Mentorship Program

LWHRA is proud to offer two focused mentorship programs designed to pair individuals who would benefit from the guidance of an experienced HR leader outside their own organization with a volunteer mentor. The group meetings and one-on-one mentorship support the mentee’s professional growth as well as provide networking and learning opportunities for all participants.

In 2026, LWHRA will offer two 3-month mentorship programs.

Early Career Mentorship in the Spring

Mid-Career in the Fall

Please read more about each program and fill out the inquiry form below if you are interested in applying.

The program is only available to individuals within driving distance of Bellevue, WA.

While there will be valuable networking opportunities, this Mentorship Program is not designed to help people find jobs in HR.

Early Career HR Mentorship Program:

March – May (3 months)

This program provides foundational support, skill-building, and insight into navigating the HR field. You will love this program if you’re looking for direction in your HR career and interested in diving into topics like basic introduction to employment law and compliance, employee relations, compensation, DEI, talent acquisition, and other HR topics the mentee group is interested in learning about.

Who Should Apply (Mentee Requirements)

HR professionals with 0–2 years of experience, or looking to explore or expand your breadth of experience in other areas of HR
Individuals transitioning into HR from another field
Students or recent graduates beginning their HR careers

Program Structure & Important Dates

Cost for Mentees: $25 due before the program starts
Deadline: January 31, 2026. Applications open December 15, 2025.
3-month program: March 4, 2026 – May 27, 2026.
Group meetings every 2 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, split 50% in-person in downtown Bellevue and 50% virtual
Group Meetings dates are: March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27. Please ensure you are available to attend all group meetings before applying.
Mentor–mentee pairs meet every 2 weeks between group sessions

Mentor Requirements

Minimum 5 years of HR experience as well as the requirements listed below under “Who can be a Mentor?”

Mid-Career HR Mentorship Program:

September - November (3 months)

The Mid-Career HR Mentorship Program supports HR professionals who are ready to elevate their strategic impact and expand their leadership capabilities. Designed for individuals with 3–5 years of HR experience, this program dives deeper into advanced HR topics, organizational influence, and career progression.

Who Should Apply

HR professionals with 3–5 years of experience
Individuals preparing for higher level HR roles such as HR Manager or HRBP
Those seeking to broaden their strategic HR thinking

Mentor Requirements

Minimum 10 years of HR experience as well as the requirements listed below under “Who can be a Mentor?”

Program Structure & Important Dates

Cost for Mentees: $99 for LWHRA members and $199 for non-members. Due before the program starts.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026. Applications open June 1, 2025.
3-month program: September - November. Exact dates to be announced.
Group meetings every 2 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, split 50% in-person in downtown Bellevue and 50% virtual
Mentor–mentee pairs meet every 2 weeks between group sessions

Who Can Be a Mentor?

The mentorship program is a tremendously rewarding opportunity for those who are interested in giving back to the local HR community. You will contribute to the growth and development of the next generation of HR professionals. To help support the mentorship program’s objectives, a mentor should:

Have a diverse background in HR; ideally, at least five years of experience is needed to mentor the Early Career Mentorship Program and ten years of experience is needed for the Mid-Career Mentorship Program.
Be committed to the success and development of their mentee and be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to support their mentee. This includes being available to meet with your mentee every two weeks during the 3-month program.
Demonstrate deep respect for individuals from a variety of backgrounds and a strong commitment to developing ethical professional relationships.
Understand that this is a volunteer opportunity; as such, there is no compensation for this role.
Be a current SHRM member with LWHRA designated as your primary chapter.

On the other hand, the program is not designed to support mentors that:

Do not have a breadth of experience across the HR function. While mentors may be specialized at this stage of their career, there will likely be a greater breadth of need from mentees. There may not be opportunities to pair you with a mentee explicitly interested in your area of expertise.
Have specific criteria that may limit the number or type of mentees they are interested in partnering with.
Are seeking to utilize the program for personal objectives that conflict with the mentor role, i.e., utilizing the program to promote a product or develop business connections.

How to Apply

Fill out our mentee or mentor application form below to apply. Have your resume and LinkedIn handle ready. Thank you for your interest in joining the LWHRA Mentorship Program!

Mentor Application (Early Career)

Mentee Application (Early Career)