
Shadowing and Mentorship in Robotics: Gaining Experience Before Your First Full-Time Role
How to Find Mentors, Build Industry Connections, and Develop the Technical & Soft Skills Needed for a Thriving Robotics Career Robotics is rapidly reshaping industries and society, from manufacturing lines increasingly run by automated arms to drones delivering parcels, and from surgical robots assisting complex procedures to autonomous vehicles navigating city streets. As new possibilities emerge daily, the demand for skilled professionals in robotics continues to surge. Yet, stepping into this field can be daunting if your experience lies mostly in university coursework, online tutorials, or hobby projects. Employers often seek candidates with practical, hands-on knowledge of robotics platforms, real-world integration challenges, and effective team collaboration. That’s where shadowing and mentorship enter the picture. By learning directly from experienced robotics engineers, researchers, or technical project managers, you gain invaluable insights into the daily realities of designing, testing, and deploying robots. This article explores the importance of mentors in the robotics arena, strategies for finding them (whether formally or informally), how to maximise your value as a mentee, effective methods for shadowing robotics professionals, and tips on expanding your network. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to build both the technical chops and confidence needed for your first full-time role in this vibrant, fast-changing sector.