Mentoring: Options Outside of the Corporate World

If you are looking for a way to make a big difference in someone else's life, becoming a mentor is a wonderful way to do that. There are many different ways to connect to someone as a mentor. It isn't just about helping someone out in the workplace, although it can be that. You can mentor someone in many different areas of life.

Preparing a Student for College

Some young people might not have parents or other adult figures in their lives who can help them get ready for college. This can be the case even in families who are supportive of the student attending college if they are the first in their family to do so. There can be a great deal to navigate in terms of applications, campus visits, and getting funding, and that be complex for anyone who hasn't been through the process themselves. You can help out in many ways with researching schools, finding scholarships, helping with applications, and assisting in applying for any federal funding they might be eligible for.

An option for a close relative or close family friend might also be to cosign a student loan if they do not have another responsible adult who can do it for them. These private student loans can help make up the gap between other funding the student may be eligible for and their total expenses. You may be held responsible for the loan if the student defaults, so this does need to be someone you have a longstanding, trusting and ongoing relationship with, and you also need to have a plan in place, such as a written agreement with the student, in case they can't repay the loan. However, being a cosigner can also be life changing, offering the student a chance at an education that they might not otherwise have.

Non-Traditional Career Paths

If someone wants a career in finance, or to be a teacher or a nurse, there is a well-trodden career path for them to follow. But what if the person wants to be a painter, a writer or a yoga teacher? For less-traditional careers and avocations, for some of these may end up being pursuits that are very important to the person even if they do not make the bulk of their income from this method, it can often be difficult to figure out the different paths that are available. If you work in one of these areas, there are a number of ways you can help with career advice, finding fellowships, networking, training and more.

Tips for Success

As a mentor, there are a number of things you can do to increase the likelihood of a fruitful relationship with your mentee. Setting clear expectations at the outset is a good place to start. What do they hope to get out of the relationship? What are their goals? What can and can't you do for them? It's important to set professional boundaries with one another. Ask questions to help them dig deeper into what they are really after. Offer advice and share them ideas, but make sure that they are ultimately making their own decisions. Listen and offer encouragement. Tell stories about your own challenges when they are relevant to the issue at hand, but take care that you don't dominate your conversations.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.