Mentorship Matters: Developing the Skills Necessary to Become a Good Mentee

Week 3 of our Mentorship series is all about what makes a great mentee!

We are proud of the education our apprentices receive at the FTI of BC.  Our instructors are construction professionals who dedicate their time to passing on their years of experience and knowledge to the next generation of journeypersons.  They work hard every day to make sure that our apprentices are skilled and ready for the jobsite, including being ready to learn from a mentor.  Apprentices are eager to begin work and need good mentors to guide them.  This is why we have decided to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of good mentorship through the “Mentorship Matters” program.

The FTI of BC’s progressive approach to mentoring trains both journeyworkers and apprentices, with the “Mentorship Matters” program.  Developed by SkillPlan, in partnership with the IBEW’s Electrical Joint Training Committee, this forward-thinking collaboration aims to prepare journeyworkers to become effective mentors, and apprentices to develop the skills necessary to become good mentees.

During training at the FTI of BC, apprentices are taught the “Six Skills for Apprentices” and given video examples of what each skill may look like on the job.  Goal-setting, active listening, and engaging with your mentor will help you find success in achieving your Red Seal.  Every qualified journeyperson owes their trade skills to the experienced journeypersons who have mentored them along the way, and you are no different.  One day, you will be the mentor and will train a new apprentice.  You are an active part of the mentor/mentee partnership and your willingness to learn and take direction will help you build confidence and learn to work safely and efficiently on the tools. 

A good mentor is respected for their skill and knowledge in their chosen craft and is a great benefit to an apprentice.  They are committed to taking the time to work with you to instill their values of a job-well-done and to help you graduate with a solid foundation in your trade.  The short video below features some of our hardworking apprentices describing the essential skills necessary to be a good mentee.  Mentors want to help you reach your highest potential and to encourage you to take ownership of your learning and apprenticeship. We believe in you!    

We will be sharing video clips and information over the next couple of weeks, to show the value of the work that mentors do and the ways in which a mentee can benefit from on the job instruction.

For more information on “Mentorship Matters” or how you can participate in training, contact the FTI of BC.

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