Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
Do you have a mentor in your corner to help you reach your career aspirations? A successful mentor relationship can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Building a successful mentor relationship allows for faster growth and learning in a supportive environment.
Research from Moving Ahead found that “87% of mentors and mentees feel empowered by their mentoring relationships and have developed greater confidence.” This makes sense as the mentor and mentee provide two-way inspiration and gain from the relationship.
So, how can you create a successful and sustainable mentor relationship?
1. Establish Clear Goals and Realistic Expectations
Congratulations on finding a mentor! Whether the mentor is someone you reached out to or was matched by a program you joined, you must establish some “ground rules” and realistic expectations at your first meeting.
Be transparent with your mentor about your area of focus and your development goals related to these areas of focus. For example, if you are a new grad seeking guidance for your job search, your focus is finding employment over the time you have together.
Your development goals could include the following:
Draft and polish your resume and cover letter
Integrate a job search strategy that works for you (i.e. how many hours per week you will dedicate to applying to jobs and networking)
Practice mock interviews and gain feedback from your mentor.
Ensure your goals are clear so your mentor understands how to support you!
2. Meet Your Mentor Regularly and Respect Your Time Together
How often do you want to meet with your mentor? Discuss the time commitment that works for both of you. Determine the frequency of communicating with each other, such as an hour every two weeks for six months. Also, discuss the preferred method of communication, such as a phone or video call, email, and meeting up in person. It’s essential that each member respects the other’s schedule and advises them in advance if there are any changes to their pre-arranged schedule.
Your mentor can guide and support you in many ways – so take some time to brainstorm questions, ideas and discussion topics. Always come prepared to make the most of your time together.
3. Engage in Honest Discussion and Ask Your Mentor for Feedback
Mentorship is a team effort – you want to be honest about your progress and what’s working or not working for you. Do you want your mentor to check in between sessions and hold you accountable for your goals? Do you prefer to meet more often than once a month? Do you find that your mentor gives you more critical than constructive feedback? Share your observations with your mentor and ask for their insights into your situation and areas of improvement as well.
Remember that your mentor is here to help – but you are responsible for putting in the time and effort to stay in touch and do the heavy lifting to accomplish your goals!
Originally published at TalentEgg.