January is mentoring month

If you need a resolution to inspire and motivate you, consider becoming a mentor to a skilled immigrant.  There’s no time like the present. Thirty per cent of mentors commit to mentor again, so it’s clear they gain as much as they give. Each of us can pinpoint a mentor – formal or informal – who made that difference in our lives. So, why not pay it forward?

All you need to commit are 24 hours spread out over four months. Meetings can be in person, online, or over the phone and can include referrals for information interviews.

“Mentoring provides real professional development,” says ten-time mentor and associate manager at Sun Life Financial, Joe Ferreyro. “You learn about other cultures and get to interact with many types of people. I do a lot of mentoring on the job, so I can apply what I learn to my daily activities of coaching new hires.”

The Mentoring Partnership currently has the greatest demand for mentors in the Toronto Region in the following occupations:

1. financial auditors and accountants
2. chemists and biologists
3. sales and marketing
4. engineers (all streams but currently high demand for civil)
5. graphic designers
6. purchasing agents
7. distribution & scheduling

If you don’t see your profession listed here – but want to mentor – please be sure to connect with us.  Skilled immigrants from many different occupations are in our database, waiting to be matched. Learn more about becoming a mentor and TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership.

If you reside outside the Toronto Region and want to become a mentor, click here to see which Canadian communities offer mentoring programs for skilled immigrants and how you can get involved.