What do Dr. Martin Luther King, Colin Powell, and Oprah
Winfrey have in common? They all
attribute a large part of their success to meaningful relationships they’ve had
with mentors. Regardless of what field you’re looking to enter, a good mentor
can provide many benefits that will help you excel in your career path.
As we are preparing to launch the third year of our Peirce
Student Mentoring program with an on-campus kickoff celebration, allow us to
share some reflections about what goes into a successful mentoring
relationship.
There are many different types of mentor/mentee
relationships. Some mentors may be professionals in your career field, while
others may simply be a role model you look up to. A good mentor will help you define
and refine your direction, help you realize your full potential, provide
valuable life advice, and push you to keep moving forward. You will need to do
the work and the self-assessment, but they will be there for feedback and
guidance.
Mentorships can come in all shapes and sizes. Some are
formal, others are informal. Some mentors meet with their mentee weekly or
monthly, and some connect through email, or on the phone. Others may meet
quarterly or every couple of months for lunch. The most important thing is that
you develop a relationship that is most beneficial for the both of you.
Here are some effective ways to find a mentor and tips for
developing a successful relationship.
Understand why you want a mentorship
The most effective relationships will be those where you
define what you’re hoping to gain even before you start looking for a mentor.
Identify the areas you hope to grow in or any challenges you may be having with
your personal or professional development. Think about your long term goals so
that you can find a mentor that can best help you grow into the person who can
achieve them. Ask yourself these
questions:
- What do I hope to gain from this relationship?
- How can the mentor help?
- Who would be the ideal mentor? Why?
Find your mentor
A potential mentor could be anyone you look up to personally
or professionally who is willing to help you reach your full potential. With
that said, you could find a potential mentor in a variety of different settings
and events. Some great places to find one include:
- Career related workshops
- Alumni
- Networking events
- Professional development events
- By talking to your professor
- Civic groups
- Chamber of Commerce
- LinkedIn connections
- Bosses or professional colleagues
Many mentees also say they found their mentor while
volunteering. Others have found theirs by setting up informational interviews
with professionals working in the field they’re interested in.
You would do well to do some research on a potential
mentor. A Google search or survey of
their LinkedIn profile ahead of an ask may provide valuable insight into their
background, skills and interests, and provide you with information for a future
conversation.
Develop the relationship
Keep in mind that being a mentor is a large commitment,
especially for busy professionals. Ease into the relationship. You should never
ask anyone you have just met or don’t even know to be your mentor. Perhaps
instead of coming right out and asking them to be your mentor, ask if they
would give you some advice or meet with you to answer a few questions.
Depending on the outcome of that meeting, you can move to formalize the
relationship. Consider asking if they would mentor you in a specific area
rather than broadly asking if they’d be your mentor.
Keep in mind this is a two-way relationship. You should
always be looking for opportunities to provide value to your mentor. In
addition to looking for ways to assist them, you should also show your
appreciation for their help and demonstrate your commitment to making the most
of the relationship. Be sure to keep them updated on how you’ve progressed and
thank them for specific things they’ve done to help you.
Look for a mentor who has already done what you’re hoping to
do, who understands what it will take to help you get there, and is passionate
about their field and helping others excel.
Good luck on your search! We’d love to hear how a mentor is
helping you succeed both in and out of the classroom so be sure to keep us
updated!
If you would be interested in being connected with an alumni
mentor as part of Peirce’s Student Mentoring program, email cds@peirce.edu or
call 215-670-9202. A second cohort of
the program will be launched early next year.
