How Mentoring Works

• Finding the right mentor-mentee pair isn't easy, but it's helpful to match on the basis of shared interests. A volunteer's age, gender or education isn't always as important as his outlook on mentoring. While a mentor may initially be sought as a solution for specific behavior-- bad grades or drugs, for example--mentoring has proven most effective when the emphasis is on building a trusting relationship.
  
  Find out what your mentee's interests are, what obstacles she may be facing. Does she know where to shop for a dress suit for an interview? How to network and make connections? Typically, mentors and their mentees spend a couple of hours together every other week for at least a year.
  
  

Activities and Issues

• A mentor can offer expertise in education, health, career planning, finance and general social skills a youth will need to thrive as an adult. Help the youth realize many situations he faces are things everyone experiences, including you. Share personal stories to build trust. Once you establish a connection with your mentee, you can show him new opportunities and help him achieve his goals.
  
  If your mentee is nearing the college application process,
  take him to a nearby school.
  
  Impart information on basic finances. Work together to develop a budget, help him set up a bank account, and discuss responsible use of ATMs and credit cards. Teach him good spending habits and not to place too much value on material things.
  
  Help him prepare for the professional world by teaching exercises in time management and punctuality. Create specific goals such as finishing a school paper by a certain date or not partaking in leisure activities until necessary tasks are completed.
  
  If your mentee is interested in a particular career, help him inquire about obtaining an internship at a company within that industry. Conduct a mock job interview to prepare him for the real thing.
  
  If fitness is an issue, make exercise fun by taking him to play paint ball or go to a gym that offers simulated mountain climbing. Cook a healthy meal together, and casually introduce the idea of good nutrition and eating habits.
  
  

Help for Mentors

• If you suspect your mentee has a serious drug problem, seek assistance from an experienced or authoritative third party and ask for advice on how to help. The same is true for mentees who are pregnant, involved in a gang, or those experiencing family problems or suicidal thoughts.