How can having a mentor help a young person in hospitality?

It’s not long until National Mentoring Day and over the next week we are going to be putting the spotlight on some of the mentors and mentees involved in our Mentor Me scheme. We are always on the lookout for new mentors to help support one of our younger members in hospitality and would love more members and Fellows to get involved. For the first of our spotlights we caught up with mentee, Ronald Tindoy MIH to learn more about how the scheme is helping him.

How has your mentor helped your career development?

My mentor, who is a general manager of a luxury hotel in London, has given me really valuable insights on how to become a manager. We have discussed the skills I need to develop to be successful in future management roles.

What’s the best piece of advice your mentor has given you?

The best piece of advice I have been given from my mentor was to stay focused and positive, even when times are tough. This piece of advice has been particularly helpful over the last six months.

Why are schemes like Mentor Me so important to the hospitality industry?

Mentor Me is important for the hospitality industry because it offers individuals like myself the chance to help lay the groundwork for a more rewarding career. It gives you a great support system and someone to turn to when you need advice.

Can you give us a specific example of a mentoring success story?

I was made redundant from my previous role and my mentor gave my guidance on how to prepare for interviews and how best to represent myself to the hiring manager. Just a few weeks ago, I was offered the role of reservations and revenue manager for an independent hotel in Dunbar.

Would you like to mentor someone in the future and if so, why?

Yes, I definitely would like to be a mentor so that I can share my knowledge and help someone else to fulfil their passion for the industry.