I've had a mentor in the past, and for the past year I mentored a few devs myself. What I think you can never do (unless the dev loses a whole day or week on a task) is to give them the solution. "I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.". I often shift them in the correct path, without telling them much, just an overview of things. What usually happens is, either they learn a lot, or..if they're not passionate enough, they just quit and don't even bother to google for 5 minutes. Either way it's a good thing, because, either he learns, or you know he's not passionate enough about web dev and that you'll probably wasting your time. "When the student is ready...the master will appear.". I often did the mistake that trying to help everyone, and that doesn't work, they must have the initiative to come to you, that way you know their intent is pure and both of you will be rewarded with fulfilment. That being said, practically you should know what's their level, and assign them with tasks a little bit over their level, that way they'll use all the resources they know, and they need to learn a little bit more to finish the task you gave them. Thoughts?
I guess it's a balance. Sometimes I find I want to give them an answer because it is something I've found a good solution to myself, and it's not something everyone would know. So in some ways I see it as trying to pass on my experience. But I guess it depends on the situation/problem!
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I've had a mentor in the past, and for the past year I mentored a few devs myself. What I think you can never do (unless the dev loses a whole day or week on a task) is to give them the solution. "I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.". I often shift them in the correct path, without telling them much, just an overview of things. What usually happens is, either they learn a lot, or..if they're not passionate enough, they just quit and don't even bother to google for 5 minutes. Either way it's a good thing, because, either he learns, or you know he's not passionate enough about web dev and that you'll probably wasting your time. "When the student is ready...the master will appear.". I often did the mistake that trying to help everyone, and that doesn't work, they must have the initiative to come to you, that way you know their intent is pure and both of you will be rewarded with fulfilment. That being said, practically you should know what's their level, and assign them with tasks a little bit over their level, that way they'll use all the resources they know, and they need to learn a little bit more to finish the task you gave them. Thoughts?
This is very true, thanks for the advice.
I guess it's a balance. Sometimes I find I want to give them an answer because it is something I've found a good solution to myself, and it's not something everyone would know. So in some ways I see it as trying to pass on my experience. But I guess it depends on the situation/problem!