Mentorship takes place when an experienced person takes someone less knowledgeable under their wing and guides them through life, academia, or career decisions. Usually an older person serves as the mentor while the younger is the mentee.

Why Mentoring is Important

If you’ve never baked a cake before, you’re probably not too confident in your ability to do so with great results. On the other hand, if you have a recipe and someone who’s baked this cake before guiding you through the motions, your confidence in the cake being a success is heightened.

Many times in your life, professional, or academic career, there will be times when you’re not sure what decision to make. What is the best way to advance in your career? What classes you should take? How to balance work and school? This is when a mentor comes into play. A mentor will have either been in the situation before or have the knowledge to help you make the best decision.

Benefits of Mentoring

Mentoring is beneficial for all involved parties. It gives the mentor an opportunity to share their experiences and skills as well as give positive support. It also gives the mentee, in some cases, an opportunity to be introduced to facets of life they are unfamiliar with, as well as offering them access to the mentors’ knowledge of career, academics, and life.

Regarding your career, it is advantageous to have a relationship with someone whom you admire and whose footsteps you would like to follow. Career mentorship offers the opportunity to take advantage of the vast experiences of someone at the mid or senior level of the career you’re trying to attain. Those just entering the field can be great resources as well.

The mentoring relationship must be beneficial to both parties. A mentor will not continue to guide someone that is not putting forth effort to progress in the relationship. Mentors are always willing to help those people who are self-starters and show a desire to progress in their personal and professional lives.

Choosing a Mentor

When selecting a career mentor you should seek out someone who is on the same career track that you aspire to. This person should also be someone who holds themselves to high standards in their professional and personal life, has time to mentor you, and who is excited about you and your success. You should also seek out someone who is willing to make knowledge deposits, while at the same time allowing your specific talents and personality to grow.

Use the following questions to help in selecting your mentor.

• What do you hope to gain from a mentoring relationship?
• What type of mentor is best for helping you meet your objectives?
• Where do you see yourself in the next year or two?
• What knowledge, skills, and abilities do you need to get there?
• What key experiences could a mentor provide that would benefit you most?
• What do you have to contribute to the relationship?

No matter how young, everyone has something that someone else can benefit from. Remember your gifts are not for you to keep, find someone to share them.