How to Start Mentoring Software Developers (and Why Now’s the Perfect Time)

Photo CC0 by Marc Mueller

Mentoring isn’t just for seasoned CTOs or career coaches — it’s for any experienced developer ready to give back, grow their network, and earn extra income along the way. With AI reshaping the tech landscape and junior devs struggling to break in, your guidance could make all the difference. Here’s how to get started

I know that many of my readers are skilled software engineers — hello there, you. Today, I’ll show you how to use your skills to mentor entry-level and junior developers while earning some extra money.

My career with mentoring started early, as I began training programmers on my campus while still studying. I also had mentees outside of school who went on to build great careers and startups. In addition, I often support developers online, and this blog is an expression of that — along with other projects and books I write.

When it comes to live mentoring, it’s a specific type — it’s a 1:1 meeting where you devote your time synchronously to your mentee. Lately, I’ve decided to start doing it too. Why?