The majority of American workers agree that having a mentor is valuable, yet less than half actually have one. Among female leaders, only 24% have a mentor, compared with 30% of men.
Mentorship can have many benefits for working professionals, including improved retention rates and increased productivity. For example, 77% of women in tech who have a mentor are more likely to remain in the industry after three years. A McKinsey & Company study also found that women with mentors are more likely to get into leadership, with 59% of women working in the C-suite saying they had a mentor at some point in their careers.
Millennials, many of whom are now in mid-career roles, especially recognize the value of having a mentor. About 94% of millennials with mentors say they get valuable career advice, and are twice as likely to learn and grow at work.
While many companies offer employee mentoring programs in which professionals are paired up with others who can help them improve their skills, many individuals struggle to find an effective mentor. Working with a mentor can be a life-changing experience for those looking to advance their careers, but finding one takes intention. Here are some tips to help you find one:
- Figure out why you want a mentor in the first place. What kind of guidance are you seeking? Whether you’re looking to move into leadership or just looking for some new perspectives, determine what qualities you’d like in a mentor. This can help ensure that you and your mentor are compatible.
- Look for mentors in your existing networks. From LinkedIn to Meetups, alumni associations or professional organizations, mentors can literally be anywhere. Some folks have found great mentors in professors or instructors they’ve met through a continuing education course or professional workshop. You can also meet mentors at industry events or conferences, or through volunteer and community-based organizations.
Sometimes, your mentor can be someone you work with – even a supervisor. Siobhann Steindorf, a graduate of the Master of Science: Information Technology Management program, had a great mentor right in front of her – her boss. Siobhan, who had a bachelor’s degree in archaeology, had been working at a call center. She eventually became a collection supervisor–and the only woman on her team–when one day, her manager asked her why she wasn’t working in IT. “Every time we’d get a new software, I would figure it out, and I’d become the subject matter expert. She said, ‘You need to be in IT. You’re so technical.’ I never saw that side of myself. She was an excellent mentor because I didn’t realize that I had that skillset.” - Make a list of potential mentors and research them. Identify several individuals who you think might be a great fit. Be sure to do your research – you should check out their LinkedIn profiles, other social media, work histories, or any involvement they’ve had in the industry or community to ensure that they’re compatible with your needs. Having things like shared values, similar experiences, or hobbies and interests can be important.
“I think the one thing that’s helped me is to find someone who is in the position that you want, or in the position that you have that can be a person of support,” Siobhan says. - Reach out to a few potential mentors. If you’re connecting through LinkedIn or a similar platform, send a quick message offering them some information about your background and what you’re looking for. Tell them why they piqued your interest and extend an offer to chat (a 15-minute convo over Zoom can be a great start). During this meeting, pick their brain about a topic relevant to your work. You should prepare a list of questions to ask before the meeting to ensure the conversation goes smoothly (Hot tip: “Will you be my mentor?” should not be one of them).
- Reflect on your meetings. After you’ve met with a few folks, go over any notes you took during your meetings and try to identify who might be the best fit for your situation. Which interactions were energizing versus draining? Remember, a successful mentorship should have mutual respect, good communication, and leave you feeling motivated. You should send all of your candidates a quick thank-you note to acknowledge their time, and if there was someone you especially enjoyed talking with, ask if they’d be interested in future meetups. Propose a schedule, such as meeting quarterly, if they are up for it. Keep in mind that these meetups should be professional. Your mentor is likely busy and not someone you should be texting all the time, inviting to your birthday party or happy hour with friends.
- Remember that a good mentorship is reciprocal. If you plan to meet with someone regularly, be proactive in setting up agendas, asking questions or bringing updates. If your mentor made a suggestion that you successfully implemented to advance your career, let them know this! And, if your mentor has suggestions for improvement (even those you may not like), be open to their feedback.
- Offer value when you can. Ideally, your mentorship should be mutually beneficial when possible. If the opportunity presents itself, you can offer up your own skills or resources to a mentor to show them your appreciation.
- Know that mentorships can and will evolve. You may have several mentors throughout the course of your career. Some mentorships will naturally end due to changes in circumstances. But remember, even if you land your dream job, that doesn’t mean you won’t need a mentor anymore.
Siobhann is a manager now, but she still has mentors, including her direct supervisor. She also regularly seeks out mentorship from senior members of the team she manages because they have institutional knowledge.
“You can have multiple mentors, depending on what you need mentoring in,” she says.
Are you interested in finding a mentor through continuing education? If you’ve thought about pursuing a master’s degree or graduate certificate, UW Online Collaboratives programs have advisory boards with industry and subject matter experts, many of whom also serve as mentors. Contact us today to learn more about the career resources available to students enrolled in these programs.