As a trusted advisor, a mentor is willing to spend their time guiding the development of another chef. While a chef also needs leadership to be successful, there is a difference between leadership and mentorship. A leader is someone who ensures their team has the support and tools to achieve their goals. However, a mentor takes the time to get to know you and the challenges you’re facing and then use their understanding and personal experience to help you improve. A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you and helps to bring it out.
When searching for a mentor, there are certain qualities to look for. A successful mentorship has someone who is encouraging, supportive, honest, and is a good listener. They are humble about their success, always work hard at their pursuits, and are always willing to critique rather than criticize. Even as a mentor, they will still use every day as an opportunity to learn and are always willing to openly share what they know. A mentor should be someone that resonates with you, that you want to follow and learn from.
Mentoring has no age requirements, though they should have some tenure in the industry. Prioritizing impressive titles also isn’t necessary. Experience, the willingness to teach, and someone who has a wealth of knowledge is what matters and makes an ideal candidate. A mentor should be a person who is already at the stage that you are aiming for and is willing to show you the steps. There are dozens of culinary associations that can be excellent sources of mentorship. Any group that gathers chefs together, either online or in-person, is an excellent resource for finding a helpful guide. Mentorships tend to evolve naturally; the most successful ones are not forced and have chemistry.
Mentors play a particularly meaningful role in the lives of upcoming chefs. Established chefs often credit the support and guidance of a mentor as an essential ingredient to their success. Influential mentors offer chefs an invaluable experience that can round out formal training and prepare them for career longevity. It’s never too soon to ask for advice—and it’s also never too late.