No. People often confuse mentoring and coaching. Though related, they are not the same. A mentor may coach, but a coach is not a mentor.

Mentor is usually more experienced and qualified than the ‘mentee’. Often a senior person in the organisation who can pass on knowledge, experience and open doors to otherwise out-of-reach opportunities.

Coaching is generally not performed on the basis that the coach needs to have direct experience of their client’s formal occupational role, unless the coaching is specific and skills-focused.

There are other significant differences.