The Many Benefits Of Becoming A Mentor - What’s In It For You?
Sep 26, 2025
When we talk about mentoring, we often focus on the mentee. That makes complete sense - after all, they're the ones we're trying to support. But something you might not have considered is how much a mentoring partnership can benefit the mentor as well. Over the many years we’ve been training mentors, we’ve seen time and time again that they get just as much from the partnership as their young mentee.
So, let's flip the script for a moment. How exactly do mentors benefit from mentoring?
Personal Growth
Mentoring is like holding up a mirror to yourself in the best possible way. Through guiding someone else, you will also learn and grow. You can:
- Develop greater self-confidence and self-awareness through the mentoring experience.
- Build empathy, patience, and emotional intelligence.
- Become more resilient and adaptable from navigating challenging conversations.
- Gain a deeper understanding of diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
“My experience of working with Goal 17 has been mind-blowing. The things that I've learned… it’s been absolutely invaluable… I think being a mentor is personal growth. It's not just about offering support to a young care leaver — it's a two-way partnership.” Marissa Baker, Mentor, Northampton
Practical Skills
The skills you develop as a mentor don't stay in the mentoring room. They follow you home, into your workplace, and into every relationship you have. You can:
- Improve your communication and active listening abilities.
- Enhance your leadership and coaching skills.
- Strengthen your problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
- Develop better conflict resolution and relationship-building skills.
“Being around younger people gives you fresh perspectives… I’ve even picked up insights into TikTok!” Simon Bywater, Mentor
Professional Development
Here's where the research gets really interesting. Mentors don't just feel good about helping others - they also see tangible career benefits. This includes:
- With Goal 17, you can earn university-certified mentoring qualifications and credentials.
- Your professional network will expand and your reputation will be enhanced.
- Mentors consistently report increased job satisfaction and career fulfilment. 89% of mentors we polled felt the experience had helped them grow personally and professionally.
“The training and the knowledge that has been given behind the scenes has just been absolutely invaluable. Goal17’s approach to mentoring is something that I’ve never experienced before.” M Baker, Mentor, Northampton
Purpose and Fulfilment
Mentoring can be more than just a volunteering commitment. Our mentors often tell us how it becomes a source of genuine joy and life satisfaction. You can:
- Find a deep sense of personal purpose from making a meaningful difference.
- Notice a positive difference in your mental health and wellbeing.
- Experience personal satisfaction from witnessing young people's growth and success.
- Feel connected to positive social change and community impact.
“It’s been a really fulfilling experience for me. I have seen my young person develop and open up to me and seen a shift in his mindset towards me, due to the consistency and support I have given.” Riz Hassan, Mentor
What’s in it for you?
Let’s come back to the question we started with – what's in it for you? As you read through these benefits, which ones jumped out at you? Which made you think, "Yes, that's something I’d like in my life right now"?
Mentoring offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking to grow as a person, develop new skills, advance your career, or simply make a meaningful difference in the world, mentoring delivers on all fronts. It's a place where helping others genuinely helps you too - not as a side effect, but as an integral part of the process.
What next?
Mentees deserve someone in their corner, someone who believes in their potential and helps them see it too. And here’s the wonderful thing: when you enter a mentoring relationship, you realise that the learning, growth – and fun! – go both ways.
If this all sounds interesting and you’d like to find out more and maybe sign up, please visit our page here!