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Finding a mentor is just one part of the journey.

You need to maintain your relationship with your mentor too. Don’t ask for a mentor, have 1 meeting, then ghost.

Remember to always - at the very least - say thank you to people who’ve helped you. Even better if you can share exactly how your mentor has helped you and the impact they’ve had on your life.

The best, most enriching ways to stay engaged with mentors in your community are outlined below.

Tip #3 is my favourite because it can help you get a job 👀

1. Attend - and be engaged at - industry events

Okay, this is kind of a basic one. Everyone knows you should network and attend events - there are so many great online events nowadays you can attend.

But have you ever shared an interesting insight or takeaway from the event?

Have you connected with other attendees - or even the event speakers - on LinkedIn?

When you show up consistently and try your best, you increase the chances of your success. Fostering connections with many different people can lead you to mentorship opportunities you never would’ve known about otherwise.

A MESSAGE FROM ENTRYLEVEL

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EntryLevel’s events

At EntryLevel, we have hundreds of attendees at our events.

But only a few leave with lasting connections.

Here’s an example of a LinkedIn connection note I received after our last event:

ADPList mentorship events

ADPList also has great events you can attend. Join using our partner link: https://adplist.org/?ref=ADP-EN-BYM20

2. Find a niche-specific community

When I was learning UX design, I joined many UX communities. Some were too large and intimidating, while others had great engagement but was small enough that I felt comfortable asking questions. Everyone was really nice and willing to help, too.

What worked best for me was focusing on a specific location. Instead of a general UX design group, I looked for a Vancouver-based UX design group (since I’m in Vancouver, Canada).

Search for these on LinkedIn, Facebook groups, Reddit, and Google. Use search terms like “[subject] community in [location]” or “[subject] mentorship.”

Here, you can see I searched for “data analyst mentor” on LinkedIn and found so many opportunities, scholarships, and groups.

Example: Newbie Product Managers

An example of a niche, engaged, and specific community is Newbie Product Managers, run by an EntryLevel student (Lola). Lola facilitates opportunities for community members to shadow other product managers. You can even try the biweekly task simulations they share on their Instagram.

Example: Product Dojo

ProductDojo is another community for Product Managers based in Nigeria. Check out their Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/product.dojo/

Note: you can apply to join the community using the link in their bio.

Example: All About That Data

Tech Twitter has so many recommendations for data communities. All About That Data is my favourite.

3. Search for company-specific mentorship programs

Type this into your search bar:

[insert company name here] mentorship program

Many companies - especially bigger tech companies - will have a mentorship program set up for students to learn. After the program, you will get valuable internship and work experience.

For example, here’s Xbox’s mentorship program - although applications are now closed, following companies you want to work for on social media will help you stay updated with the latest opportunities.

Twitter accounts like Teneika’s also share opportunities regularly:

Don’t forget

✅ Always express gratitude. Say thank you to people who’ve helped you

✅ Set an agenda and goal of each meeting with your mentor

✅ Set calendar reminders to follow up with mentors and maintain the relationship

More mentorship tips

Top 4 tips to connect with anyone on LinkedIn

The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Finding Mentors

5 Types of Mentors that helped me go from intern to CEO

Find a mentor on tech Twitter

Reply to our Twitter thread to network!