Finding a Mentor: Approaching Someone to Mentor You

No one knows everything. That concept is especially evident in today’s society, where there is constant innovation and updating of established processes and procedures. When it comes to your career, it’s critical to accept the notion that getting help from someone, like a mentor, with a different point of view can help you reach your goals (and usually much faster than trying to do it alone). Finding a mentor to discuss obstacles and problems with can help you avoid common blunders that hold many professionals and executives back.

Mentoring has been linked to positive career outcomes such as increased skill/competence development and recognition/success. Despite this, many people do not have a mentor for a variety of reasons. They don’t know what to look for when finding a mentor, and they don’t know how to approach one. We’ve already addressed those issues in previous articles, so let’s assume you’ve identified a potential mentor. What do you tell them? Here’s a step-by-step guide to approaching someone to mentor you!

Request an individual meeting

Invite your potential mentor out for lunch or coffee. You should ideally meet with them in person for an hour. When you talk in person, you can observe someone’s body language and pick up on other cues that you can’t see over the phone. If meeting in person is not possible, I would recommend a virtual meeting via Skype (or another technology with a visual component) before making a phone call.

Recount their achievements and contributions

Prepare for your meeting by researching and comprehending your potential mentor’s background, accomplishments, and key career contributions. After the first part of the conversation during the meeting, you should move on to discussing their accomplishments. You could express your admiration for everything they’ve accomplished in their industry, department, or job role. Be genuine in your congratulations and acknowledge the value they’ve brought to an organization or any goals they’ve met.

Outline your career objectives in a few sentences

You want to change gears now and start talking about yourself. “I am aiming to be a laboratory director as well,” for example, helps to position you as a driven professional. Most people are extremely busy, and it is up to you to convince your potential mentor that you are worth their time. This is also a good place to mention any previous highlights or promotions. This part of the conversation should last no more than 5-7 minutes. Because you will be requesting their time, the main topic of this conversation should be your potential mentor.

Describe your mutual connection

At this point, you want to clarify that both have similarities extending beyond surface-level attributes. You could discuss how your personalities complement each other, how you both see things from a similar perspective, or how your backgrounds are similar. Mention anything that demonstrates you and your partner’s strong bond. This step is critical because it directly connects you to the potential mentor, laying the groundwork for a long-term relationship.

Ask for their assistance through mentorship

You’ve finally reached the point where you can request their assistance as a mentor. “According to your track record of success, I believe you have a lot to teach me.” Would you be interested in mentoring me? “After you ask the question, you should pause, remain silent, and wait for their response.” If they say anything from maybe to yes, you should briefly outline what that mentorship could look like. “Thank you for your consideration!” I was considering a solution that would be convenient for you and not take up too much of your time. We could have a quarterly meeting (or a monthly phone call) and you could give me career advice…”

Approaching someone to mentor you can be intimidating. You’re putting yourself out there for possible rejection. If you’ve done your research on potential mentors, you’ll be more confident in starting the conversation. Requesting a one-on-one meeting and preparing for it by researching the accomplishments of your potential mentor is a great place to start. If you briefly outline your career goals and emphasize your mutual connection, you may be able to persuade someone to mentor you.

Still find yourself looking for ways to boost career growth? Fly High Coaching is always here to help. We offer expert professional resume services and career coaching to help professionals excel or change the path they are on. Contact us today to get started on your new career journey or check out our FREE Kick Start Your Success course for more ideas to reach your goals!