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9.6Career Tip - Find a Mentor
9.6/10
97
votes
1/29/2009
How to advance your career and become better at your job by learning from a mentor.
Mentors help you make the most efficient use of your effort. Why spend time “reinventing the wheel”. There are people who have been in your situation and have been very successful. Learn how they did it! If you really absorb the information they have to give, you can bypass months or even years of trying to figure it out on your own. You will become better, quicker.

Mentors can help you with the things that are not taught in books. They can give you insight into how the politics of your company works. They can tell you how your industry really works. They can tell you what the higher-ups really care about. They may have ideas that can really help the company and you may be in the position to execute them. They can tell you what is a waste of time and what is really beneficial.

We need examples. We tend to act and behave like our mentors. If you find someone successful and start to act and behave like them, chances are you to will also become successful.

Mentors can also directly help your career. Studies show that up to 80% of promotions are influenced by a mentor that is in a higher position in the company.

The benefits of a mentoring relationship are so clear that many companies have an official mentoring program. If your company assigns mentors, do not be satisfied with the one they give you! This may or may not be the best mentor for you. Make sure to find mentor that knows your job and can help you.

If you have found a person that you would like as a mentor, you may or may not want to make it a formal “mentor” relationship. Approach the person and let them know that you need help. People love to help! Remember, it makes people feel important if you ask them for help. They will be flattered that you think they are successful. They may be too busy to help you. If this is the case, move on. You may even need to find a mentor outside of your company.

Trust is very important in the mentoring relationship. You want a mentor you can trust and your mentor must trust you. Do not share anything that your mentor tells you will your peers at work. This could be confidential information and could hurt your chances of getting help in the future.

Act like a winner! Mentors are most likely to help those who remind them of themselves. Good mentors are successful. You should act successful. Never act desperate or useless. Act like a person who takes action and accomplishes things.

It is probably best not to ask your direct supervisor to be your mentor. It is better to have someone that you can talk about your boss with! It can also hurt you to be seen as a suck-up to your boss.
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Here are some other related tips:
Choose a Role Model and Duplicate Their Behavior
Spend 10 Minutes a Day Cleaning Your Office or Desk
Dress for Success

Further Information
How to Find a Mentor at Work
The Value of a Mentor
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Comment 3 On:Find a Mentor
Added By: FeQxYcHgVlyUrnVCRP
Added On: 10/8/2011 8:22:30 PM
4Mentors Help Your Perform
I had a "Mentor" at my first job. It was a very paternal relationship. I wanted to do a great job for him.
Comment 4 On:Find a Mentor
Added On: 2/5/2009 1:27:20 PM
5Mentors are Key to Success
You need people pulling for you. There are only so many job advancements out there. You need all the help you can get.
Comment 5 On:Find a Mentor
Added On: 1/31/2009 3:49:02 PM
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