Starting out in your career can be overwhelming and intimidating. I remember after graduating with my bachelorsI had an idea of who I wanted to be and what I envisioned my life to look like but not necessarily what I wanted to do and how I would actually succeed in getting there. To say I was patient in my quest would be dishonest. I was eager to get to where I wanted to be despite not being clear on the details and strategy to get there. Thankfully, I knew there was much more to the journey than just seeking out work and getting there solely on the little knowledge and my personal appeal. The most important thing for anyone starting out is having a relationship with someone, specifically a designated mentor who has started where you are and can provide advice and feedback that will in the end add value to your professional pursuit and ultimately help you land those career goals you’ve set for yourself to support your desired lifestyle.
Professional Development is the what – courses studied in school, continuing educational courses, preparing and testing for certification and attending conferences for additional knowledge gain on topics related to your field or industry. While the “what” is important, clarity and the “how” is where a personal advocate comes in, usually through Mentorship serving as a source of wisdom when needed. Having a mentor at any level of your career is valuable and helpful to you when seeking clarity in the information and in most cases provide a different perspective or approach to applying the information learned realistically in a work environment. The purpose of mentors are to be challenging and influential enough to help you reach your desired professional goals by sharing some of their own experiences and how they themselves arrived to their now success which may just be the career path of your interest. They won’t necessarily provide a blueprint on how to obtain the goals you’ve discussed with them but instead help you in forming a path yourself by helping to develop your own route and ways to get there.
During the beginning stages of my career transition, I leaned on a mentor who helped me in finding clarity in my direction and helped me with gaining confidence to not only go after what I wanted but feel comfortable enough to have tough but transparent conversations with hiring managers and be open about the things I felt I deserved like pay. The success of any mentorship is determined by not only personal intention but also personal desire.
So why is mentorship so important? If you are new to the professional world, struggling with defining or obtaining progression, even if you have been contemplating a career change, I highly suggest you seriously consider seeking out someone who could be your mentor through these transitions. The key however, is to have the foresight and humility to ask for mentorship.
Flexible
The great thing about mentorship is its flexibility. Its a relationship that doesn’t require a set schedule and doesn’t involve pressure or the act of holding you accountable to meeting achievements discussed on a set timeline. As things come up and curiosity persists, you can lean on your mentor for advice and guidance without the restriction of a routine. Its great being able to seek out council when you need it, based on a time that works for both the mentor and mentee. Starting out, you may be more aggressive in your meetings especially if determined to develop that natural relationship and ensure the relationship is mutually comforting. However, considering that both of you are most likely at different stages in your careers and phases in life, this may not be a regular occurrence going forward.
How to Maximize the Experience
Understanding that both people involved in this relationship can benefit from the other is the best way to maximize the experience of mentoring. I look at mentorship as a two way street. Just as I am seeking advice on how I may obtain successes, I can also inspire my mentor as I share in what ways I was able to reach the successes that may not have been something on my mentor’s radar or idea list. They are then subject to a different perspective and approach that may be beneficial to them in their current career stage.
Critiquing is naturally a part of growth and while we may know this its not always easy to digest and accept from just anyone. Hearing negative feedback from your mentor rather than your boss at work may be received in a different way if this is being received from work at all. In developing your relationship with your mentor, you will have also developed a certain level of respect, naturally being more open to their opinion whether positive or negative therefore, you’ll be more considerate of what they have to say.
5 Tips to Secure a Successful Mentorship
- Be intentional when choosing your mentor – Make sure the individual is capable of providing the level of advice you need.
- Respect Boundaries – Don’t abuse their time with aimless conversation or by constantly deviating from the purpose. Your mentor is not your therapist and you should not be using this time to share your work woes.
- Prepare! Always be prepared before reaching out to your mentor and setting up time to talk. Have a plan and be clear on the questions you want answered so they are able to provide the clear valuable advice expected.
- Understanding the role of a mentor is the most important and critical to start. Ultimately a mentor will provide advice but not walk you through each step or personally guide you through the process. Doing the work is your responsibility.
- Listening to your mentor’s advice and applying it is important, however, being transparent about your success and also struggles is just as important. This helps direct conversations to where they need to be and shows your effort as well as your appreciation for the relationship.
You might even look into virtual mentorship programs or local mentorship networking events if you do not know where to start looking. Knowing the difference between mentorship vs coaching will make the difference in your relationship and choice of mentor. Giving is just as important as receiving. If you’re at a place in your career, you might find a mentorship role satisfying.