Mentorship is a mutually beneficial professional relationship in which an experienced individual (the mentor) imparts knowledge, expertise and wisdom to a less experienced person (the mentee), while simultaneously honing their mentoring skills. An effective mentor can professionally guide the mentee while maintaining a friendly and supportive relationship. A mentor should always have the mentee’s best interests in mind and tailor their mentorship style to meet the needs of the mentee.

The first step to finding a mentor is defining what you want out of your career. This may not mean planning out your whole career – it’s important to leave room to go where things take you – but defining what you want in the short term can give you a clear path forward. 

Once you’ve met with someone and had an initial conversation, if you think they can provide valuable advice to you as your career progresses, make sure you think critically about how and when to follow up. If they’re open to continuing a dialogue, set calendar reminders on when to follow up. How often you speak with your mentor is up to you, but the goal is long-term, continued insight. That could mean hopping on the phone or meeting for coffee once a quarter, or even just twice a year.

It is important to choose wisely when selecting a mentor. This is someone you should look up to and aspire to be like. With that said, there are several qualities that all good mentors share.

EXPERIENCE & SUCESS

At the most basic level, your mentor should have more experience than you and a track record of success.

“A great mentor is someone whose qualities make up a much better version of who you envision yourself to become,” said Argyropoulos. “On the other hand, some great mentors may help you to learn who not to be like – for example, a very successful businessman who is struggling in his personal life. Great mentors have a complementary skill set and bring different qualities to the table. Different perspectives are valuable in the mentor-mentee relationship.”