Welcome to CB’s job advice column featuring emily durhama Toronto-based senior recruiter in to sensepublic speaker and content creator known for her funny comments and relatable Tik Toks above all they work. Each month, Durham will answer readers’ questions on topics that affect our ability to thrive in our jobs, offering real-world insights on how to handle even the toughest puzzles. Do you have a work related question? send to [email protected].
Q: I have been working for about 10 years and could really benefit from a mentor to help me take my career to the next level. I would love to share ideas with someone in my industry and be able to turn to them for professional advice. I’ve heard a lot about mentoring opportunities for people just starting out in their careers, but I really don’t know how to find a mentor now that I’m further along in my career. Where should I start?
You’re not alone: Many of us want mentorship, but aren’t sure where to find it. In fact 76 percent of people they think having a mentor is important, but only 37 percent have one. It’s no secret that mentoring can accelerate our personal and professional growth with candid advice, an outside perspective, and access to opportunities.
The first step in finding a mentor is to understand what kind of relationship you are looking for. Do you want someone who is highly analytical to support you in developing your critical thinking skills? Someone with a creative mind, who pushes you to think big? Or an industry professional currently working on your dream job? There are no wrong answers, but the more specific you are about what you want, the more strategic you can be in your search for mentors.
How to find a mentor
So where can you meet a potential mentor? Like most relationships, finding the right person doesn’t always happen by accident and can take a bit of work.
Start by looking at your current workplace, where you are likely to be surrounded by like-minded professionals. Going back to what you’re looking for in a mentor, is there someone who might fit the bill? As we continue to return to in-person events, another place to meet potential mentors is at industry networking sessions or seminars. These events are not only an amazing way to expand your network, but often the organic IRL conversations lead to something more.
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But it turns out that my personal favorite place to meet with mentors is my couch. Yes, you read that right. The whole purpose of social media is to foster connections! Use LinkedIn or Instagram to identify professionals to contact. Send a quick note describing who you are and what you do, and request a short coffee chat to learn more about your career. I identified one of my mentors on LinkedIn and sent him a cold InMail requesting a 30-minute chat to learn more about his career. That phone call turned into a five-year relationship that has had a fundamental impact on my career.
Maintain a mentoring relationship
Once you meet someone who piques your interest, what should you do next? How do you make it official? The first step in building a mentor-mentee relationship is that initial conversation. Set aside half an hour and focus on learning more about the person’s career to make sure they are the right fit for you. As the person who initiated the meeting, it is your role to develop an agenda for the conversation. It doesn’t need to be overly structured or formal, but it is important that it has a set of questions lined up. Some of the best topics to look at are their career path, their biggest learnings in their role, and how they’ve overcome obstacles.
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Check with yourself after the chat. Is this someone you want to learn from in the future? If so, reach out to them via email and ask if they’re willing to connect every four to eight weeks to help you in your career. After your first few meetings, the conversation will flow more naturally, and you may find that you no longer need an agenda.
Mentoring really is as simple as putting yourself out there and being considerate of the people and conversations you make time for. With a little work and a lot of consistency, your future self will thank you for investing in the mentorship.