How to Help a New Colleague Get to Grips With the Job: Tips for Baby Boomers and Seniors

Are you a natural mentor? Many baby boomers and seniors are able to mentor their new colleagues. The word mentor describes how you can help a new colleague get to grips with the job. Without realizing it, you may become his or her mentor. Mentoring is an art. Some people make better mentors than others.

Freedictionary.com suggests that a mentor is “a wise or trusted adviser or guide.”

Mentoring a new colleague can be challenging, exciting and an informative learning experience for you, as well as fun for both of you.

What are some of the ways you can respond as a mentor to your new colleague’s expressed or unexpressed need for help on the job?

Consider the following suggestions.

Initial impressions are important, so introduce yourself to your new colleague and welcome him or her warmly, as that will help to put him or her at ease. Making the job environment a welcoming place is important. Introduce your new colleague to other employees on the job, while you do some basic orientation with him or her.

Note the following statements:

“I will help you.”

“I have been there.”

‘I know exactly how you feel.”

These three statements will put you in the position of being a mentor, who your new colleague will start to feel comfortable with, in respect to turning to you for assistance. He or she will begin to trust your advice and recognize that you are a sincere person, who is able to help.

Be friendly, as a new colleague often becomes good friends with his or her mentor. 

Treat your new colleague with respect as he or she may be a professional person, with a far higher level of education, training and expertise than you realize. Seek to learn where the problematic areas on the job appear to be in relation to him or her.

Be open to learn things with and from your new colleague, as you begin to draw upon the resources he or she has to offer. You will be glad that you did.

Find out what your new colleague is familiar and comfortable with, in terms of his or her job description, as well as things that seem to be overwhelming to him or her. If you have access to a job description and training manual, perhaps one that is online, give your colleague access to it. Go through it with him or her, if necessary.

Understand that he or she may need time to become oriented to the expectations of a new job. Be honest with your new colleague about the job requirements and train him or her properly.

Make certain that your colleague is able to function in the new job environment and is able to work safely and operate equipment properly, as well as carry out assigned procedures or tasks correctly. A new colleague’s lack of familiarity or lack of knowledge about a job should never endanger anyone’s life. Remember that ultimately the responsibility for whatever takes place may be yours.

There may be new skills that your new colleague needs to learn. Take the time to demonstrate these new skills to him or her. If necessary, work side by side with your new colleague, until you are certain that he or she is familiar with the assigned tasks, understands them correctly and is competent to function on his or her own.

Communicate with your immediate supervisor, so that he or she is aware of the level of work the new colleague is able to handle. Further training may be necessary in certain areas. You may want to participate in upgrading along with your new colleague.

Remember that in mentoring you are setting an example. You may soon find that he or she is mentoring others, in the same way that you did with him or her. Always set a good example when you are mentoring a new colleague to help him or her get to grips with the job.