Become a Mentor
Q. As a Mentor, what are my obligations to be available?
Mentors are under no obligation to be always available.
When Mentor Services call a mentor to help a client , the first question is “Are you available?” If the Mentor has other engagements scheduled Mentor Services will call the next available mentor.
Once having accepted an assignment then there is an obligation to complete it or notify both the client and Mentor Services of the inability to complete so that alternative arrangements can be made.
Q. How long does mentoring take?
The average mentoring is approx. 2 ½ hours. This consists of a phone call to arrange a meeting and gather information, perhaps a one hour meeting to review the problems and offer opinions, with a follow up meeting a week later to ascertain progress.
Depending upon the relationship developed and the need the mentor may invite a client to call when needed, or arrange follow up contact. Some mentors are still intermittently in touch with clients after five years.
Q. How are mentors and clients matched?
Information collected from the client determines industry, classification of perceived problem and geographic location. This information is used to select a mentor with the appropriate skills and experience in the best geographic location.
Q. What happens if a mismatch is made or client and mentor know each other?
Either or both the client and the mentor are able to request a change for whatever reason. In the event of the participants being known to each other, each is asked if they would prefer to talk with a different person.
Q. What are the benefits of this program to the community?
The Mentor Services program creates a WIN, WIN, WIN situation in that small business, small business intenders and not for profit community groups’ benefit from the guidance given, businesses survive and grow and provide or maintain jobs in the community.
Mentors are enabled to contribute back to the community some of the benefit they have gained from it.
The community gains because some businesses and community groups are saved from failure and others are helped to thrive and create a cost saving to the community.
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