“Mentoring has been a huge benefit to me. Because of the questions my mentees ask, they push me to keep up with the economy and the industry. When I was looking for a job in 2007, some of the insights I gained through mentoring helped me.”
Why I started mentoring
After 35 years in IT, I was confident I could pass on what I had learned to someone just getting started here. I hadn’t done any volunteering that used my professional background. I like helping people and wanted to give back. I figured it would also help me develop my listening, people and leadership skills.
What I have learned
Skilled immigrants are resilient and courageous. I’ve had the opportunity to mentor both male and female skilled immigrants who range in age from 25-60 and who come from many different countries. The people I meet are unique and have so much to offer.
My advice to someone who’s unsure about becoming a mentor
Initially I was unsure if I would be a good mentor and what I should do, but The Mentoring Partnership team provides a lot of structure and support before you meet your mentee. Give it a try and you will learn how rewarding it is.
How mentoring fits in my life
Mentoring truly is a passion. I highlight mentoring at the top of my LinkedIn profile, always hoping to convince other people to mentor.
Mentee, Nicole Bertram, on why Veronica has made a difference to her
Before I met Veronica I had only secured a few phone interviews, but couldn’t seem to pass that stage. Veronica helped me map out my short-term and long-term career goals. She convinced me to apply for jobs where I had at least 75 per cent of the experience – jobs I had been missing previously. We worked extensively on how to tailor my resume and the difference in response rate was remarkable. We met in May and within weeks I had several interviews lined up. I had a job offer from the Toronto District School Board, my current employer, by August and even had to turn down another offer.
More on mentor Veronica Seeto
- HRIS Test Coordinator, Toronto District School Board.
- Mentor to 10 or more skilled immigrants through The Mentoring Partnership.
- Veronica heard about The Mentoring Partnership through The Toronto Star.