On November 18th, the Alberta Mentorship Program held an online Community Champions Mentorship Circle about Recruiting and Retaining Mentors.
Sarah Tangan, former mentee and current Mentorship Director at the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC), was the first presenter. Sarah’s presentation provided valuable information for mentorship programs that will help them promote the benefits of mentorship to mentors and employers, highlight the challenges of recruiting mentors, and provide potential strategies to recruit and retain mentors.
Read more about this event with Part 2: Recruiting Mentors with Najib Mangal.
Mentor Key Outcomes
Sarah outlines three key outcomes of mentors. These include:
- Over 85% enhanced their leadership, coaching, and intercultural competency skills.
- 100% developed an appreciation for the skills and assets that newcomers can bring to employers.
- Over 90% will take an active interest in promoting skilled immigrant talents in the workplace.
The benefits of a mentor/ mentee relationship are not just for the mentee. Committed mentors will take away skills and perspectives that will benefit their career and personal development.
Read more about how Mentorship Benefits the Mentor
Employer Key Outcomes
In addition to key outcomes for mentors, there are three key outcomes for employers. These include that:
- Staff are equipped to lead and manage an increasingly diverse workforce.
- Corporate culture is more welcoming and understanding.
- Talent attraction and retention increase.
“There is a lot of value in psychological safety,” says Sarah. “There should be no judgment in how everyone shares their thoughts and ideas.” Being more welcoming and understanding in the workplace increases employees’ psychological safety.
Read more about benefits For Employers.
Three C’s of Mentorship
Sarah outlines the three most important roles of mentors. Mentors are to act as:
- Consultants
- Counsellors
- Cheerleaders
“Tell [mentees] how to fish,” explains Sarah. “You are not there to fish for them.” Mentors are there to strategize and provide their mentees with specialized advice and recommendations. It is not the role of the mentor to find a job for the mentee. A way to assist your mentee in their job search is to assess their needs, introduce them to your network, and share potential job opportunities.
Ultimately, it is the mentee’s responsibility to secure their own employment. Sarah explains that “newcomers need someone to believe in them.” Newcomers can find a job search in a new country difficult. Encouraging mentees to keep “fishing” for employment is a great way to help them.
Read more about What is My Role as a Mentor?
Challenges of Recruiting Mentors
There are several challenges in recruiting mentors. These include:
- Finding the “right” mentor
- Not enough mentors
- Mentors are not willing or cannot commit to the program
- Potential mentors are not skilled in mentoring
There is a misconception that mentors must have previous mentorship experience. Although this is a benefit, matching the career and life experience of potential mentors will benefit their mentees the most.
Potential Sources for Mentors
Some of the potential sources for recruiting mentors include:
- Former mentees
- Your own network
- Employer partners
Sarah’s most successful sources are her personal network and LinkedIn. “I work more on LinkedIn than in my email inbox,” explained Sarah. “It is the modern version of cold calling.” Using these online platforms is a tool that is available for all recruiters.
Read more about mentor recruitment:
Strategies to Retain Mentors Once They Say Yes
To retain mentors once they agree to take on a mentee, you must find their “pain points.” A pain point is a core reason they are mentoring. From volunteer hours to leadership opportunities, mentors have a reason for doing what they do. Reminding them of this pain point and providing them with opportunities to explore it will ensure they fulfill their needs while helping a mentee meet theirs. Mentees are not the only ones who benefit from a mentor/ mentee relationship.
Read more about mentor recruitment:
The Alberta Mentorship Program is appreciative of the funding from the Government of Alberta through Labour and Immigration, Workforce Strategies. Our program is here to provide information and support to help organizations start mentorship programs.