5 Tips for Apprentice Mentoring
Project Hire-Ed
Working together, we can build a bridge between hiring & education to help employers find talent & teach students skills
By: Danielle Kuglin Seago
Apprenticeships provide a sustainable pipeline of talent for organizations, they allow employers to build the talent they need and increase the retention of their workforce. One of the five criteria of a Registered Apprenticeship is assigning a workplace mentor to guide the apprentice. The mentor is an employee, different from the apprentices’ direct supervisor, who has experience at the workplace and will be involved in the on-the-job training.
The role of a mentor in apprenticeships is critical to success. Mentors provide guidance and direction to apprentices in an on-the-job setting. They can help pass along organizational knowledge and history and help refine technical skills. They also have the opportunity to provide guidance on the essential skills in the workplace, such as communication, organization, problem-solving and teamwork.
We’ve included several best practices to help mentors establish and support meaningful mentoring experiences for their apprentices.
Put together a plan on how you want to learn more about the apprentice. Take the time to get to know them on an individual basis and find your commonalities. Get to know their hopes, values, any barriers they face and plans for the future. Make it a two way conversation with the mentor sharing with the apprentice, as well. Figure out where the apprentice is at with their skills, meet them there and then help them grow.
2. Help the apprentice prioritize.
Apprentices’ are typically new to their roles and will need assistance in identifying the priorities. Encourage them to problem-solve through different scenarios so that they can understand the how and why. This is applicable in technical skills but also in workplace culture and organization dynamics. Support the apprentice as they navigate their way to success.
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3. Create a relationship that encourages and engages the apprentice.
Find out how the apprentice learns best and adapt your approach to keep the apprentice engaged. Consider the learning style of the apprentice. Are they a visual learner or more tactile? How can you adjust what you provide to the apprentice so they are engaged in learning? Mentors should be able to use constructive criticism and see that mistakes can be opportunities to learn.
4. Build trust.
Creating trust with the apprentice is important for apprentices to know they can go to the mentor to seek assistance and help. Focus on having quality time; pay attention and avoid having distractions when you are together. If the mentor is reporting back to the supervisor and/or HR on apprentices’ performance, ensure there is transparency so that the apprentice knows it is happening and what will be said. Should an issue arise that is beyond the scope of the workplace, the mentor should refer the apprentice to someone who can assist.
5. Support the mentor in developing their own communication skills.
Identify ways for the mentor to engage in learning opportunities to build their own communication skills, including active listening and patience. This learning could be participating in a formal training program or offering a chance for the mentor to discuss these skills with someone else at the organization. Allow ways for the mentor to continue their learning and growth as a professional too.
Project Hire-Ed, the apprenticeship program at College of DuPage, offers employers the opportunity to send their mentors, and others in their organization, to participate in a Mentor Training. The program is offered at no expense to employers hosting a Project Hire-Ed apprentice to help prepare and build skills. If you are interested in participating in the apprenticeship program at College of DuPage, contact us at: project-hire-ed@cod.edu.
U.S. Department of Labor. What is the Difference between an apprenticeship and an internship? Top Questions. https://www.apprenticeship.gov/help/what-difference-between-apprenticeship-and-internship .
Hamilton, Stephen; Boren, Zach; Arabandi, Bhavani; & Jacoby, Tamar. Mentor Guide for Youth Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Urban Institute. June 2021. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED613312.pdf .