5 Tips for Finding (and Keeping) the Perfect Mentor at Work 

25 Jan 5 Tips for Finding (and Keeping) the Perfect Mentor at Work 

Mentors can play a crucial role in someone’s career: someone to provide advice or guidance and help make those big decisions as they come up along the way. 

Finding a good mentor can be tricky. The person has to be willing, first and foremost, to share their time and expertise with someone they might not know well at first. The relationship has to be mutually beneficial and productive, or it could become stressful or tense. And the person looking to gain wisdom from the mentor must really be willing to listen and learn. 

If you’re looking for a mentor, how do you go about finding one? How do you initiate the relationship, let alone keep it going? 

Here are some helpful thoughts. 

1. Know what you want and what you’re asking.

A prospective mentor will be far more interested in hearing your proposal if you’re focused and clear about what you need from them. From the start, have in mind your results and goals, along with the terms of your relationship, the intended time commitment on both sides, and your expectations. Are you looking for someone to be a supportive voice in challenging times? Are you looking for someone who will push you through adversity with some “tough love” and strict resolve? Do you want a best friend or substitute parent? Are you looking to mirror someone’s career or build on it? Have your answers in mind first before you identify the person you’d like to approach, and it will help the conversation, and the relationship, have clarity from the start. 

2. Identify the person(s) most likely to fit your needs best.

This is kind of like trying to find a suitable romantic partner. You might have someone in mind that you’d like to pursue, someone whose career you admire, who seems to have all the answers, and who you think could provide the kind of guidance and assistance you’re looking for in your life. If no one comes to mind immediately, ask around: your colleagues or friends might know of someone who’s helped them through tough times or could help provide the answers and advice you’re seeking. Use your network to make some contacts and see what makes sense.

3. Start building your relationship first before asking the big question.

If the person you think might make a good mentor is someone you don’t know well, take the time to talk with them and learn more about their history and career. Ask good, insightful questions, and see how the conversation goes. Listen carefully and with intent as they answer. If your company offers a mentorship program, see who’s involved and strike up conversations with those people. Start small — again, like casual dating before starting a serious relationship. 

4. Find ways to make the relationship mutually beneficial.

If you’re new to the company or just starting your career, you might not feel like you have much to offer someone more seasoned and experienced. As you have these early conversations with your would-be mentor, try to get a sense of any areas in which you have more comfort or familiarity and could be of help. For example, if you’re very social media savvy and your prospective mentor says they don’t understand Facebook, offer to help them learn how to navigate pages and groups. Show the person that you might need some advice and help in your career, but that being your mentor wouldn’t be a one-sided relationship, that you have plenty to offer them as well. 

5. Be respectful.  

You’re asking someone to take you under their wing, to give you time and attention and advice, all on top of their other responsibilities. Treat them and the rest of their life, with respect. Don’t call or text at all hours and expect an immediate response. Don’t demand meetings if you know they’re extra busy. Don’t waste their time with things that stray off-topic. Be sure to honor your time commitments with them as they honor theirs with you. You’re the one asking the favor; be sure to make them happy they agreed and not annoyed when they see your number come up on their phone. Don’t forget to show your gratitude from time to time! 

We all need a little help as we go through life. A mentor can be a significant person as you navigate your career; finding the right one can be more beneficial than all the training and advice in the world. 

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Looking for more insight into how to advance your career? Contact LeadingEdge Personnel today! We work with some of the top companies in the country and can help you understand what they’re looking for in a new hire, in addition to advice on how to help you best represent your skills and talents to hiring managers. Let’s get started!