How to Choose an AI Mentor
That Gets You Results

Focus on four things. (1) Recent industry experience. They should be actively working with AI systems or hiring AI engineers, not just teaching theory from years ago. (2) Track record of successful transitions. Ask for specific examples of people they've helped land AI roles, including their backgrounds. (3) Clear communication style. During your first call, notice if they explain concepts clearly and listen to your situation. (4) Goal alignment. They should understand your specific target, whether that's LLM engineering, MLOps, or a different specialty.

Avoid mentors who: (1) Promise guaranteed job placements or specific salaries. No one can guarantee outcomes. (2) Have no verifiable engineering experience you can check on LinkedIn or GitHub. (3) Offer no structure or curriculum, just 'we'll figure it out as we go.' (4) Push high pressure sales tactics or limited time discounts. (5) Only show testimonials about how great the content is, never about actual job placements. (6) Cannot explain their process for getting you from where you are to employed.

Ask these during your discovery call. (1) What AI systems have you built or deployed in the last year? (2) Can you share examples of people with my background who transitioned successfully? (3) What does a typical week look like working with you? (4) How do you handle it when someone gets stuck or isn't making progress? (5) What's your process for resume review and interview prep? (6) Why do you think you'd be a good fit for my situation specifically? Their answers reveal whether they're a practitioner or just a content creator.

Check multiple sources. Look at their LinkedIn for current and recent roles at companies building AI products. Review their GitHub for actual code, not just tutorials. Search for conference talks or technical blog posts that demonstrate depth. Ask them directly what they built, what tech stack they used, and what challenges they solved. Real practitioners answer these questions easily with specific details. People who only know surface level material struggle with follow up questions.

Not necessarily. While some programming experience is helpful, many of my clients have successfully transitioned from web development, data science, or other technical backgrounds. We'll assess your current skills during our strategy call and create a personalized plan that meets you where you are.

Investment details are discussed during the 30-minute strategy call, where we'll assess your goals and create a custom plan. The program is designed to pay for itself quickly through your increased salary. Most AI engineers see a 20-50% pay increase.

Most clients invest 10-15 hours per week, but this can be flexible based on your schedule. We'll have weekly 1:1 calls plus time for you to work on projects and learning. The key is consistency. Regular, focused effort beats occasional marathons.

You become a member of the AI Native Engineer community, and you stay and keep going. Career transitions take different amounts of time for everyone, and I'm not going to abandon you if things take longer. You get ongoing support through good times and bad.

Online courses give you content. 1:1 coaching gives you a personalized roadmap, direct feedback on your work, career strategy, interview prep, and accountability. You get answers to your specific questions and guidance tailored to your unique situation instead of generic advice meant for everyone.

Absolutely. Most of my clients work full-time and make steady progress. We'll schedule calls at times that work for you and create a realistic plan that fits your schedule. Consistency matters more than intensity.