It’s day eight of our 10 Days to a New Career special. So far, we covered topics such as setting goals, researching possible career pathways, building a solid foundation of jobs skills and cleaning up the CV, getting serious about LinkedIn and googling yourself to cover your digital footprint. and building a network of professional relationships for the sake of your career. Today we’re focusing on mentors – and how they can help in your quest for a new career.
Setting goals, doing your research and networking effectively are all essential steps to getting the career you want. But having a mentor will put the finishing touches on your 2013 career campaign.
Although you may already know the direction you want your career to take, a mentor can add significant value by seeing things that you don’t. And they can help to boost confidence. A mentor will encourage you to apply for roles that you may not have had the guts to go for previously.
“Mentors can be fantastic in terms of helping you to identify blind spots that you have, skills shortages, as well as your strengths,” says psychologist and career expert Suzie Plush, adding that mentors can be particularly valuable for those looking for a promotion.
“If you’re not sure what you need to improve upon, engage with a mentor. There may be things that you’re not aware of that you’re lacking. It could be interpersonal skills or relationship-building skills. They’re harder for us to identify on our own.”
Plush says learning from your mentor’s experiences and their mistakes will propel you forward in your career.
“It can be really valuable, even if you have to pay for a mentor. I think it really does save you a lot of time and money in the end, even though there’s that upfront investment,” she says.
There are different ways to find a mentor but most importantly, you need to do your research first.
“Be targeted in your approach and take the time to understand where you are going [in your career] so that you can be strategic about what kind of person should mentor you,” Kim McGuinness, the managing director of Network Central, recently advised. “Take time to research possible mentors and then make a priority list.
“Look for someone who believes in you and what you are trying to achieve.”
HOMEWORK: What you need to do today
- Find your mentor: If you don’t already have someone in mind, keep networking and do some research. Look for someone you trust and has more experience than you. If you don’t know anyone who would be appropriate, consider joining a structured mentoring program.
- Meet with your mentor. Contact your mentor(s) and set up a meeting with them to discuss your career goals for 2013. Schedule regular meetings throughout the year to keep you on track.