THE FUTURE
Mentoring can really start at any age, and for some, that opportunity may never come. MENTOR, a nonprofit organization created more than 35 years ago, is dedicated to expanding youth mentorship opportunities. Statistics from MENTOR point out that 50 percent of mentors found the experience heightened a sense of purpose in their life, and 80 percent would keep mentoring after their current relationship. But much more work needs to be done, since a large gap still exists especially with young students. MENTOR points out 40 percent of young people grow up never having a mentor, and nearly 2 million young adults reported they had virtually no adult support growing up.
To ensure we can successfully support the next generation of IT professionals, we need to make an earnest effort to help them. The experience for the mentor provides a great opportunity to give back. For the mentee, it provides a world of support, guidance and professional growth. For both, it provides assurance that the profession will grow and prosper with success through solid knowledge and leadership.
*The Center for Digital Government is a sister organization of the Center for Digital Education. Both are part of e.Republic.
