On November 18th, 2022, The Alberta Mentorship Program held an online Community Champions Mentorship Circle about Recruiting and Retaining Mentors.
Najib Mangal, Manager of Community Connection and Employment Services of Lethbridge Family Services (LFS), was the second presenter. Najib’s presentation provided insights regarding the roles of mentors, the challenges of recruiting mentors, the sources of mentors, and the strategies to retain mentors.
Read more about this event with Part 1: Recruiting Mentors with Sarah Tangan.
Roles of Mentors
Najib explained that mentors are a “professional contact that guides an individual toward personal and professional development by providing advice and insight.” Clarity and transparency are essential when meeting with mentees. Often, immigrants can be unaware of mentors’ roles or what mentorship is. The mentee must know that their mentor is not responsible for securing employment. “A mentor shares knowledge about his or her work path and offers guidance, inspiration, and emotional support,” said Najib. “They assist with career exploration, goal setting, networking, and resource finding.”
Read more about What is My Role as a Mentor?
Good Qualities for Mentors
“Mentors should understand the Canadian workplace culture and job market in their professional field,” explained Najib. “They need to be good listeners, and they have to give good honest feedback.” If a mentor sugar-coats something, the message can be lost culturally. Good mentors can communicate simply and clearly with their mentees. They’re also able to hold their mentee accountable for the goals they set and provide contacts to enhance the mentees’ network. Good mentors can distinguish between what is and what is not their responsibility. A mentor should not:
- Force the mentee to complete tasks.
- Solve the mentees' challenges.
- Find a job for the mentee.
Sources for Mentors
Najib said that “cold-calling and LinkedIn” were the most valuable tools for recruiting mentors. Some more sources of mentors include past mentees. Sometimes the best mentors are those with previous mentorship experience as a mentee. They can recognize how their mentor helped them and use that knowledge to help others. Additionally, it is important to (1) stay active in your community and (2) educate your community. “Be loud and vocal about the work that you do,” explained Najib. “Nobody will come knocking on your door to ask how you’re doing and what you need.” A good way to recruit mentors is to conduct information sessions in your community. This will give you an opportunity to showcase your program.
Strategies to Retain Mentors
Two strategies to help retain mentors are:
- Providing ongoing support to mentors; and
- Acknowledging and celebrating mentors for their successes.
It is important that mentors feel supported throughout their mentorship experience. Some may be first-time mentors who require guidance and reassurance throughout the process. It is equally as important to celebrate your mentors. They need to be recognized for the time and energy they are pouring into their mentees.
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.