If you want to improve or change your career, then finding a good mentor could be a good solution. You may probably have career goals that you want to achieve, and you will need to find a mentor to achieve these goals. Below we explain how to find a mentor and how to improve your career for the better.
Why do you need a mentor?
The mentoring relationship can be a good tool for professional growth, and that is why you need a good mentor. He or she can acknowledge your full potential and they can organize your professional life in a proper way. If you have short-term and long-term goals, you may need to organize well and you need to be detail-oriented.
Each segment of your career is important and a mentor-mentee relationship can bring these segments to light so that you can improve your career. In the modern workplace, we can notice some signs of discrimination when it comes to the position of people of color or women. These workers are more exposed to discrimination and biased opinions. For these reasons, they need help in their professional careers.
To make your career more structured and better organized, you may need to look for a mentor that will be by your side during difficult times. You may need to organize your work-life balance in a better way, and this means that your mentor will need to help you with your aspirations.
Your mentor can help you reach these goals in the future, and you should be ready for some hard work.
How to find a professional mentor?
When you are clear about your goals, you can search for a mentor who will help you achieve these goals. Tell them where you want to be in the next 3 months, one year, or five years. Be very precise and tell the mentor what you expect from the relationship.
Do your research and find a person who already knows you as a professional. This could be your colleague, a former boss, or a professional who is skilled in providing pieces of advice. No matter whom you choose, he or she must be a person with integrity and this must be someone you can trust.
If you already know who will be your mentor, ask the person for the collaboration. Send them an email or talk to them in person. Be open about your expectations and tell them why it could be a good idea to collaborate together.
Your mentor should recognize your potential and offer the help that you need. In this relationship, the main purpose of the collaboration must be reaching the goals that you have in your career.
How to be a good mentee?
It is important to be open to the changes that you may have to make in your professional life. If you want to change your job for a better one or improve your present situation when you want to get promoted or get a raise in your salary, you need to act smart and make proper moves.
Your mentor can help you reach these goals in the future, and you should be ready for some hard work. When you find a career mentor, you must be able to commit to some mutual goals. Have regular meetings and see how the situation goes. If there is room for improvement, be flexible and listen to your mentor’s advice.
Do not try to persuade the mentor that you are a good mentee just because you listen to their advice. Be open to discussing why the professional moves must be made and how you can improve to reach your goals.
Your professional career can be better and that is why you need to get a mentor who will understand your needs and expectations. Only in this way can you make improvements and reach your goals in your professional career.