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Finding the Right Mentor

Written by Bernie

Bernie Frazier, SPHR is the Founder and President of CAREERCompass, LLC, a speaking and career coaching firm in St. Louis, MO. She also spent almost 25 years recruiting talent to six organizations across four industries and led the talent acquisition function for four of those organizations, including one global team.

Even in the midst of the latest crazy – quiet quitting – there are many who still want to further develop their skills, be challenged in their work, and grow their careers.

This is why mentoring is so important. It can help you avoid landmines, say the right things, be in the right places, and do the right work.

However, for many, identifying and securing a mentor isn’t very easy. I can take skill, time, and savviness to get to the right person for you. If you’re looking for a mentor, but aren’t sure how to secure (the right) one, here are a few tips:

  1. Don’t just target the ‘big wigs.’ Too often, people strive to find someone with an executive title to become their mentor simply because they have a big title. Wrong! Before selecting a mentor, consider what professional gaps you need to close. Once you know these, look for people who are proficient or expert in those areas and seek them out. They may be more junior than you, but if they’re good in an area you need to improve in, they can mentor you.
  2. Mentoring can be situational. There are times when you only need to mentor to help you with one aspect of your development. In these instances, it’s perfectly fine to seek out someone who may only help you with 1-2 meetings. As long as you set a proper expectation going in, no harm-no foul.
  3. Are they interested/available? Just because someone may have the perfect background and credentials to mentor you don’t mean they’re willing or have the time. Find out before diving in head first. Schedule 1-2 meetings with them and gauge how open they seem to meeting. If it’s a struggle for them, it may not be a good time and you might be better served looking elsewhere.
  4. Consider what you can offer. The best mentor/mentee relationships are when it’s two-way – the mentor has something to offer and the mentee has something to offer. When a mentor sees the value for them, it can motivate them to be your mentor or help more.

Sadly, it’s not always easy to find mentors, but with a little know-how, you can position yourself for this great development tool.

Until next time….