Adding Value to the Guild: The Mentoring Program
By Margie Banin, Mentoring Coordinator
One of the characteristics of our Guild that I appreciate is the generosity of our community in sharing knowledge and supporting one another. This happens in person, through the Guild’s online happy hours, and at Red Pencil. It also happens through our Mentoring Program.
Every year around 5% of Guild members receive mentoring from their Guild peers. This mentoring is making a difference in their lives and careers! As the program coordinator, I’ve received a lot of positive feedback. I’d like to share some excerpts with you all here.
“Participating in the Guild's mentoring program as a mentee has been meaningful and affirming to me as a new editor seeking my footing in the field. If you are like me and you have completed a certificate program in editing but aren't sure what next steps to take, a mentor can help you explore potential pathways, clarify your vision, and set reasonable goals. And to any members considering becoming mentors, please know that your encouragement and expertise go a long way!”
“I found the experience very valuable. Beth Jusino was my mentor. She really showed me a level of professionalism that I hadn't seen before. She also showed me the level of effort and commitment it takes to build and sustain an ongoing client base. I think seeing this first hand was the most valuable part about the experience. I was also very comforted simply to have someone to talk to about editing issues.”
“Please do it—this is an amazing, rewarding, much-needed program that is vital for mentors and mentees alike. Both will learn so much from one another and it's also a terrific way to network!”
I’d like to also share some of the feedback I’ve received from our Guild members who have stepped forward to volunteer as mentors for the program. But first, let me tell you how needed you are.
Members and Guild mascot Giant Pencil attending an in-person Guild Mentoring Program Happy Hour in 2018.
That 5% of our membership benefiting from mentoring annually is supported by only 1.5% of our fellow Guild members. To be blunt, for the program to continue, we need more mentors.
I am asking you to consider volunteering as a mentor.
With more mentors available, the task is lightened for all.
I understand volunteering as a mentor can sound daunting. How can I be a mentor? How much time will it take? What if I don’t have the answers?
These are questions we all have (because we’re human!). Don’t let them stop you from volunteering as a mentor. Instead, reach out to me at mentoring@edsguild.org or via the Guild’s mentoring page www.edsguild.org/mentoring, and I will happily schedule a time to talk about being a mentor with you.
Our Spring Session is scheduled to begin in mid-April, and we currently have 7 mentees on our waitlist. Wouldn’t it be great if all of them could be mentored now instead of waiting for the fall?
Thank you for listening. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
And now, as promised, here is some feedback from our mentors.
“Do it! It's a great opportunity to share knowledge and skills across experience levels. As a mentor, it was nice to be reminded of all the knowledge I hold.”
“As a mentor, you have so much to offer. And if you have a mentee who challenges you with a question, it's an opportunity to learn something new. Teaching is learning!”
“To editors considering being a mentor, leave your ego at the door as well as your imposter syndrome. I am far from perfect, and my mentees all know that. Knowing we're human makes them feel better about the process. You can take as much or as little time as you need or want with mentoring sessions. It doesn't eat up a chunk of our time, and we can give our mentees the leg up we wish we'd had when we first started out. It's just a conversation between two editors, one tenured, one just starting out. The latter has questions and concerns, and we have the answers they need to thrive in this industry.”
