Mentorship is about the relationship between someone with more experience (the mentor) and someone who's still learning the ropes (the mentee). The mentor shares advice, tips, and guidance to help the mentee grow and work toward their bigger career goals.
Being a mentee comes with tons of benefits, all focused on helping you grow both personally and professionally. Whether it's building your network, developing new skills, gaining confidence, or getting more exposure, mentorship can seriously shape the direction of your career.
How to find the right mentor for you?
Finding the right mentor for you and your goals can feel slightly overwhelming, especially when new to the workplace. Here are some hints and tips to selecting a mentor:
- Take time to clarify your goals and needs – before reaching out to people, it’s essential to reflect on what you want to achieve as a mentee. Do you want networking connections? Do you want refinement in specific skills? This will allow you to decide the skills and expertise you require your mentor to possess.
- Be open and receptive to constructive criticism – development isn’t all about learning new skills or observing others, it’s also about self-reflection and taking the time to listen, learn, and adapt.
- Lastly, consider multiple mentors – it’s difficult to find someone who is an expert at everything, almost impossible in fact. Be prepared to reach out to different colleagues who are experts in different areas, this will also assist in setting an agenda for your sessions.
Being a mentee could completely change your career trajectory. We caught up with Fabia, a Management Assistant at Enterprise Mobility, on her experience of being a mentee and how this has impacted her career with Enterprise Mobility so far.
What skills and knowledge have you gained as a mentee?
I’ve gained so many skills and a wealth of knowledge through my experience as a mentee. I would probably say that the most significant thing I’ve learned is how to problem solve within the business, whether that be operationally or dealing with tricky customer service queries. Enterprise Mobility provides us with extensive training, but my mentorship really increased my confidence when it came to believing I had the skills to deal with a challenging situation. Regarding customer service specifically, I've developed skills in being able to put a positive spin on difficult situations, and to take ownership when faced with a challenge.
How has being a mentee impacted your career?
It is quite easy to lose focus when managing multiple tasks on your to-do list. Having a mentor with extensive skills and knowledge really assists in providing inspiration to develop and helps you find your niche within the business. I have had numerous mentors throughout my career so far, each have excelled in their own way and that in itself inspires me on my own journey. Seeing people who love the roles they are in, enthusiastic about teaching me their skills and expertise, makes me want to progress.
What advice would you give to someone looking for a mentor?
Don't feel frightened to reach out and ask, as the saying goes ‘if you don't ask, you don't get’! There is always someone willing to help you to get you where you want to go and without judgement.
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