Marisol Orozco Employment Consultant with Build ON
Hi Readers! In this blog we are going to learn about an exciting topic: Mentorship. As an Employment Consultant, I always recommend my clients have a mentor. Mentors offer firsthand experience and concrete guidance on the realities of the Canadian workforce. They help you evaluate your professional capabilities and expand your network, a crucial step to secure a job in Canada.
Today I sat down with Iryna Zamchevska, from Ottawa Community Immigrants Service Organization (OCISO), and Christina Kaniewski who participated in the mentorship program, to hear about their experience and get some insights about mentorship.
Marisol: First things first, Iryna, what is mentorship and who is a mentor?
Iryna: Most of us can think of at least one person in our lives who acted like a mentor. It can be a parent, a sibling, a teacher or a coach. These were the people who helped you learn new skills or go through tough times.
These days, mentorship is used in numerous formal settings as it has proven to bring positive results. The mentorship process involves an exchange of information, experience and support. It is more than coaching as it is strongly rooted in relationship building between a mentor and a mentee. During this process, continuous support is as important as an exchange of knowledge.
Professional mentorship is valuable not only to help mentees gain employment, but also to enhance their integration, knowledge acquisition and career growth after landing a job.
Marisol: Following the thread of your response, who is a good mentor?
Iryna: A good mentor has a desire to help. A mentor does not always have all the answers, but it is a commitment to support a mentee through tough times that is crucial for mentorship. A good mentor is approachable and a good listener. Every mentee comes with a unique set of circumstances and it is the role of a mentor to enter every new match with an open mind.
Marisol: As a mentee, what should we expect from a career mentorship?
Iryna: When it comes to a career mentorship, a local mentor can offer guidance and support with respect to: developing career objectives; explaining Canadian workplace language, culture, and etiquette; providing employment research and engagement strategies in his or her industry; directing the mentee towards the most effective networking opportunities; supporting the mentee in the application process; and most importantly a mentee has a chance to gain valuable insights about the specific profession from an ‘insider’.
Marisol: Lastly, what do you recommend to make the most out of mentorship?
Iryna: First of all, the guidance that a mentor provides can significantly accelerate your career growth by helping you avoid mistakes. The Norwegian proverb says “Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition is high." Your mentor can help you to identify shortcuts as well as pitfalls in advance. So ask questions! Inquire about your profession, industry and labour market, but also seek information regarding the culture and local values. It is often a lack of knowledge about the latter that impedes newcomers’ career growth.
Secondly, appreciate every piece of advice, every supportive word and every late evening meeting your mentor generously provides you. It may not look so valuable at the moment but it might be a seed that yields great results in the future.
And last but not least, never stop looking for mentors. A mentor could be a more experienced professional or perhaps a younger enthusiastic colleague who is passionate about sharing their knowledge about new software. There is always something to learn from every person we meet on our journey.
Marisol: Thank you Iryna for sharing your invaluable advice!
I am also very happy to have Christina here with me to share her mentorship experience, which helped her in finding a fitting job in Canada. Christina, why did you decide to get a mentor?
Christina: I was transitioning careers and I thought it would be beneficial for me to have guidance on how to get my career started in Canada. I also wanted to learn more about Canadian workplace culture and feel confident in my interviewing skills.
Marisol: How was your experience? What were the benefits?
Christina: I had a wonderful experience with my mentor. My mentor always took the time to thoroughly explain any questions I had and would even provide me with resources to learn more about what I was asking. She always supported and encouraged me to pursue my career change. There were many times when I wanted to give up but she was always there to lift me up and push me to succeed. Thanks to her, I was invited to several networking events where I was able to expand my network. I would highly recommend other newcomers to join a mentoring program. It is such a positive experience and you have so much to gain from a mentoring program. I am forever grateful for my mentoring experience.
Marisol: Thanks Christina and Iryna for sharing your valuable experience.