Purpose: To avoid indecisiveness and a lack of direction in making a successful career transition, it may be necessary to modify the career transition process through career mentorship (CM). The study aims to investigate career adaptability as pathways through which CM is related to trainees' career transition. Design/methodology/approach: A three times cross-sectional data were collected from 480 national industrial skills development program (NISDP) trainees among five industrial training fund (ITF) trainees in Southeastern Nigeria. Findings: The analysis revealed that CM positively associated with the trainees' career transition behaviors. CM is also positively associated with the trainees' career adaptability. Also, career adaptability is positively associated with trainees' career transition behaviors. Likewise, career adaptability mediated the link between CM and career transition behaviors. Originality/value: Conducting the study in a previously neglected context extended our understanding of the indirect relationship between CM and trainees' career transition behavior.