Mentoring scheme a hit

I googled "mentoring" and a hundred and one definitions cropped up. They usually involved those who are older and more experienced imparting their wealth of knowledge to those who are younger and have less knowledge.

Delve into AQR’s mentoring scheme and a different picture emerges. Yes, there can be some of this going on but equally people apply to it with history in this area: not just newbies looking for advice, but also experienced quallies interested in the thoughts of those now at the core of the business as to where they might belong.

Our scheme, which is free and open to all members, was initiated in 2012, and organised by Vanessa Rogers, Trish Parker and Gerald Kreinzces. Given that it exists under the radar for the most part, AQR thought it was time to speak to some of the mentors and mentees who have been taken part.

“Crazy not to”

What was refreshing was the attitude of mentees towards it. “Given the opportunity to do it, you’d be crazy not to,” said Mentee A (they were all guaranteed anonymity before being interviewed) who has worked in research for some 18 months. Her expectations were simple: “I wanted to chat through some stuff, get advice on the best course of action to take, and the benefit of someone else’s experience.”

Each mentor sets out their stall online. “I only approached one,” said A. “I just got in contact with her because she had done research with kids, an area I was quite interested in hearing more about, and also because she was running her own company. To be honest, I didn’t spend a huge amount of time researching options just because I thought that getting any feedback or relationship with those offering help would be useful and interesting.”

Mentee B had a different agenda. She had literally just rejoined AQR when the email about the scheme came round and thought: “Wow, that’s brilliant.” Previously she had fallen out of the mainstream quallie world, busy launching teenagers into the world and studying for an MA. Even though she had kept her hand in, and knew what her skills were, she didn’t know where to put her efforts.

“I didn’t know what the scheme would deliver or whether I was a bit past it,” she says. “Then I got this email back saying you are exactly the person we are hoping to mentor.” Since then she has met up with her mentor a few times, praises her to the skies and has drawn up an informal contract. “I have been aware for a while that I have to relaunch myself if I want to continue as a freelancer,” she says, “but have had coaching before and didn’t want the same kind of pressure.” Mentoring, she feels, is very much geared to what she wants and how she wants to proceed without any of coaching’s drawbacks.