Effects of the similarity between mentees and mentors on the evaluation of the ‘Mentoring for Migrants Program’

E Neuwirth, I Wahl International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring 2017

The Mentoring for Migrants Program aims to increase migrants’ chances in the Austrian labour market. Results of the online questionnaire (N=177) showed that the program was evaluated positively by the mentored migrants. No relation was found between objective similarity in the sociodemographic background of the mentees and mentors and the program’s evaluation. However, the evaluation of the program also increased with the increasing subjectively perceived similarity. The time mentees and mentors spent together partly mediated this relationship. It is discussed that matching mentees and mentors according to their attitudes could positively influence the program’s success.