2026 - My Year as a Mentor
Becoming a mentor was never part of the plan when I started my career in technology. From supporting graduates through Version 1's Associate Programme to mentoring refugee women through the TENT Programme, this year taught me that mentoring isn't about having all the answers, it's about listening, learning, and helping others find their own path.
Taking the First Step into Mentoring
When I first started my career in technology, I never imagined I would one day be in a position to guide or mentor someone taking their first steps into the industry.
Earlier this year, I became a line manager for the first time, which in itself was a significant milestone in my career. Around the same time, I became involved in Version 1's Associate Programme, an initiative designed to support graduates and people looking to start a career in technology.
Alongside this, Version 1 partnered with the TENT Programme, an organisation that helps refugee women build careers and settle into employment in the UK. As a mentor, this involved activities such as CV reviews, interview preparation, career guidance, and helping participants navigate an entirely new job market.
Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
Outside of my day-to-day role, mentoring has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences I've had. While supporting graduates entering the technology industry felt like a natural extension of my own journey, the TENT Programme pushed me far outside my comfort zone.
I often found myself questioning what value I could really bring. Was it imposter syndrome? Perhaps. But I genuinely wondered how a middle-aged man from the Northwest of England could advise someone who had arrived in the UK after experiencing circumstances I could never truly understand, and who was now trying to build a new life and career from scratch.
One thing I would say, we have had some genuinely brilliant conversations, whether that's about our experiences in life, technology, kids, whatever, it's something I have took a lot from during my time with TENT.
The Challenge of Breaking into Technology
There where a lot of things I would take for granted these days if I was looking out for a new role. A lot of junior roles have been reduced, due to the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, making it extremely difficult to land a junior role at any organisation.
There were a few examples of this where junior roles where available, but when interviews where conducted, those roles were expecting a lot of experience and hands on with technology, how are these junior roles?
Personally, if I was hiring, I would look at a candidate’s skills, how they were during the interview, are they keeping up with the latest technology? Are they running their own projects? Are they learning? Rather than advertising a junior role and then asking for 2-3 years of experience, doesn’t make sense to me.
What Mentoring Has Taught Me
What I eventually realised and learned was that mentoring isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening, sharing experiences, offering encouragement, and helping someone see opportunities they might not yet see for themselves.
And in many ways, I learned just as much from the people I mentored as they learned from me. One of the best things to come from the TENT programme, is that I have actually gained a new friend, who I will continue to help and support after the TENT programme ends.
Looking Back on the year
Looking back, 2026 has been a year of growth, not just in technology, but in how I use the experience I've gained throughout my career. Whether mentoring members of my own team at Version 1, supporting colleagues through the Associate Programme, or working with participants in the TENT Programme, I've discovered that helping others succeed can be just as rewarding as any technical achievement.