The Mentor I Wish I’d Had

It was an autumn evening in 2023. I had a call in ten minutes with a developer I’d never met, and I was nervous.

A few weeks earlier, I’d created a profile on MentorCruise, mostly to see what would happen. Now, a stranger wanted an intro call, and I kept asking myself: Who am I to coach anyone?

Ten minutes into the call, the nerves were gone. We were just two engineers talking about work. I knew that conversation well. Years earlier, I’d been on the other side of it, wishing I had someone to talk to.

That’s why I started mentoring. I wanted to be the mentor I wish I’d had earlier in my career.

More than code

I expected C# questions, and I got plenty. But most people didn’t come for code. They came because they were stuck in a job that had stopped teaching them, a job search that wasn’t going anywhere, or a career they wanted to take to the next level.

Some were starting over in a new country, trying to prove themselves all over again. Having moved to the Netherlands myself, those conversations felt especially familiar.

Sometimes, mentoring means building a study plan or running a mock interview. Other times, people already know what to do. They just need someone to help them see it clearly, trust their judgment, and take the next step.

Lately, the questions have changed, too. Less “How do I learn Azure?” and more “How do I use AI tools without losing my own skills?” I’m figuring that out at work, too, so we explore it together.

The real reward

One morning in January, I noticed a new label on my MentorCruise profile: Top Mentor.

It was nice to see, but what stayed with me was a review from one of my mentees:

“Helped me get unstuck and gain confidence and self-trust.”

I’ve shipped big projects and worked on complex systems, but reading that meant something different. It’s a reminder that our impact isn’t always measured in code, features, or systems. Sometimes, it’s helping someone believe in themselves again.

Looking back, I’m glad I took that first call, nerves and all. I’ve learned a lot from the people I’ve mentored, and I’m looking forward to many more conversations.

If you’re a software engineer who’s feeling stuck, preparing for an interview, or figuring out your next career move, let’s talk.

Book a free intro call on MentorCruise. No pitch, no pressure. Just two engineers talking.

Let’s talk. 🤘