How to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your Career

How to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your CareerHow to Find the Right Mentor to Advance Your CareerThe right mentor can take your career to new heights. Heres how to find the right one for you.The right mentor can be a powerful tool in your career arsenal, whether youre new to the working world or already well-established in your industry. In fact, Sheila Wellington, former president of Catalyst Foundation and author of Be Your Own Mentor, believes its one of the main reasons why men tend to rise higher than women in the workplace men are more likely to find career mentorship throughout their careers than women.Mentors can propel your career in innumerable ways. They can help shape your professional skills, teach you the ins and outs of your industry, help you navigate corporate politics, overcome adversity, and introduce you to the right people and resources to advance your career. Check out these five different types of mentorship below to find out how you can reap the benefits of professional guidance throughout your entire career.Seek a SenseiSome of you may think youve outgrown the need for a mentor, but that simply isnt true. As your career evolves, so will your requirements for a mentor. Consider what type of guidance youre looking for, given what stage you are at in your career. Do you want a veteran of your industry to help you clarify your career path, or are you looking for a leader to help you tackle the challenges you face in upper management?Look to senior executives in your company whom you admire, or well-known industry leaders who inspire you. Youll uncover a number of potential role models by getting involved in relevant professional associations. These groups provide countless development and networking opportunities for professionals of all ages and stages of their careers. Take a look at WEDDLEs Association Directory to find the right association for you.Enlist an Entrepreneur ExpertMentors arent reserved for your typical corporate prof essional. If youre an aspiring entrepreneur, there are many organizations designed with your needs in mind. From building business plans to raising capital, these groups provide mentorship opportunities to help you become a successful business owner.If you want to abflug your own business, get a mentor who understands your specific challenges. Check out MicroMentor, a group whichspecializes in pairing entrepreneurs with business mentors for free. Additionally, the organization Krash aims to help founders, entrepreneurs and innovators rapidly build the supportive personal and professional networks they need to be successful.Partner with a Peer MentorBefore you reach out to a senior colleague, consider the benefits of a peer mentor. These relationships work especially well when youre joining a new company, or if youre considering a career transition. In both cases, identify someone at the same career stage as you who knows the lay of the land and can get you up to speed quickly.Peer m entors can be especially helpful when youre looking for a job. Approach a fellow job seeker whos in the same line of work and join forces. By checking in with one another on a weekly basis and sharing information, youre automatically doubling your job-search efforts and resources. Concerned about the competition? Its unlikely that both of you will have identical goals and be perfect for the exact same job.Procure a ProtgYou dont have to be the mentee in the relationship to reap the benefits of a mentorship. If youre looking to gain management experience before your first management job, supervision others is a great place to start. Find out if there are opportunities to mentor your organizations interns or approach a more junior colleague and show him the ropes.The perks of mentorships only grow as your career progresses. Not only do many find the experience rewarding, but chances are, youll also learn a thing or two from your mentees. These relationships come in handy later in your career, too. Should you decide to look for a new opportunity, your former apprentices are great resources for job leads and likely to be enthusiastic advocates.Tap into Non-Traditional TeachersIt takes time to find the right person to be your mentor, and even more time to build a meaningful connection with that person. But that doesnt mean you need to wait to cash in on valuable guidance There are a number of alternative ways you can get advice to advance your career. Pick up a copy of Steven Coveys book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, or one of John C. Maxwells books such as The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership , and start reading.Use your laptop or mobile device to watch a TED Talk, a session of Levo Leagues Office Hours, or one of Lean Ins online lectures to continue learning while on the go.Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, each offering different types and levels of support throughout your career. Consider the mentors in your life to be your own personal board of directors, helping you learn and make the best decisions when it comes to your job search and professional development. Remember, mentorship isnt handed to you you have to ask for what you need. Dont be afraid to approach someone you meet and ask the questions you really want to know youll be amazed at what may happen