How can you provide mentees with access to diverse career paths?

I agree, expanding your own network will definitely be useful for your mentees, giving them access to new potential mentors. However, as a mentor with substantial years of working experience, you generally would have amassed a large network of people across different industries and seniorities. One equally important thing for me, is to listen actively to your mentee and coach them to think critically about what truly interests them, so that you can link them up with the right people, rather than just casting a huge net over a vast ocean.

A mentor should conduct regular meetings with his mentees to guide them for their career. It is always nice to have senior mentors on Linkedin who can guide you properly. Get a proper mentor for diverse career growth.

I agree- expand your network and sponsor your mentees where appropriate. It’s also important that we provide mentees with the skills to expand their own network. Teach them the “do” and “don’t” of it all. Coach them on how to break beyond those within their direct realm of influence and to step outside of their comfort zones to connect with others that they admire or who are in their field of study.

I've found that providing mentees with an overview of the field of interest is helpful. Afterwards, present mentees with a roadmap showcasing potential entry points and discuss how each avenue offers unique challenges and rewards, enabling mentees to identify areas aligned with their skills, interests, and long-term career goals. Encouraging exploration is the next pivotal step. Mentees benefit from the freedom to delve into specific areas of interest. This hands-on approach allows them to gain practical insights, test their preferences, and discover their professional strengths. Regular follow-ups are integral to the mentorship process. These interactions provide opportunities to discuss mentees' experiences, challenges, and revelations.

Definitely. Sharing my story, and personal experiences on why I made specific career moves definitely helped my mentees. The motivations behind why I switched from working in the financial services sector to public service, as well as how I leverage on my seemingly unrelated work experience in finance to thrive in my career in government, has helped my mentees understand that a career path is a dynamic journey that meanders, and can take you across different jobs and industries.

Enable your mentee to leverage AI for this. A prompt could be: "You're a career coach, I'm a project manager in my first year of work. My soft skills include organization, leadership, and multi-tasking. Tell me about a few different career paths that can start with my current position."