FINDING A MENTOR FOR CAREER SUCCESS
As you move along your professional path, having someone cheer you on and advise you is an essential part of career success. You need a mentor (aka an advisor)! Here are some steps to finding and working with a mentor:
1. Determine the areas where you need help. Professionals can be eager to pick a mentor before they know what they want one for, resulting in frustration when they don’t get the help they really need. Analyze your career needs first, and then start your search for a great mentor.
2. Create a list of mentor candidates. These mentors should have already reached similar career goals. This list can come from different sources, so think through your different networks! Don’t forget that you can work with different mentors at different stages in your life. Once your list is complete, select your top three candidates!
3. Make the request! The best way to ask: be straightforward. Set up a meeting, schedule a phone call, ask if they could grab coffee. Let them know what strengths you admire, the goals you similarly aspire to reach. Be specific about the areas you would like help with. Asking someone to be your mentor is asking for a favor, so don’t get bent out of shape if they decline—make sure to thank them for their time no matter what!
4. Once you have found your mentor, figure out how you will work together. Take the initiative to create a meeting plan that respects both of your schedules, and always be respectful of your mentor’s time and privacy. If you decide to work with multiple mentors at the same time, let them know that you have someone helping you in other areas.
