A career mentor can get you more money, faster promotions, and better connections.
If you don’t know how to find the right mentor for you, keep reading:
If you don’t know how to find the right mentor for you, keep reading:
Step 1: Solidify your career goals.
This is the most important step in deciding if you really need a mentor.
What do you even want to learn or hope to achieve?
Once you know this, you know where to look for a mentor.
This is the most important step in deciding if you really need a mentor.
What do you even want to learn or hope to achieve?
Once you know this, you know where to look for a mentor.
Step 2: Research potential mentors in your field.
The best place to start looking is within your current company. Look for individuals who have the experience and knowledge you want to gain.
If you have to, expand your search to your LinkedIn and Twitter networks.
The best place to start looking is within your current company. Look for individuals who have the experience and knowledge you want to gain.
If you have to, expand your search to your LinkedIn and Twitter networks.
Step 3: Reach out to potential mentors.
A lot of people you'll reach out to are busy. Always be respectful of their time.
Don't push them if they're not immediately on board. Make your request simple and polite.
A "no" today could just be a "no" for now.
A lot of people you'll reach out to are busy. Always be respectful of their time.
Don't push them if they're not immediately on board. Make your request simple and polite.
A "no" today could just be a "no" for now.
Step 4: Prepare for the meeting.
Come up with a list of specific questions you would like to ask your potential mentor.
Great questions are:
• What mistakes taught you the most?
• What were some challenges in X role?
• What skills do you wish you had sooner?
Come up with a list of specific questions you would like to ask your potential mentor.
Great questions are:
• What mistakes taught you the most?
• What were some challenges in X role?
• What skills do you wish you had sooner?
Step 5: During the meeting.
The questions you prepared should break the ice. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can from your mentor.
This meeting should feel like when your grandparent teaches you about things from their life. Not an interrogation.
The questions you prepared should break the ice. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can from your mentor.
This meeting should feel like when your grandparent teaches you about things from their life. Not an interrogation.
Step 6: Follow up and stay in touch.
Afterward, make sure to maintain communication. Don't just disappear, it will feel like you used them for what you needed.
Share any lessons you've learned or advice you can pass yourself. The best relationships are a two-way street.
Afterward, make sure to maintain communication. Don't just disappear, it will feel like you used them for what you needed.
Share any lessons you've learned or advice you can pass yourself. The best relationships are a two-way street.
Step 7: Show gratitude and appreciation.
Always be respectful of the time and effort your mentor is putting in. You can burn a bridge quickly and be tossed aside.
You'll never know the value of a relationship, but connections made years ago can be worth millions down the road.
Always be respectful of the time and effort your mentor is putting in. You can burn a bridge quickly and be tossed aside.
You'll never know the value of a relationship, but connections made years ago can be worth millions down the road.
Step 8: Be proactive.
One of the most valuable skills you can learn is "managing up".
Take the initiative to set up regular check-ins or meetings with your mentor. This also makes things easier.
At the very least, this keeps you on track so you can continue to make progress.
One of the most valuable skills you can learn is "managing up".
Take the initiative to set up regular check-ins or meetings with your mentor. This also makes things easier.
At the very least, this keeps you on track so you can continue to make progress.
Step 9: Give back
Pay it forward and mentor someone else. It'll teach you even more as you become an expert in your field.
Without mentees becoming mentors themselves, you'd never have found one yourself.
Pay it forward and mentor someone else. It'll teach you even more as you become an expert in your field.
Without mentees becoming mentors themselves, you'd never have found one yourself.
TL;DR - 9-steps to Mentorship
1. Identify your career goals
2. Research potential mentors
3. Reach out
4. Prepare for the meeting
5. During the meeting
6. Follow up and stay in touch
7. Show gratitude and appreciation
8. Be proactive
9. Give back
1. Identify your career goals
2. Research potential mentors
3. Reach out
4. Prepare for the meeting
5. During the meeting
6. Follow up and stay in touch
7. Show gratitude and appreciation
8. Be proactive
9. Give back
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