Mentor at Work

Before you even start to look for a mentor, it is important to select the right person. You must first decide what you want to gain from the mentor, as well as what you expect from them. Write down a list of both your short and long-term career goals. Ask yourself where you want to be in your career in the next few months or years? What can a mentor give you that would help you grow in your career.

There are a few things that you can expect from a mentor without reservation. You should study a person well. It has been proven that the best leaders are those who are excited about their careers. You don't want a person who comes in late, leaves early or takes long lunches. Similarly. someone who is poorly dressed, or a person always gossips about others will probably not make a great choice.

After you’ve done your homework, and observed several people, it is time to approach your potential leader. You may be wondering how to do this. One of the best ways is also the simplest. Introduce yourself, and tell them you are new here and that you have been noticing how excited they are about their job. Tell them that you would like to follow their example and would therefore like to have them as your mentor. They will most likely be flattered that you asked, and will probably say yes.

Choosing a mentor at work is an all too often neglected, but important step in a successful career path. Select someone who can guide you at the workplace and can also support your career goals. A mentor relationship is invaluable to your career.