In every professional journey, guidance from an experienced hand can make all the difference. This rings particularly true for Resident Medical Officers (RMOs), who are charting their paths in the demanding field of medicine. One instrumental role in this journey is that of a mentor.

What is a Mentor?

Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a senior or more experienced person, called a mentor, to a junior or trainee, the mentee or protege. The mentor functions as an advisor, counsellor, or guide and is responsible for offering help and feedback to the person under their supervision. A mentor's role, according to this definition, is to use their greater experience, knowledge and wisdom to help a junior employee by supporting them in their work and career, providing comments on their work, and, most crucially, offering direction to mentees as they work through problems and circumstances at work.

Most traditional mentorships involve having senior employees mentor more junior employees, but mentors do not necessarily have to be more senior than the people they mentor. What matters is that mentors have experience that others can learn from.

Mentoring is a longitudinal process which entails informal communication (usually face-to-face over a sustained period of time), the informal transmission of knowledge, social capital, and psychosocial support.

Supervision by comparison is a task-oriented role which focuses on performance assessment, developmental feedback, and accountability. A supervisor supports their team, manages workflow, and solves problems. They also monitor production, identify areas for improvement, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Supervision is often hierarchical, with the supervisor responsible for monitoring the provider's work.

As an Resident Medical Officer (RMO) you are embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers available. Medicine has a considerably longer training period than most careers with more extensive and stringent regulation. At times stressful and exhausting, postgraduate medical training is demanding with long working hours, on call duties, exacting standards, complex assessments and robust examinations. A supervisor is an essential part of the job but having a mentor who has been through similar trials and tribulations can offer invaluable benefits. These include:

1. Insight and Perspective: A mentor provides an external viewpoint, helping to expand your understanding of the profession beyond the immediate day-to-day tasks.
2. Career Guidance: A more senior or experienced physician acting as a mentor can help you navigate vocational challenges, decisions, and goals providing advice and insights to specialist fields and jobs which you may not have considered.
3. Skill Development: From clinical to soft skills, mentors can guide you in expanding and refining the competencies needed to advance in your career.
4. Mental and Emotional Support: Medicine is a demanding field, both physically and emotionally. Having a mentor to confide in and seek support from can be a great asset.
5. Networking: building a network of connections is a valuable resource for career development and finding jobs. A mentor can give you access to a large network of physicians in your chosen speciality.

The Search for the Right Mentor

A beneficial mentoring relationship does not happen by chance, it begins with finding the right person and that requires some effort.  Here are some actions you can take to find a suitable mentor:

1. Define your goals: Consider what you want to achieve through mentorship, and what you are looking for in a mentor.
2. Identify potential mentors: Look for people with relevant experience, expertise, and knowledge. You can also consider their enthusiasm, empathy, and passion for the field you want to grow in or their career trajectory.
3. Reach out: When you find a potential mentor, you can send them a professional message explaining why you want to work with them and what you expect from the relationship.
4. Network: Networking events are a good way to meet people in your speciality. You can also consider reaching out to your professional connections, such as your medical school alumni network.
5. Develop Mutual Respect: You must respect your mentor's experience and insight, but they should also value your ambitions and perspectives.
6. Build Good Rapport: Effective learning comes from comfortable communication. A good personality fit is crucial.
7. Commitment: Mentoring is a time and energy commitment. Your mentor should be willing and able to devote that to your development.

Strengthening the Relationship

After finding a suitable mentor, it is essential to make the most of the relationship. Make sure to:

• Express your goals: Be clear about what you hope to gain from the relationship.
• Take Initiative: Do not wait for advice. Be proactive and ask questions, request feedback, and suggest topics to explore.
• Give Thanks: Acknowledging your mentor's time and effort fosters a positive relationship.



The journey of an RMO, like most worthy ventures, comes with its share of challenges. But with the right mentor guiding you, the outlook is not just about surviving, it is about thriving.



Useful Resources

While you continue your job search, Odyssey Recruitment provides useful resources to keep your career moving in the right direction. Begin the application process now, and then learn more about how we can help you.

• Medical Job Search Tips: Use the content here to learn everything you need to know about optimal searches for medical jobs in different geographical locations and the physician recruitment processes.
• Medical Jobs by Specialty: Explore medical jobs around the world and learn about the various options and remuneration packages
• Junior Doctor's Tool Kit: a resource for resident medical officers starting careers, training and looking for jobs
• Tips for applying for RMO house officer and registrar jobs in New Zealand
• Understanding the role of the Relief Junior Doctor in New Zealand
• The 4 Stages of Medical Education in Australia and New Zealand