Mentor Magic

Finding a Mentor can work magic for your career.

Magic in the sense that if you dedicate time and work hard, you will reap success.

We’ve talked about finding a mentor here and here.

Heather Huhman of USNews, points out some great ways you can benefit from a mentor relationship here.  

While Huhman’s article is strong evidence of the value of having a mentor, be certain that you pay it forward.  

You have skills, experience and advice that you can offer by becoming a mentor.  You might be able to help a high school student searching for a college.  You might mentor an underclassman trying to figure out a major.  

Who can you offer your mentor magic too?

Be a Mentor!

You have a lot to offer someone as a mentor.

Not 10 years from now when you have an established career, but right now.

You have navigated your way through high school.  You have taken the SAT and SAT II.  You have navigated college admissions.  You have applied for scholarships.  You have chosen between colleges.  

In college, you chose a major, learned to balance your time, completed difficult coursework and written a thesis.  You have applied for internships, interviewed and developed a resume. 

You have even learned the ins and outs of networking.

Find Opportunities to Mentor

Contact the head of your major department or a favorite professor at your alma mater and offer yourself as a mentor. 

Sign up with your college’s career services to mentor undergraduates.

Contact your high school and offer to serve as a mentor for college seniors

How to be a great mentor

Being a great mentor means offering your experience and advice.  But don’t try to force your ideas on someone else.  Your mentee needs to make his or her own decision. 

Be available for your mentee.  Respond to emails in a timely manner. 

Above all, be supportive.  

5 Quick Tips for Finding a Mentor

Mentorship Events:  These events are designed to connect mentors and mentees.  You may or may not find your mentor at one of these mentorship events.

Your Network: Ask the people in your network if they might be willing to serve as your mentor.  

Beyond Your Network: Again look to the people in your network.  Ask if they know someone in your field who might be interested in a mentorship.

Colleagues: Reach out to a colleague whose achievements mirror your ambitions.

Young Alumni: Young alumni are great mentors.  They have been just where you are now, just a short while ago.

Mentorship: Networking for the Mentor

Mentorship relationships are not just beneficial to the mentee. 

By taking on a mentee, a mentor is adding a valuable colleague to his/her network.  You may be new to the profession, but you have a wealth of connections that you could be referred to your mentor’s business.  A great mentor will also be a great professional that you should have no hesitation to recommend.

Mentoring is a two-way street.  The mentor and mentee benefit, but in very different ways.

Make a point to send a referral and recommendation to your mentor. Your mentor will return the favor ten times over. 

Mentorship: Networking for the Mentee

A mentorship is a valuable relationship for career success.  

A mentor is an established professional in your field eager to share his or her experience with a mentee who could benefit from guidance.  For the mentee, a mentor is a wealth of knowledge and can offer advice and support.  A mentor can help you get started and advance further in your career.  

A mentor also serves as a tremendous networking resource.  If you have established a mentor relationship, your mentor will have an extensive networking of connections that he or she will want to introduce to you.

Who’s your mentor?