How To Find a Freelance Mentor: Tips for a Perfect Match

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey

Navigating the freelancing world can feel challenging if you don’t know which way you’re headed. A mentor can be that trusted advisor and guide you need to help you along the way. They can help you find better clients, expand your professional network, learn new skills, and grow your business.

Companies have often provided employee mentorship programs for their staff. But, you don’t have to miss out on the mentorship experience just because you’re a self-employed independent professional.

In this guide on how to find and engage a freelance mentor, we’ll share tips on identifying a suitable mentor for you, approaching them the right way, and maintaining a beneficial mentor-mentee relationship.

Table of contents

• The value of freelance mentorship
• Identifying your mentorship needs‍
• Setting clear mentorship goals‍
• Knowing where to look‍
• Making the most of social media‍
• Reaching out for mentorship‍
• Making a good impression‍
• Crafting a personalized message‍
• Following up
• Setting up informational interviews‍
• Engaging in a trial mentorship session‍
• Establishing mentorship agreements and contracts‍
• Nurturing the relationship‍
• Evaluating and evolving‍
• Consider group mentorship opportunities

The value of freelance mentorship

CEOs, freelancers, marketers, astrophysicists, in fact, everybody can benefit from a mentor.

A mentor isn’t just for newbies. From sharing advice on getting started to providing reassurance that you’re on the right track, mentors can be valuable at any stage of your career.

If you’re feeling stuck and struggling to move forward, a good mentor can be the wind beneath your wings. Freelancing can feel challenging, especially in the early days when progress feels slow and obstacles seem overwhelming. Your mentor can help you stay focused and motivated to make sure you keep at it and follow through with your plans.

Mentorship can also be very beneficial for growing your skill set. If your mentor is in the same line of work as you, a mentorship can help you accelerate your hard technical skills. Of course, a mentor can also coach you on how to improve the key soft skills required for business success, such as client communication or collaboration.

Growing your freelance career is all about building relationships—with clients, professional contacts, industry professionals, and your mentor, of course. A mentor can help you expand your professional network and connect you with valuable contacts. They may even provide a valuable referral should you need one for a new client.

As someone who has “been there, done that,” your mentor can help save time, avoid common pitfalls, and prevent mistakes as you learn from someone more experienced and knowledgeable than you.

Identifying your mentorship needs

Ready to go on the hunt for a freelancing mentor? Start with self-assessment.

Before you ask someone for help with your freelance business, understand what it is that you may actually need help with. Identify areas you’re hoping to improve—whether they’re your technical skills or networking opportunities. This way, you’ll have a clear idea of what you hope to gain from a mentoring relationship.

Remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to one mentor for all your goals. Feel free to seek mentorship from different people to help you achieve different goals with your freelancing business. Learn from everyone you can while remaining focused on specific mentorship objectives.

Setting clear mentorship goals

Going into a mentorship with a clear idea of your goals and expectations will be much more beneficial for you than simply expressing a plea for help. Knowing exactly what your short-term and long-term goals are will help you identify the right mentor and seek their guidance.

For example, if your goal is to enhance your technical skills, you’ll need to find a mentor who’s a leader in your field of work and known for their expertise. On the other hand, if your primary goal is to expand your professional network, your mentor should be someone who’s not only great at relationship-building, but has lots of great connections and contacts themselves.

Vague expectations of your mentor will lead to vague (or no) results. Clear goals will lead to a more fruitful relationship.

Knowing where to look

Once you have a clear understanding of the kind of mentor you’d like, it’s time to start looking for them. So where can you find your ideal mentor? Suggestions include:

• Online platforms. Leverage professional networking sites like LinkedIn to find potential mentors
• Industry events. Network at freelancing and industry-specific events to meet experienced professionals
• Community involvement. Participate in relevant online forums and local meetups to expand your network and meet the right mentor

You can also try asking other freelancers for recommendations of someone who may be able to help you with your goals.

Making the most of social media

It should come as no surprise that social media can be very useful to help you find the right mentor. While LinkedIn is an obvious choice, consider Facebook groups, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok as well. Depending on your needs, you may be able to find just the right mentor on one of these platforms!

Start by tweaking your own profile on the most relevant social media and talent marketplace platforms for your needs. Describe yourself and your work so you’ll make a good impression with any potential mentors who come across your profile.

Engage with industry professionals and leaders. Follow, comment, and share content from individuals you admire. Don’t obsessively share content from one person alone, which can get you the wrong kind of attention. Comment and share thoughtfully to start building a relationship with potential mentors.

Reaching out for mentorship

How you ask for a mentorship from someone will depend on your relationship with the person. In most cases, it’s best to ask in writing. This can be a text, a message on LinkedIn or other social platform, or an email—the choice will depend on how formal or casual your relationship is with the person.

Making a good impression

Before you ask, get your “face” ready. Update any relevant information such as your LinkedIn or Upwork profile with your experience and career highlights.

