Do You Really Need a Mentor?

By Lisa Sietstra December 17, 2020

How Strong Relationships Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

When we think about our journey to success, we tend to think we travel that path alone. Our goals are our own, our hard work is our own, and our wins are our own. But the truth is, of course, that we will always rely on the support of others to make it work. What do those relationships look like?

You’re probably already familiar with the benefits of networking: meeting and interacting with others in order to exchange information or to develop professional contacts. Networking can help you expand your sphere of influence and find new opportunities.

But what about mentorship? Mentorship is an opportunity to build a relationship with someone who has experience you want to learn from or to gain insights from someone whose path you hope to follow.

Networking and mentorship can both be powerful tools in helping you reach your goals. Here’s how.

Making Connections

Networking is sometimes treated like a bad word, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. If the idea of putting yourself out there, trading business cards, and honing your elevator pitch stresses you out, try to adjust your mindset. Think of networking as simply expanding your circle of potential opportunities.

Building a professional network before you begin your next job search or career change can make a world of difference in cutting through all those duplicate online job postings and templatized applications. It can help you find the hidden opportunities, the ones that don’t get plastered all over the same databases attracting hundreds or thousands of responses.

For all the benefits of digital databases and job lists can provide, the best way to find new openings is still through meeting people. Connecting with other people can lead to the advanced position you’re dreaming of—or even to unexpected opportunities. It can also help you learn new skills, expand your horizons, and find new perspectives.

How to Start

When it comes to networking, it’s often easiest to work your way outward. Start with who you already know and begin expanding by a degree or two of separation. Think of your current classmates or coworkers, or of people you have worked with in the past; who do they know? LinkedIn can be a particularly helpful tool for this.

You can also take the opposite approach and start with who you’d like to end up connecting with. If you’re about to switch career paths, for instance, what types of contacts would you like to make in your new field? Start with them and work backward to make those connections.

Still not sure where to begin or feeling a little overwhelmed by the possibilities? The Career Services team at Grantham is eager to help you build your professional network in a way that can support your goals.

Finding a Mentor

If networking is a tool to expand your circle in general, mentorship is a way to get more focused guidance. Networking is often most beneficial in short-term ways: Getting a contact at a certain organization or finding someone who can offer a particular service. But mentorship offers a chance to create a deeper relationship.

Some mentorships last only until a specific goal is accomplished. Others last a lifetime. The key to mentorship is that it’s a relationship, not simply a transfer of knowledge. Ideally, it’s a relationship that offers both a sense of accountability and a feeling of true support.

Having a mentor can be especially valuable in times of transition: When you’re just getting started in a new industry; when you’re changing roles, teams, or organizations; or when you’re working toward a big goal. Mentors can provide critical guidance in navigating difficult situations, learning (or sharpening) a skill and in pursuing your aspirations.

How to Start

Start by thinking of the people you admire, the people in whose footsteps you’d like to follow. Is there someone you’ve worked with in the past who you really clicked with? Is there a senior employee whose work you’ve often appreciated or who currently has the job you’d like to have one day?

If no one comes to mind, consider members of industry organizations or clubs who have taken an active role. Join Grantham’s Alumni Connections group on LinkedIn. Look for people whose names come up in conversation about projects you care about.

When you’ve identified someone to build a mentorship with, reach out to establish a rapport: Remember that this is a relationship that can’t be forced or rushed. You want to make sure that the person you’re reaching out to is understanding of your goals, supportive of your ambition, and both willing and able to put in the time.

Paying It Forward

It’s very common to look at mentorship and networking opportunities and ask what they can do for us. And there’s nothing wrong with that. These are two very valuable tools for building and advancing your career and for creating a sense of professional satisfaction.

But there’s also something to be said for asking how you can be a resource for others. As you continue to meet new people, make it a point to connect them with others who could benefit from knowing them too. Be willing to pass along someone else’s business card (literally or metaphorically) when you think they would be the right fit for the opportunity.

If you’re a student approaching graduation, maybe there’s a new student who could use your support as someone already succeeding in the same program. As you climb the corporate ladder, you could offer a helping hand to the person coming up behind you. Parents of older children can take new moms and dads under their wing. Seasoned managers can become a sounding board for new supervisors.

These types of relationships are what help us thrive in our professional lives. If you get out of it what you put into it, striving to give more than you receive can increase their value dramatically.

How to Start

Where were you when you’d hoped to find a mentor? Go back to your own milestone moments and look for ways to get involved. Think of the networks or industry organizations you belong to; find opportunities to share your wealth of knowledge and experience with those who are seeking support.

Looking for more help in getting started? The Career Services team can help you build your network and learn how to spot mentorship opportunities before you’ve even graduated.