So, you’ve heard you should find a mentor. It is important and valuable, it’s true. But how does one find a mentor? Before I jump into tips on how to find a mentor, I want to debunk a few common myths.
Myths Young People Believe about Finding a Mentor
I hear these statements from young professionals and students all of the time when it comes to finding a mentor. “People are too busy.” “I emailed someone and never heard back.” “I don’t know anyone who can mentor me.” While all of these statements can ring true depending on the situation, there are people out there who are excited to mentor eager young professionals, I promise you this (and I don’t make promises I’m not absolutely sure of).
Why Professionals Actually Enjoy Mentoring
There are people out there who get excited about mentoring relationships. Mentees often focus on all of the reasons they shouldn’t or might not get a mentor when they should be shifting that focus on all of the positives. Sure, the professional will have to give up a little time here and there; however, many don’t mind. Here are a few reasons why:
- Mentoring is fulfilling. When you look at high profile professionals who seem to have it all professionally, they didn’t get where they are now on their own. It is likely they had a number of mentors along the way who invested time and energy pouring knowledge into them. When given the opportunity to give back to someone else who is in the same place professionally that they were years ago, it excites them! Keep this in mind as you find a mentor.
- Mentoring is fun. Being around young, passionate professionals and students is fun. Ask almost any established professional. The breath of fresh air and high energy that many young people possess is contagious and is enjoyed by those who have been in an industry or position for a number of years.
- Mentoring is beneficial. As a higher education professional who has organized many mentoring events, I can confidently tell you that professionals find opportunities to mentor very beneficial from a hiring standpoint. Mentoring has a strong networking component and it can serve both the mentor and the mentee very well. Managers like hiring people they know and trust. And, if the mentor doesn’t have positions available, he/she is likely to have a number of industry contacts that might. This reason alone is an excellent excuse to find a mentor!
I hope this brief list has convinced you that not only do you need a mentor, but that professionals actually ENJOY mentoring young people! So, how should you go about finding a mentor?
How to Find a Mentor: Five Different Approaches
There are so many ways to find a mentor. Yet, when you are first starting this task, you may not know where to begin. Keep in mind that a mentor/mentee relationship can happen organically without a formal agreement and that it is best if you have a few mentor-type relationships with established professionals in the field you are pursuing. Without further delay, here are five ways to find a mentor!
1. Ask family members for contacts
Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit (the easy stuff). Before you start cold calling or emailing people, start with easy conversations with your immediate and extended family members. With the holidays just around the corner, it is likely that you will be interacting with people at dinners, parties, and social gatherings. As you speak with people, tell them about your future plans and ask them if they know anyone working in the field that you are pursuing. You will be surprised who Aunt Sally or Uncle George knows! Utilizing your existing network to find a mentor can be one of the easiest steps you can take that will yield great results.
2. Identify people who have been impactful in your life so far
One of my favorite topics to discuss during initial interactions with my coaching clients is identifying people who have had a substantial, positive impact on the client’s life so far. Think beyond your family, we covered them already in step one. This time consider people in your network such as family friends, teachers, professors, and community leaders. Would reconnecting with any of these people be great options for mentorship? Or, could one of those impactful people connect you with someone in the profession you wish to pursue? Draw upon these contacts, they will enjoy hearing from you and getting an update on your life!
3. Get connected with Alumni Associations
If you are a young professional, reach out to your college or university’s alumni association. And, if you are a current student, do the same! People who are connected as university alumni (or sorority/fraternity alumni) have already demonstrated a desire to remain connected to the university, other alumni, and students. Use this to your advantage! I worked with a student who was able to attend an alumni golf tournament as a college senior. He made valuable connections at that event that helped him transition professionally to the new city after graduation!
4. Attend Networking Events
Networking events can provide similar benefits to getting involved in an alumni organization. Did you know that most towns and cities have free professional networking events? That’s right, they won’t cost you anything but can pay big dividends for you in the long run when trying to find a mentor! It is refreshing to established professionals to see young students attending networking events. They will enjoy sharing their professional journey, current career, and providing an industry perspective. If you commit to attending once a month, you’ll see strong relationships and trust begin to form. An organic mentor-mentee relationship (or multiple!) can easily form.
How do you find these events? You can find free, local networking events is by searching on EventBrite. I bet you will find a LinkedIn Local (in-person, local networking events) or a Young Professionals Networking group within minutes! You can also check with your local chamber of commerce for a list of local networking events.
5. Find a Mentor in the Virtual Space
This last tip may seem like an odd one; however, it works! I am proof. When I first launched my Career Coaching business, I was living in rural England thousands of miles from anyone I knew and with no contacts who had started an online coaching business. I knew how important mentorship would be to my success though, so I began seeking out mentorship in the virtual space. I found podcasts, blogs, and like-minded entrepreneurs to mentor and support me! Some of my greatest mentors in this process don’t even know who I am! That’s right, they have fed me tons of information and guidance in the form of one-way, podcast communication. I combine this mentorship with monthly, virtual meetings with service-based business owners who are further along in their entrepreneurial journeys and have found much success!
If you are interested in mentorship of this kind, search the millions of podcasts available to you on Spotify (or another free streaming service) and search LinkedIn and follow credible, established professionals in the field you are pursuing or who work for companies you are would like to one day work for!
Trying to find a mentor doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. If you are seeking career planning mentorship or assistance with resumes and a job search, professional mentorship can help you reach your goals more quickly as well! You can book a free consultation to discuss your goals and mentorship desires!
It doesn’t matter how specific your goals are, there is someone out there who can and will want to support you. Just like anything worth accomplishing, sometimes it just takes creativity and persistence!
Want help finding your perfect career?
As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one and assist them as they articulate their goals and develop a plan to gain career-relevant experience! I guide students through the internship search, application, and interview process, teaching them life-long skills for career success!
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