If you’ve just left school and are figuring out what to do next, a mentor can really help.

A mentor doesn’t have to work in the exact job you want. It could be someone whose journey you admire — someone confident, motivated, kind, ambitious, or simply further along the path you’re starting out on.

A good mentor will:

• Help you build confidence
• Encourage you to try new things
• Support you in improving your strengths
• Challenge you (in a good way!) to grow

You might want different mentors at different stages of your life — and that’s completely normal.

What to look for in a mentor

Know what you want help with.
Are you choosing a career? Applying for jobs? Thinking about university, apprenticeships, or starting something new? Having a rough idea helps you find the right person.

Choose someone you respect.
Look for someone whose attitude, work ethic or achievements inspire you.

Make sure you feel comfortable with them.
You should feel able to ask questions and be honest. Trust your gut — a good connection matter.

How Do You Ask Someone?

Start simple. Ask if they’d be open to having a chat about their career and experiences. This helps you see if you get along and if they’re someone you’d like to learn from.

If it feels right, you can agree how often you’ll talk — whether that’s once a month or every now and then. There are no strict rules.

Remember: a mentor can guide you, but you’re in charge of your own future. The more effort you put in, the more you’ll get out of it.

Finally…

Remember that while a mentor can offer you invaluable advice and perspectives, they are not there to make your choices for you. A good mentor will leave you feeling empowered, encouraging you to take full responsibility for your own career decisions and the consequences that come with them. The rest of your working life is up to you. Good luck!

We are excited to launch this service in the near future, and we are recruiting Mentors before we go live.