Mentorship as a way to support Ukrainians: Diana’s story

?? ??The goodjob team continues receiving positive feedback from mentees who took advantage of the chance to join our mentorship program and find new professional opportunities.?

Today we share the story of Diana Parkhomenko , who delved into marketing and started working as an SMM manager after the russian invasion of Ukraine. Diana wanted to shape her career plan, develop hard and soft skills, expand networking, and delve into the peculiarities of marketing abroad.

?Please tell us in more detail how many sessions you had with a mentor and how they went.

In total, my mentor and I had three sessions. Before each meeting, I prepared a list of questions I wanted to discuss.

In addition, she helped me improve my CV and LinkedIn profile. My mentor gave constructive comments that I implemented before the next session. During the sessions, we checked what was done and analyzed what was good and what to change.

My mentor was very open-minded and happy to answer any questions. Since the first meeting, we found a common language, discussed important topics for me, and even joked. Therefore, there was a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

? How did the mentor help you understand what skills you should improve or acquire?

The mentor gave me plenty of practical advice, listened carefully to my requests and background, answered all questions in great detail, and shared her experience. She showed me how she works on various tasks, advised me on life hacks, and also recommended courses that would help improve my skills.

? Did the mentoring experience affect your progress at work? If so, how exactly?

Yes, it gave me more confidence! My mentor helped me understand what tools and approaches are best to use in work, how to communicate effectively, and adjust processes in the team. She motivated me for further career development and gave me practical advice on future career steps.

? Besides improving your professional skills, your goals include moving to another country and networking in the field of marketing. Tell us, please, how exactly the mentor managed to help you with this.

Since I am currently abroad, I was interested in learning more about the marketing field in Europe and the USA, the requirements for marketers, and their differences from Ukrainian ones.

My mentor gave first-rate advice on developing hard and soft skills, for example, taking courses on "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Marketing" and improving skills in social listening and analytics. The mentor also suggested which professions in marketing are currently the most popular in the US market.

As for networking, I also got a lot of useful insights, as my mentor showed examples of how to build a professional network and establish contacts with people in your field using various resources, including LinkedIn.

? What tips or materials did you like the most, and do you think you will use them?

Thanks to my mentor, I have a whole list of courses in marketing, SMM, SEO, and brand marketing. Also, when we worked on the CV, my mentor shared examples of successful CVs, after analyzing which I was able to create my perfect one. I always wrote down all the key thoughts so as not to forget. Now I have structured it all and can always re-read the necessary information.

? What do you think is important for a mentee to do to get the best results??

First of all, you need to define what you want to achieve. You should also not be afraid to ask questions, take the initiative and, of course, keep in mind that you ought to allocate time to perform the tasks the mentor will give you to achieve results.