You’re searching through the Tufts Career Network database of alumni and you see someone with a career path that interests you. Might this person be your next mentor? Consider the following 3 things when seeking a mentor who will guide you toward your career and life goals.
Think about what you want and how to ask for it
What are you hoping to gain from a mentoring relationship? Good conversation with a respected person who shares your interests and can give you advice? Excellent answer! Rather than calling or emailing him/her to say, “Hey, will you be my mentor?” use a more casual approach. Perhaps your first conversation is a “getting to know you” exchange of information. Assuming you get along well with him/her and would like to continue your discussions, you may then ask if he/she is willing to talk with you on an ongoing basis.
Discuss mutual expectations and do your part
How often will you connect with your mentor? What is reasonable given your respective schedules? You may start out thinking that it will be easy to talk by phone or meet every few weeks, but make sure your plans aren’t overly ambitious. What will your mentor expect from you? Remember, as the “mentee,” it’s your responsibility to develop the relationship by proactively engaging your mentor, rather than waiting passively for him/her to reach out to you. Setting clear expectations in the beginning of the mentoring relationship will add to its longevity.
Don’t force it
Mentoring relationships develop organically. When you think about the people whom you would refer to as “mentors,” I’m guessing that most are family members, teachers, family friends, coaches, and others you met naturally in the course of your life – who then became mentors over time. With this in mind, remember to be patient when cultivating a relationship with a potential mentor. Not all mentoring relationships work perfectly or last forever, but that’s okay! It takes time and sometimes a few tries to develop the kind of rapport that one hopes for with a trusted mentor.
Consider chatting with Career Services for more advice on finding a mentor in your field of interest. We’d be glad to help you get started. For more on mentoring, check out these articles:
The Value of a Mentor: http://tinyurl.com/o8jonr
How to Find a Mentor: http://tinyurl.com/l8273z
-Susannah Krenn, Career Services
Thanks Susannah!
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