Whether you’re brand new to your job or a seasoned employee, there may come a point in time when you will be seeking guidance and direction on strategically planning your professional development and career moves. While some companies may provide mentoring opportunities for junior staff, it is always to your benefit to develop your own mentoring relationships with professionals who will truly understand your needs.
Unlike a work-sponsored mentorship program where you may not be able to find your “perfect fit”, if you seek a mentor on your own you can have better success at pinpointing someone who will have the expertise you are seeking. So how do you go about finding your own mentors?
Identify your needs. Are you trying to get a promotion in your industry? Transition to a different but related field? Gain exposure as an “expert” in your field? Knowing your needs is important for several reasons–one of them being that you can’t identify (or approach) a possible mentor without knowing what you will need from him or her.
Identify possible mentors. Now that you know what you need, identify people who can provide the information and insight you are seeking. You want to consider leaders in your field, but make sure that they have the actual experience and background that will be influential in taking you to the next level. The person at the highest level is not necessarily the best mentor for your needs. Look for someone who has already been in a situation similar to yours. You want to learn from their experiences and model a similar system that you can use towards your own success.
Where to look. There is no magical list of people who are interested in being mentors. In fact, being in this type of role may never have even been on their radar…until you came along! There is no reason not to broach the subject with those from whom you want to learn. Consider using LinkedIn or your college alumni association for introductions to potential mentors. Take a class or seminar and approach the instructor about serving as your mentor. If you gained insight from an article or blog post, write to the author. Again, have a clear focus and a strategy for getting them to join your “team”. Give them a reason to want to share their nuggets of wisdom with you.
Know what’s appropriate. Be mindful of your mentor’s time, but don’t assume that they only want to spend five minutes speaking with you. Let your mentor hold the reins when it comes to the time constraints, but also try to gauge how much time they will be able to give to you before you even ask for it. Know whether it is more appropriate to have a 10-minute phone conversation or a more formal lunch (which you should offer to pay for).
Send a thank you note. Show your mentor your appreciation by sending a thank you note or even a small gift. A handwritten note, complete with some key points you learned from your discussion, is always a nice touch! It is also an opportunity to keep the conversation going. Once you’ve made the contact, you want to have an ongoing discussion and give your mentor the opportunity to see how you progress.
This post was originally written by Victoria Crispo for WomenWorking.com.
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