When reaching out to this person, don’t be brash and ask for too much too quickly. Take the time to write a thoughtful note that expresses your sincere interest in them.

• Introduce yourself if you’re seeking mentorship from someone you don’t know. Tell them a little bit about yourself and your qualifications
• Explain what attracts you to your potential mentor, making clear that you aren’t reaching out blindly, but appreciate their success in their career
• Connect the dots for them so they see why their career is a match for your own goals
• Share why you feel your new connection can potentially help you in your freelance business

Be professional and respectful during this process. Regardless of whether they agree to a mentorship request or not, be polite and thank them for their time and consideration.

Crafting a personalized message

Always personalize your mentorship request with a thoughtful message. Even if you’re asking a few different people, write to each potential mentor individually.

Mention why you’re asking them in particular and provide context on how you think they can help you. Be very specific about what you’re asking for.

Following up

You may not always get a response straightaway or at the first try. Don’t be afraid to try again, within reason. Follow up again, politely, if you don’t hear back after a few days.

However, if you still don’t hear back, that’s OK. Don’t take the rejection personally. The individual you’re asking may be busy with their own career or overwhelmed with requests and unable to help. Move on and try to find someone else who may be a better match for you.

Setting up informational interviews

Once you do connect with your mentor, kick things off with an informational interview where you can both see if you’re a good fit for each other. Part of being a good mentee is preparing in advance for all your mentoring sessions—especially the first one.

You should already know your mentor well by now. Prepare a list of specific questions to ask them to help kick things off. This will help the conversation flow with purpose.

Be ready to also share information about your own career, plans, and expectations from the mentorship. This will help the mentor understand why they’re a good fit for you as well.

Engaging in a trial mentorship session

If all goes well with the first interview, it’s time to take it further. Start with a trial session to judge the potential of a longer-term mentor-mentee relationship.

• Share your goals from the relationship and how you plan to track progress
• Establish clear boundaries and expectations regarding feedback, accessibility, and mutual respect
• Discuss the frequency, mode, and duration of your interactions

During this session, feel free to ask specific questions to test the waters of your relationship. If this goes well for both of you, you can move forward with even more mentorship sessions.

Establishing mentorship agreements and contracts

Most mentorship relationships for freelancers are informal and don’t necessarily require a contract. However, it’s good to have an agreement in place so both parties involved know exactly what to expect.

Establishing a clear structure for your meetings will help both you and your mentor take this relationship seriously. It will also help you reach your goals with more purpose instead of an ad hoc manner. The structure of a mentorship agreement can spell the difference between an average and a fantastic mentorship experience.

Nurturing the relationship

Mentorship is a two-way street. While the mentee does most of the learning, it doesn’t mean you have nothing to give in return.

Always be prepared for your sessions so your mentor knows you value their time and want to make the most of it. Take responsibility and be proactive to maintain a long-term relationship with your mentor.

Show your gratitude to them by demonstrating how you’re actually incorporating their advice. Take notes, implement their tips, reflect on your conversations, and once again, come back with questions. An engaged mentee is more interesting for any mentor. Watching you succeed is a matter of pride for them as well.

As you’re learning and growing in your role, you may discover information that could be valuable to your mentor. Be ready to share this content so the sessions become even more mutually beneficial.

Evaluating and evolving

As your relationship grows, continue to evaluate the impact. Reflect on your progress and assess the value derived from the mentorship and areas of improvement.

Every relationship changes over time. Don’t be surprised if your mentorship grows into something quite different to what you had initially imagined. Sometimes this is a good thing! Over time your career goals will evolve; discuss these changes with your mentors so they can help you achieve your new and updated goals as well.

Of course, if you’re not quite getting what you need from your mentorship, you should feel free to move on. Be polite but don’t waste your time or theirs. Instead, find someone who may be better suited to provide guidance.

Consider group mentorship opportunities

Mentorship goes beyond one-on-one relationships. Some people may find it more beneficial to participate in group mentorships or masterminds. Search online, inquire on social media, or ask fellow freelancers about group mentoring opportunities that they may know of.

Group mentorships can be powerful for professional development as you learn alongside others with the same goal and purpose. A group experience exposes you to diverse experiences and perspectives so you also learn from your fellow mentees.

Upwork offers group mentoring opportunities via our Live Coaching sessions on Upwork Academy. These free or paid sessions with Upwork coaches help you find answers to your Upwork-related freelancing questions. Improve your profile, portfolio, or overall success with a virtual mentorship session.

Find mentors. Increase your freelance earnings

Finding the right mentor could have a tremendous impact on your business as an independent professional.

Ready to accelerate your freelancing career on Upwork? The Upwork Academy can help you gain a competitive edge on the platform with mentorship and coaching services. Choose from live coaching sessions or a one-on-one coaching strategy call with an Upwork coach.

Coached freelancers are three times more likely to land a project on Upwork.

Depending on your needs, Upwork mentors can help you craft a compelling profile, ace your interviews, improve client communication, and more.

‍Learn more about Upwork’s freelance mentorship and coaching services.