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Mentoring: What is it?
Broadly, a mentor is an experienced person who helps a less experienced person set professional or life goals and learn or obtain the skills needed to achieve them. Mentors can be informal, providing advice or support and serving as a sounding board; or more organized, agreeing to meet with the mentee regularly over a designated period of time. In either case, a mentor can be a very valuable asset to you in any stage of your career; mentors can introduce you to new people, help you expand your professional skill set, and provide constructive advice on ways to move up in your career or company.
Finding a Mentor
Book Resources
Online Resources
- More than half of women entrepreneurs have had mentors, and of those nearly half (48 percent) had mentors who were also women.
- Mentoring of women is on the rise: 68 percent of women aged 18-29 say they have had mentors compared with only 56 percent of women aged 50 or more.
Tips for Finding a Mentor
Some workplaces have mentoring programs already set up, but many do not. If your workplace has a program, get some information about how you can participate in it. If not, there are plenty of other ways you can find a mentor.
- Approach someone in your office who is successful, and whom you can trust. Generally, successful people are successful because they made mistakes and corrected them, or had a mentor to steer them in the right direction. Because you are a woman entering the workforce, you may prefer a woman mentor since her work experience is likely to be similar to yours. However, any person in your company interested in showing you the ropes will teach you things, so be open minded.
- Ask your supervisors for suggestions. Many managers understand the value of mentoring, and given their contacts or experience level, can often suggest people within your organization or within your field generally that you could approach about mentoring. Your supervisor has insight into the skills and abilities you need to improve within your job and your company, and can use that knowledge when making a recommendation. Additionally, after identifying someone who may be a good mentor for you, your supervisor can introduce you to that person or help you get in touch with them.
- Once you have found a potential mentor, use a direct approach. Don't be intimidated by the person you have chosen to be your mentor. When you speak with her, be polite. Tell her you understand that she is busy, but you want to advance in the workplace. Ask her if she can help you. While successful women who are prospective mentors are very busy, they will most likely be flattered you asked, and willing to work with you. If not, try and find another mentor.
- Establish a regular meeting time. Don't expect to meet with your mentor every day or even every week. If she is busy, ask if you can contact her by phone or email to check in. The rest is up to you and your mentor.
- Don't be afraid of constructive criticism. Your mentor is there to help you, so she may sometimes tell you things you don't want to hear. Be ready for positive and negative feedback as your mentor helps you take a closer look at your work habits.
- Maintain a good relationship with your mentor. While you should be ready to take some criticism, it is up to you to draw the line if such feedback becomes unhelpful. If you feel uncomfortable, you should feel free to find a new mentor.
Book Resources:
Nonstop Networking - by Andrea R. Nierenberg (September 2002)
A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market - by Katherine Hansen (May 200)
The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor - by Gail McMeekin (February 2000)
Online Resources:
Quintessential Careers: Women's Networking and Professional Associations -
This is a great comprehensive resource with lots of links to both online resources and booklists.
Advancing Women - This website is a resource for women in the workforce, specializing in women networking with women.
Bella Online: Career - This website is a comprehensive multimedia network created by women for women. Subjects include career planning, networking, skills inventory, etc.
The Riley Guide: Resources for Women, Minorities, and Other Affinity Groups and Audiences - www.rileyguide.com
Networking: Making Connections that Lead to Success, Business and Professional Women/USA - www.bpwusa.org
Networking Never Stops: Tips for Making (and Keeping) Strong Connections - www.roadandtravel.com
MentorNet - This website allows students to get an online mentor.
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