Developing a Culture of Mentorship

It’s easy to spend your entire day, heads down, coding projects without thinking twice about other developers around you. We often get too absorbed with completing our immediate deadlines to spend any time considering the future of our projects, the future of our teams.

By not mentoring new developers we are failing our future. We are failing at providing new developers with the industry experience they need to be a one-day successful candidate for our teams.

Let’s talk about ways we can contribute to mentoring new developers in our teams and in our communities.

Transcript

1. DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF MENTORSHIP
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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2. I HAVE TAUGHT OVER 300
   WOMEN HOW TO CODE
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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4. FOUNDER & CEO
   DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
   • Love Obsessed with Dogs
   • Shoot Archery
   • Passionate about teaching others
   @tessak22 all over the internet
   @TESSAK22
   ABOUT ME
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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5. REACH OUT
   All the socials as
   @tessak22

   me@tessak22.com
   tessak22.com
   Please share pics 

   and commentary
   using #drupalcorn
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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6. JOB OUTLOOK
   In 2016, there was
   162,000 total jobs
   In 2026, there is expected
   to be 188,000 jobs
   10% of developers will retire
   over the next 10 years
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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7. JUNIOR WEB DEVELOPER JOBS
   Only 22% required no experience
   18% required one year experience
   60% required 2+ years experience
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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8. @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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9. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE
   THEY GETTING THIS
   EXPERIENCE?!
   @TESSAK22
   SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
   

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10. “
    Be the change that you wish to see in the
    world.
    -Mahatma Gandhi
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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11. FOR ORGANIZATIONS
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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12. WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE
    JUNIOR DEVELOPERS
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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13. TEAM MORALE
    Mentoring is rewarding and
    good for team morale.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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14. FINDING GOOD
    PEOPLE IS HARD
    Finding good people with the
    right skills is even harder. Hire
    the right people and give
    them the right skills.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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15. PASSION IS
    INFECTIOUS
    Junior developers are full of
    passion and drive to succeed, that
    will naturally ignite your team.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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16. NEW IDEAS &
    THINKING
    Diverse teams are the most
    successful teams. New
    developers will bring new
    ideas and thought processes.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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17. HOW TO GET STARTED
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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18. WRITE BETTER
    JOB DESCRIPTIONS
    If you are willing to hire new
    developers, do not require
    experience, instead focus on
    personality traits, like desire to learn.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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19. CREATE STRATEGIC
    PARTNERSHIPS
    Partner experienced
    developers with new
    developers that share similar
    goals and coding interests.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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20. DO NOT REQUIRE
    INVOLVEMENT
    Some people do not enjoy
    teaching others. Be aware of
    your current teams interest
    before making any decisions.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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21. MANAGERS ARE
    NOT MENTORS
    Mentees need to have an open
    relationship with someone
    they can confide in and relate
    to.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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22. OPEN LINES OF
    COMMUNICATION
    Ensure there are methods in
    which they can openly
    communicate with you and
    their mentor.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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23. TRACK PROGRESS
    & MAKE GOALS
    Make a habit of having regular
    check-ins. Do not just create
    partnerships and expect them
    to succeed.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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24. BUILD A
    PROGRAM
    Your newly mentored developers
    will be excited to share the
    knowledge and skills they
    learned. Turn them into mentors.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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25. FOR DEVELOPERS
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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26. GROW YOUR
    NETWORK
    You will meet a variety of other
    developers and companies as
    you start to search for new
    developers to mentor.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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27. IT FEELS GOOD
    I call this “Selfish Acts of
    Selflessness.” Doing good
    things makes you feel good.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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28. STEP OUTSIDE OF
    YOUR COMFORT ZONE
    And enjoy it. You will likely begin
    to attend more local tech events
    and meet some great people.
    There might even be beer.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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29. MASTER YOUR
    OWN SKILLS
    Teaching means you need to
    know your stuff. Mentoring will
    help you dig into things you may
    already know a little deeper.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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30. THEIR SUCCESSES FEEL
    LIKE YOUR SUCCESSES
    When your mentee meets their
    goals or lands their first job,
    their success will feel like your
    own, and it feels good.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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31. NEW LIFELONG
    FRIENDSHIP
    Your mentee will always
    appreciate everything you have
    done for them. You just made
    yourself a new friend.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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32. WHERE TO FIND MENTEES
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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33. COLLEGES OR
    SCHOOLS
    Universities, Technical College,
    High Schools or other private
    or public schools.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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34. CODE SCHOOLS
    OR BOOTCAMPS
    This is often the best place to find
    them. Our local code school has a
    mentorship program to get
    involved with.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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35. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
    OR GROUPS
    Check meetup.com for local
    meetups and tech groups. 

    Consider Girl Develop It,
    YesWeCode & Women Who Code
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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36. HACKATHONS
    Volunteer or put together a team
    for a local hackathon. You are
    definitely bound to be teamed up
    with or meet developers there.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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37. CONFERENCES
    Conferences or other
    conference-like events.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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38. TIPS FOR BEING A
    GOOD MENTOR
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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39. BOOST THEIR
    CONFIDENCE
    Even the most experienced
    developer gets imposter
    syndrome.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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40. GUIDE THEIR
    CAREER PATH
    Talk them through their career
    path and goals for future jobs.
    Provide information so they can
    make educated decisions.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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41. BE AVAILABLE
    Be available to them when they
    need you. Schedule regular in-
    person meetings or online coding
    sessions.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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42. SHARE RESOURCES
    WITH THEM
    You don’t know what you don’t
    know – they may overlook
    something because they don’t
    know they should learn it.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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43. WORKING CODING
    EXAMPLES
    Many people need to do in order
    to learn. Give them working
    coding examples, ideally heavily
    commented.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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44. LIVE CODING
    SESSIONS
    Working on a project will help
    them think through why one
    method vs the other, as well as
    allow them to contribute and feel
    like a developer.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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45. CODE REVIEWS
    Never tell them they did
    something wrong – instead ask
    them their thought process and
    encourage them to think of other
    solutions.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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46. LEAD A STUDY
    GROUP
    You can help more people at one
    time and the junior developers will
    have peers they can relate to.
    Power in numbers.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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47. TIPS FOR BEING A
    GOOD MENTEE
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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48. SET
    EXPECTATIONS
    Before you kick start your
    relationship, set expectations
    with your mentor about what
    you are hoping to achieve.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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49. RESPECTFUL OF
    THEIR TIME
    Ask your mentor their availability
    and what days and times work
    best for them.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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50. COME PREPARED
    WITH AN AGENDA
    Use your time wisely and come
    prepared with questions, topics
    to review and follow up from
    previous meetings.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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51. MENTORS ARE
    VOLUNTEERS
    Always remember that your
    mentor is a volunteer, unless it is
    required by your employer.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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52. OWN YOUR
    LEARNING
    Your mentor can provide you
    with great information, but you
    must be the one to actually use
    it.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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53. EXPRESS YOUR
    APPRECIATION
    Everyone likes to feel appreciated.
    This is especially important in a
    mentee & mentor relationship.
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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54. @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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56. FOLLOW UP
    Reach out if you or your
    company needs help getting
    started with mentorship.
    @tessak22 // me@tessak22.com
    @TESSAK22
    SLIDO.COM #DRUPALCORN
    

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