How to thank a mentor- sample letters for showing gratitude

Are you looking for the best way to express gratitude to an incredible mentor? If so, you’re in the right place. I’m going to give you the right words and best practices on how to thank a mentor.

Good things happen in your personal and professional life when you have a great mentor.

The best mentor provides invaluable gifts when it comes to sharing their time, expertise, and experience with you. They help put you on the right path and are often a great source of inspiration.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a mentor. Being a mentor is hard work. It requires giving ongoing encouragement, sharing sound advice, and patience. As a mentee, sharing words of appreciation regularly is a great way to continue building and maintaining your relationship with your amazing mentor.

How to thank a mentor: Step by Step

Show Gratitude

Genuine and sincere appreciation messages go a long way! When being a mentee, it is easy to get wrapped up in focusing on your life goals only. Remember, you are lucky to have a wonderful mentor, so it’s important that you do the right thing and thank them with sincerity. There are many different ways you can do this.

How can I thank a mentor?

There are so many ways to choose from when it comes to how to thank your mentor. You can choose one or two ways to thank your mentor. Whichever you select, make sure you consider their personality and personal preferences.

Write a letter

A handwritten note is a great way to thank a mentor. In my opinion, writing has become a lost practice for many people, which is why this is a great way to express gratitude. Writing takes time and intentional effort. There’s something about seeing the written word that touches the hearts of those on the receiving end.

Meet face-to-face

Depending on the location of your mentor, you can schedule a time to meet in person or virtually. If you’re meeting in person, consider taking them to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant for lunch or dinner. Meeting face-to-face creates a genuine connection and it allows them to see your smile and appreciation (physically!)

Thank you card

Nothing beats a nice thank you card! If you’re a crafter, think about making your own custom thank you card. If you prefer to buy one, check out some of these unique thank-you cards right on Amazon! Not only are they beautiful, but you can also easily customize them with a message provided in this article.

Take a look at this beautifully designed card on Amazon by clicking here.

You’ll love this custom thank you card on Amazon by clicking here.

Check out this beautiful thank you card for your mentor by clicking here. 

Check out this custom thank you card on Amazon by clicking here.

How to thank a mentor: send an email

If your schedules don’t align and you do not have access to their physical address, send an email! The most important part is putting your message out there for your mentor to receive it. No matter which method you use, they will appreciate it!

Below are several examples of how to thank your mentor.

Templates for how to thank a mentor

Dear mentor (aka their name),

As I reflect on the last (# of months or years), I realize that I have become the best version of myself due to the significant impact you’ve made in my life. You have been a great role model, a wonderful friend, and most of all, a fantastic mentor.

Your words of encouragement, wise guidance, and patience have truly made a great difference in how I approach new challenges, lessons, and experiences.

You have given me a strong foundation of courage, flexibility, and eagerness to pursue my chosen career path. The life lessons you’ve shared along the way have truly been invaluable.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for being a wonderful mentor. I couldn’t have asked or wished for better.

Thank you for everything!

Dear (Name of Mentor),

They say finding a good mentor is hard. Lucky for me, I found an amazing mentor.

With that in mind, I wanted to take a moment to express my eternal gratitude for everything you’ve done for me over the last (# of months or years). You truly have a heart of gold that is experienced by everyone who is lucky enough to know you.

You have been with me every step of the way and have truly helped me explore and commit to a career path I’m excited about! I’ve gained incredible life skills from your teachings and experiences.

I have come such a long way under your guidance, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you and your valuable time.

Thank you for everything!

Dear (Name of Mentor),

While reflecting on my recent accomplishments from the past year, I realized that I made the right decision by choosing a great leader to be my mentor. That great leader is you.

Words cannot begin to describe my level of appreciation for your mentorship. I have learned a great deal from your leadership and you have been instrumental in my career development.

From pointing me in the right direction, taking my goals to new heights, and helping me find better ways to tackle workplace dilemma’s, you truly are one of my greatest mentors.

I appreciate the great difference you’ve made in my life and I wanted to formally thank you for being an outstanding mentor!

Sincerely,

When thanking your mentor, you don’t need to focus on having the perfect words. Instead, show your heartfelt gratitude and genuine appreciation. Writing a thank you note to your mentor is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, feelings, and personal progress due to the valuable time they’ve spent with you. It can be a short message or a long one. Either way, stay true to you what words feel right to you.

In addition to the samples and advice above, this article, on how to thank a mentor would not be complete without the following advice.

How to thank a mentor- additional advice

Acknowledge your mentor’s contribution

When thanking your mentor, you want to share how their mentorship has impacted your life. Mentors want to know that their contribution has been meaningful and impactful. After spending time, energy, and resources on mentees, they want to know that their efforts aren’t in vain.

Examples of contributions can include helping you land a new job, securing a promotion, boosting your personal brand, or helping you learn new skills and knowledge. Either way, share your success in both your personal and professional life that they have helped you achieve.

Share your success

Mentors love a great success story. Your success is their success. Your success is directly tied to their contributions. Just like tracking your wins and accomplishments on the job, tracks your successes based on mentorship. For a bonus, tell them exactly how you incorporated a piece of advice, guidance, or new skills to achieve your goal.

Offer to help your mentor

Believe it or not, sometimes mentors need help to. Mentors are great, but they are not experts in everything. You may have a skill or expertise that your mentor doesn’t. When you’re chatting with your mentor, identify their pain points and see if you can help.

If you notice they are having trouble navigating a program, project, or dilemma that you have skills in, share your knowledge with them! Your solution can range from introducing them to someone in your network, providing a referral, or sharing a resource. Don’t be afraid to give back when you see an opportunity.

What else can I do to thank my mentor?

Pay it forward

Become a blessing to someone else. I strongly believe in paying it forward. Remember, your mentor took the time to teach, lead, and guide a stranger. The best thing that you can do is to pay it forward and do the same for someone else.

Use the techniques and lessons learned from your mentor to guide your mentee and help them achieve their goals.

Take them out for coffee or dinner

Do you live in the same city or state as your mentor? If so, getting together in person is a great way to show your appreciation for their mentorship. You can take them out for coffee, lunch, or dinner. Choose the option that is most comfortable for you.

Food and drinks are the way to most people’s hearts. Sitting down for a meal is also a great opportunity to get to know your mentor on a deeper level. If you both are comfortable with each other, you can talk about personal hobbies, experiences, big dreams, and even fears. This can help deepen your relationship while expressing your appreciation in person.

Give a gift

Everyone loves a gift! If you decide to get a gift to thank your mentor, make it sentimental. Think about their personal interests or hobbies.

Relationship building is important between mentors and mentees. Getting to know each other on a non-surface level helps when it comes to selecting a gift.

There are a variety of things you can get your mentor to say thank you. Whether it’s a book, gift card, office décor, or something related to their hobby, they will appreciate your effort.

Share a recommendation or endorsement

As the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Another one for you, the written word is powerful!

Giving your mentor a written recommendation helps boost their reputation and confidence. It can be helpful to their career and future endeavors. You can write a letter of recommendation or even leave an endorsement and testimonial on LinkedIn.

Conclusion

When it comes to how to thank a mentor, there is no right or wrong way. The most important part of the process is doing it. Share your gratitude and appreciation in the way that feels the most authentic and meaningful to you.

Mentoring is a selfless act and many mentors do not expect praise or recognition. Thanking your mentor is the icing on the cake. Remember to keep your gratitude genuine, sincere, and heartfelt, and don’t forget to pay it forward in the future.