It’s a cliché, but I really believe that mentoring is a learning, as much as a teaching opportunity. I created several resources helping new designers get the most out of mentoring and answering the most commonly asked questions. But having conducted over a hundred one-to-one sessions, I wanted to share what I learned as a mentor.

1. Set a clear framework

The theatre begins with a cloakroom*, and a mentoring session begins with a booking form, where the future mentee sets their questions and expectations in writing. It helps them organise their thoughts, and it helps me prepare for the session. I gather and keep some useful resources at hand, and can often send relevant information in preparation for (or, sometimes, instead of) the session.

I start each meeting confirming the topic (e.g. prepare for an upcoming interview), the desired outcome (e.g. to rehearse and get feedback on portfolio presentation), and the suggested agenda (e.g. we spend 5 minutes discussing the role, 10 minutes practicing a mock interview, 10 minutes reviewing portfolio, 5 minutes to wrap up).

Of course, we don’t always stick to the plan; conversations may take unexpected turns and lead to new questions, so you need to be able to respond to whatever is there on the day. It’s OK to deviate from a plan, but it’s still important to have a plan to begin with.

2. Your story matters

At first, I hesitated sharing personal stories, worrying to come across vain. But, little by little, I realised that the opportunity to hear a first-hand account of someone’s experience in the industry is one of the most valuable aspects of mentoring.

Sure, you might read a personal story in an interview or come across a few anecdotes in a podcast, but it’s very rare to hear someone in a more senior role saying: “I’ve been in…