“I am enjoying mentoring more than I ever thought I would do and seeing my mentee develop is personally satisfying.”
We caught up with Craig to hear more about the journey that led him to a successful career at Waldeck and an additional role as our in-house Mentor Trainer:
Hi Craig! Why did you choose to become a mentor?
I chose to become a mentor because, as an industry post-pandemic with greater hybrid working opportunities, I believe that younger and junior engineers need a more senior, experienced engineer to discuss things formally, and ideally, informally as a sounding board that they may not want to discuss with their line managers.
Please can you tell us a bit about your mentoring experiences so far…
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a mentor. The individual I am currently mentoring is making excellent progress, and while I do not take credit for their success, I hope I have contributed in some small way to their career development so far.
What motivates you in your work?
I personally think it feels really good to see younger people develop, and mentoring gives this opportunity.
What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?
What I enjoy most about being a mentor is the opportunity to share my experiences with someone who values my guidance and uses it to their advantage, helping them grow into well-rounded engineers and respected professionals in our industry.
What challenges do you often face in mentoring, and how do you suggest dealing with them?
The biggest challenge for me is managing time constraints due to project deadlines. I make it a priority to honor scheduled meetings and remain flexible to ensure that mentoring remains a consistent focus and is not sidelined.
What advice would you give someone considering becoming a mentor?
Do it! I am enjoying mentoring more than I ever thought I would do and seeing my mentee develop is personally satisfying.
What do you think makes a good mentor? How have you developed these traits over time?
It is important to listen and adapt to the varying personalities of mentees. I believe that with experience and exposure to diverse individuals throughout your career, this skill naturally develops and can be effectively applied in mentoring.
Additionally, trust between mentor and mentee is crucial, as I want my mentees to feel comfortable approaching me with any concerns, they may not wish to discuss with their line manager before seeking external input.
How do you typically structure your mentoring relationships?
The individual I mentor is a colleague from my office with whom I already have a strong working relationship, making the transition to a mentorship role a natural progression.
Craig is one of many mentors, follow the link to hear more from our mentoring team>