Sometimes we all need a little helping hand. Mentors are trusted advisors who can provide impartial advice to help you advance your career or improve your business. You can find your perfect mentor using a few proven networking techniques. To get started, follow these six steps.
1. Does a little self-analysis: what do you want help with?
Before you think about sending your first email, you need to take a little look inside yourself. What do you need help with? Is there a particular aspect of your work that you find challenging? Are you looking to expand your business into a new area and would like help from someone who has "been there and done that"?
The clearer you are about what you would like to accomplish with a mentor, the easier it is to narrow down the candidates you might try to contact.
The clearer you are about what you would like to accomplish with a mentor, the easier it is to narrow down the candidates you might try to contact.
2. Formulate a list of criteria and start finding people who match it
Once you have a good idea of what kind of mentor you'd like to see, formulate some basic criteria, and try to find people who fit them. Let's say you're a marketer who wants to move into the sportswear industry. You could use social media to find people who work for your favorite sportswear companies. When you try this with Nike, you can go to their corporate profile and click on their employee numbers to see a list of people who have publicly listed themselves as Nike employees on social media.
If you are a member of any business groups or certified industry organizations, apply your mentoring criteria to them. The people who work in these membership groups spend a lot of time connecting with members, so if anyone can help you find people who meet your criteria, it's them!
Try to stick to realistic criteria. While we'd all like to be mentored by Warren Buffett or CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, these people are notoriously hard to reach. Mentors who are just a few years ahead of you in your chosen career path may be easier to connect with, and it's also a good way to access fresh and relevant information.
I would recommend making a list of 5 people who fit your criteria. Once you find 5 people, you can move on to the next step.
If you are a member of any business groups or certified industry organizations, apply your mentoring criteria to them. The people who work in these membership groups spend a lot of time connecting with members, so if anyone can help you find people who meet your criteria, it's them!
Try to stick to realistic criteria. While we'd all like to be mentored by Warren Buffett or CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, these people are notoriously hard to reach. Mentors who are just a few years ahead of you in your chosen career path may be easier to connect with, and it's also a good way to access fresh and relevant information.
I would recommend making a list of 5 people who fit your criteria. Once you find 5 people, you can move on to the next step.
3. Do your research and be specific about what you want to ask about
Once you have 5 potential applicants, do a little research. What has their career path been like so far? Have they done anything that surprised you? Asking specific questions will show your mentor that you've done your homework and are serious about the relationship.
If you notice a major project listed on their social media, you could ask what they learned. You could tell them that you are starting a similar project, and you would like to know what they would do differently.
If possible, avoid vague general questions like "what are the secrets to success in life". Many mentors find these questions too broad and too general to answer.
If you notice a major project listed on their social media, you could ask what they learned. You could tell them that you are starting a similar project, and you would like to know what they would do differently.
If possible, avoid vague general questions like "what are the secrets to success in life". Many mentors find these questions too broad and too general to answer.
4. Reach out to your potential mentors (don't be afraid to be creative!)
Contacting potential mentors via email or social media is probably the simplest and most direct approach but slightly less orthodox means can also lead to great results. If you know their office address, why not handwrite a thoughtful letter? In our digitally oriented world, a handwritten note is bound to catch the eye.
If you know your potential mentor will be attending an event or conference, you can also try reaching out to them in real life.
If you know your potential mentor will be attending an event or conference, you can also try reaching out to them in real life.
5. If you do not receive a response, politely remind yourself
If you don't get a response to your email or social media message, don't get upset, there could be many reasons why your potential mentor hasn't responded, one of which is that they simply forgot. A simple polite reminder of yourself may get you the response you're waiting for.
6. Do your best to be a good mentee
If you are lucky enough to get a mentor, make sure that you don't create a lot of hassle for them.
You will help your mentor a lot if you do:
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You will help your mentor a lot if you do:
- Be flexible with your mentor's schedule
- Be on time for meetings
- Respond to your mentor's emails promptly
- Do any work or tasks assigned by your mentor between meetings
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