“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