Finding a career coach for your own career journey.
A first glance this feels like a hard task and we question If there is someone who is willing to mentor us and that alone might be overwhelming. We have all probably seen a movie with the mentor trope, sometimes it is the monk that trains the student right before a big fight, it might be the intern who runs into the retired banker, it might even be the homeless man that gives you chess tips. But those are just movies and granted they make it seam easy but we must accept that working with a mentor can be exceedingly valuable for anyone who wants to grow in their career. take note that a mentor is different from a sponsor.
What is A Mentor
So to put it all together a mentor is an advisor and role model who is willing to invest in the mentee’s personal growth and professional development.
Who is A Mentee
A mentee is someone who has identified a specific personal or professional goal and who believes that the guidance and help of a mentor and being held accountable to the mentor can help them achieve their goal. And lastly, a sponsor is a person who pledges to donate a certain amount of money to another person after they have participated in an activity or program.
Why You Need a Mentor for your Career Journey.
Everyone needs a mentor, whether you are a college student, a fresh graduate, or already employed. The benefits are enormous including a few below:
- A mentor is there to answer questions and give advice, meanwhile a sponsor uses his or her connections to advocate for a younger or less experienced employee and actively participate in their career growth.
- Mentors are an amazing source of knowledge and can provide insights into specific professional situations, dialog tactics, opportunities and career management goals. The truth of the matter is we need to first do some introspection.
Finding a Career Coach for your Career
1 . What do you want to gain professionally in the next two months or five years?
Can you do it in your current position or will it require you to find an entirely different job? The more specific you are with your goals, the easier it will be to find the right career coach. One strategy to create effective, easily achievable goals is to work smart: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Envisioning your dreams this way allows you to break down crazy ideas into singular career goals that are easier to accomplish through short-term steps.
2. Whom do you look up to? Whose position or job would you like to have in the next five, 10 or 15 years?
Do you share a workplace? Who do you look up to at work? Keep an ongoing list of the jobs and people you have in mind. Consider a personality-based mentor in your immediate circle or work environment, especially if you need to talk about issues you’re facing as a minority person in your professional surroundings if you are not in a diverse environment. After you have done all your homework and have created a road map.
It’s time for that elevator pitch. What is an elevator pitch you might ask? Simply put it is a short phrase for, the persuasive speech you use to introduce yourself, your product, or your company. Its purpose is to explain the concept quickly and clearly to spark interest in who you are and what you do. It is the best way to draw interest in yourself in the shortest time, a conversation that lasts an elevator ride Soto says. It would be a bonus if you can schedule a meeting face to face after your email or short meeting.
3. Why are you seeking mentorship in the first place
The more clearly your potential mentor understands your needs and expectations, the better by explaining what you hope to gain from their guidance and offer as a mentee, they can properly evaluate whether the relationship would be of course beneficial and mutual for them. Being a career coach can be a heavy responsibility for most give them time to assess if they are a good fit for you.
When you’re looking for a business mentor, it’s important to look for an individual who exhibits several important qualities. They should be successful to a degree at what they do and have the skills needed to not only keep improving their career but those around them in their careers. Although success is not the single measure of a good mentor. In fact, a career coach should have the attributes of a good trainer or teacher. A coach should also be willing to share their expertise, skills, and knowledge with you. Oriental Career is a great place to look.
Misconceptions of what Mentorship is about.
- Mentors must be older than mentees although this is common it is not a requirement.
- Relationship is one-sided as much as this is for you to grow you must give your mentor good reason to take you on.
- There are no rules to what you give in return so technically one can either be a mentor or a mentee. You can be a mentor and mentee simultaneously, and vice versa.
- It is time-consuming this is where time management comes in make the little time you have count.
- coaching has to be on a face-to-face basis when in reality if work can be online your mentor can be a phone call away.
- Mentee needs only one mentor can’t be further from the truth we often have many interests decide the important ones and find mentorship that suits your needs.
Some good Do’s and Don’ts in a Mentor-Mentee relationships.
- Do set specific goals and expectations for the mentoring relationship. Clearly communicate what you want from the relationship. Maintain distinct boundaries and understand what the mentor expects.
- Don’t expect the mentor to make decisions for you. Learn to resolve problems and issues independently of the mentor.
- Don’t take advantage of the mentor. Respect the mentor’s time and help.
- Gratitude, it might seam insignificant but might be the foundation of maintaining a good relationship with your career guide.
- Small gestures like offering to assist them with small tasks unrelated to work and octagonal sharing pleasantries with them outside of work related situations . This is a life long bond that you can keep and always fall back on no matter where your future takes you.
- From this point on you may schedule weekly meetings that are suited to your schedules . In life things are constantly changing and so are our priorities and interests ,so should you come to a point in life where your goals change speak to your mentor again and see if those adjustments can be made .if not it is time for you to go soul searching again change your elevator pitch and start the search again .
Qualities of a good mentor.
A good mentor should provide mentorship only in their areas of expertise. Suggest other mentors as resources outside their expertise or when the attempted mentoring relationship is not working. They should not take on more mentees than they can handle, openness to being a coach is a must Be accessible to the mentee. If not there was no point in them agreeing to the arrangement, to begin with. They mustn’t treat you as free labor. And keep clear, distinct boundaries with you the mentee. Always set clear expectations.
In conclusion in the ever-changing world, we need advice and guidance from those who have had several experiences that are relevant to our future goals. We need to be willing to humble ourselves and reach out where we need help. Check out our mentors at Career Coaching and Mentoring. Here are some blogs posts you might like;
