No captain sails a ship entirely alone. To navigate difficult waters, you need a crew—and more importantly, you need someone who has sailed these waters before.
In the world of apprenticeship, this person is your mentor.
Sometimes a mentor is assigned to you officially. Other times, it’s just the senior journeyman or the shift supervisor you work next to every day. Regardless of how you meet them, the relationship you build with experienced staff will define your success. They hold the knowledge that isn’t in the textbooks: the shortcuts that are safe, the history of the machinery, and the politics of the company.
But mentorship isn’t automatic. You have to earn it. Here is how to build a strong alliance with the veterans on your team.
1. Respect the “Old Salt”
There is a natural tension between the classroom and the job site. You might come in with the latest training, new terminology, and modern techniques. The veteran on your team might be doing it the way they’ve done it for 20 years.
The Strategy: Never start a sentence with, “Well, in school they said…” while a senior employee is showing you their method. Even if you think your way is better, learn their way first. Respect the experience that comes from doing a task a thousand times. There is usually a practical reason why they do it that way—a reason you won’t understand until you’ve done it yourself.
2. Be the “Shadow”
The best way to get someone to teach you is to show them you are worth teaching. Mentors gravitate toward apprentices who are observant.
The Strategy: Watch before you ask. If a journey-level worker is setting up a complex tool or handling a difficult patient situation, don’t interrupt. Watch their hands. Watch their body language. Watch the order of operations. When they are finished, ask a specific question:
“I noticed you adjusted the pressure before you turned the valve. Why did you do that step first?” This shows you were paying attention to the details, not just daydreaming.
3. Gratitude Goes a Long Way
Teaching an apprentice takes time. It slows the veteran down. When they stop their work to explain something to you, they are sacrificing their productivity to help your career.
The Strategy: Acknowledge the effort. A simple “Thanks for showing me that trick, that saved me a lot of time” helps build a bond. If you treat their knowledge like a commodity you are “owed,” they will stop sharing it. If you treat it like a gift, they will give you more.
Navigator’s Note: A “Boss” tells you what to do. A “Mentor” explains why it matters. You will have many bosses in your life, but true mentors are rare. When you find one, hold onto that relationship.
The Bottom Line
You are building a network, not just a resume. The veterans on your job site are your bridge to the future of your industry. If you approach them with humility, respect, and a willingness to learn, you won’t just gain a skill—you’ll gain an ally for life.