Follow these steps to find a mentor who can support you by providing the insights and assistance you need.
1. Reflect on whether mentorship is a good fit for you
Consider your attributes and whether you would be a good mentee. Ask yourself whether you would be someone you would like to mentor. If not, why? Are you respectful, willing to work hard, flexible and open to feedback and criticism? In order to succeed in a mentor-mentee relationship, you must be actively building your skills and looking to advance in your career.
2. Identify your mentorship needs
Consider outlining the goals you have set for your own professional growth and think about what it would take to achieve those goals. This can be a starting point for your conversations with your mentor. It can also help you to select someone who can help you achieve those goals.
3. Select people to ask for mentorship
When considering people in your life that may be a good candidate for a mentor, think about the individuals who are ahead of you in terms of their careers or professional growth. Another way to identify possible mentors is to seek out those who have the position you wish to grow into in the future.
4. Start with your personal network
There are several places you can begin searching for mentors. Some examples include family connections, professional associations, your workplace, nonprofit organizations, local businesspeople and volunteer groups. When searching for a mentor, look for inspirational and successful people in your life. Before someone will mentor you, they will likely need to see your potential in the industry, as well as your willingness to work hard and succeed.
5. Prepare your elevator pitch
Be prepared to confidently share your goals, why you think this person is the right mentor for you and what your expectations are of them. Setting clear expectations in the initial conversation—including the time commitment involved—provides your potential mentor with the information they need to give thoughtful consideration to your request.
Excerpt taken from Indeed.com. Read more about mentorship here
