Formal mentoring occurs within a structured program. The mentor is formally paired with a mentee and is expected to act as a positive role model. He may follow an official program. Informal mentoring has no structure and comes about when a person chooses a mentor as a role model. Those involved in informal mentoring may not define their relationship as mentor and protege; they may look upon each other as colleagues or friends. Both types of mentoring can be useful, and many people adopt several mentors over the course of their careers.
It is common for an organization to assign a mentor to new recruits. This mentor explains operational matters and answers questions. Other career mentoring relationships may involve a senior employee guiding someone in the early stages of his career. He might help with career plans and provide opportunities to the junior employee.
Schools and colleges may set up mentoring programs to help students with academic progress or to enable students to find out about fields of employment. In this type of mentoring, the mentor provides study advice, work experience opportunities and help with job applications.
Personal growth mentoring is based on a common bond. This might be a shared faith or a common interest. In this type of relationship, the mentor might arrange visits to places of mutual interest or take the mentee to a meeting or worship service.
Community mentoring programs pair a youth with an adult. The mentor is expected to be a good role model and attend community activities with the young person.
Typically peer mentoring takes place in schools and youth groups. An older child with a caring, empathetic nature forms a relationship with a younger child. They talk about issues that concern them, and the older child offers support.