Celebrating National Mentoring Month with AtkinsRéalis

What is mentoring?

For National Mentoring Month this January, we wanted to spotlight mentoring opportunities at AtkinsRéalis.

National Mentoring Month is about advocating for mentorship, its benefits to career growth, and helping professionals turn their career dreams into reality.

We caught up with Maria, Communications Lead at Linxon, who is based in the US, on her experiences as a mentee and how it has accelerated her professional development journey.

Linxon is a new company that combines AtkinsRéalis' project management expertise and Hitachi Energy's industry-leading technological knowledge. It's a testament to our joint collaborative approach that Maria and Clara's mentoring journey spans both.

Learn about what mentorship looks like at AtkinsRéalis in this blog.

What does a mentor do?

A mentor guides and supports an individual (their mentee) in their personal or professional development. Mentors typically possess experience, expertise, and insights that they share with their mentees to help them achieve their full potential and achieve their goals.

How to find a mentor

We have simplified the process of finding suitable mentors through an intuitive platform that connects individuals with experienced professionals. We've facilitated seamless engagement, ensuring that our employees can easily access guidance, support, and mentorship from seasoned experts within the organization.

I explored the employee portal and discovered that we have a mentorship programme and decided to give it a shot. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the company offers these resources for employees, who can sometimes get lost in our day-to-day activities.

Within the mentorship application, there are several options to choose from. I decided to pursue professional development, and the platform provided a list of names along with their credentials. This allowed me to learn about potential mentors and identify which mentors would be a good fit for me.

At AtkinsRéalis, we understand the significance of professional development, recognising that employees can sometimes become engrossed in their daily responsibilities; that's why we prioritize ongoing growth and offer the necessary resources to help you flourish.

What support does a mentor provide

My relationship with my mentor, Clara, who is based in the UK, has been great from the beginning.

First, we set some goals, and then we decided to schedule at least one meeting monthly in our calendar to maintain accountability.

We also agreed that these meetings should be flexible, accommodating our schedules and work priorities.

We actively think about what we want to accomplish for the next meeting or any new questions that may arise.

Mentors like Clara provide valuable guidance by setting clear goals, establishing consistent communication, and maintaining flexibility to align with the mentee's schedule and work priorities.

Through regular meetings and proactive discussions, our mentors ensure a supportive environment that encourages reflection, goal setting, and continuous progress toward achieving milestones.

How mentorship can impact your career progression or professional development

Personally, it has been an exceptional experience, especially because my mentor, Clara, is a remarkable leader.

She is transparent and dedicated to making a difference and lifting others.

My mentor has shared exercises, book recommendations, and personal experiences, encouraging me to see things from different perspectives.

She is knowledgeable with extensive experience in management and offers excellent advice, tailoring each session to my needs.

Having someone to offer guidance, who challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone and commits to helping you through exercises, provides a fresh perspective.

It's also fascinating that my mentor and I come from two distinct backgrounds, which allows us to share many commonalities despite our different fields. While I am in the communication field, Clara is in the engineering/nuclear field. This diversity enriches our interactions and broadens our collective understanding.

Mentorship is an invaluable asset that transcends boundaries, connecting professionals globally. It not only provides tailored guidance but also offers a diverse perspective, leveraging the international nature of AtkinsRéalis. A career at AtkinsRéalis unlocks a network that spans various fields and backgrounds within our international organization.

Are you considering a mentorship programme? Here is Maria's advice

The mentorship programme has been a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it.

My mentor has given me invaluable advice and boosted my confidence, and it's reassuring to know that I always have someone who can offer honest feedback and a fresh perspective.

Ultimately, we all need advice, it doesn't matter where you are in your career; having a mentor can provide you with an additional layer of support.

Accelerate your professional development journey with mentorship at AtkinsRéalis

Mentorship serves as a powerful catalyst for professional growth and development at AtkinsRéalis.

Through mentorship programmes, individuals embark on a journey enriched with guidance, support, and invaluable insights from experienced professionals within the organization.

This approach not only nurtures talent but also fosters a culture of continuous learning, collaboration and innovation.

Join us and accelerate your professional development with AtkinsRéalis and sign up for our job alerts.