CAREER IS A LIFE LONG PATH FOR SURVIVAL AND TO EXCEL BUT ITS SELECTION IS SO DELICATE THAT A MINOR DECISION CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THEREFORE, ANYONE INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CAREER IN ANY FIELD NEEDS A MENTOR. PARENTS AND RELATIVES CAN BE CAREER MENTORS. IT HELPS TO HAVE A CAREER MENTOR AND MENTORS HAVE PLAYED A GREAT ROLE IN SHAPING CAREERS OF MANY WELL KNOW PEOPLE. THUS, A CAPABLE CAREER MENTOR ("GOD-FATHER") CAN BE OF GREAT HELP TO ANYONE IN ADVANCING A DESIRED CAREER.
MENTORING
IF WE RECEIVE HELP FROM SOMEONE TO LEARN, TO SORT OUT A PROBLEM OR TO DEVISE A PLAN, WE HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY HAD A MENTOR. IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY AND THE WORD 'MENTOR' MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN USED. THE TERM 'MENTORING' IS BEING USED MORE WIDELY NOW IN OUR SOCIETY AND PEOPLE ARE OFTEN ENCOURAGED TO SEEK A MENTOR. MENTORING IS A RELATIONSHIP, WHICH GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES, AND TO GROW AND DEVELOP IN THE PROCESS. MENTORS RECEIVE SOME BENEFITS, TOO, SUCH AS EARNING A REPUTATION FOR SPOTTING NEW TALENT; OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE NO MOTIVATION TO DO IT.
THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP CAN BE FORMAL, INFORMAL, SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM. THE TWO KEY CONCEPTS OF MENTORING ARE LEARNING AND RELATIONSHIP. WHEN SEEKING A MENTOR, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WITH SIMILAR VALUES, EXPERIENCE, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO DEVOTE TIME TO THE RELATIONSHIP. ONCE THESE CRITERIA ARE MET, A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP CAN TAKE ROOT. HOWEVER, A MENTOR CAN ONLY ASSIST US WITH OUR CAREER, BUT WE ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION IT WILL TAKE.
MENTOR AND HIS ROLE/RESPONSI-BILITIES
AN EFFECTIVE MENTOR HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE WHO:
M - MANAGES THE RELATIONSHIP
E - ENCOURAGES
N - NURTURES
T - TEACHES
O - OFFERS MUTUAL RESPECT
R - RESPONDS TO THE MENTEE'S NEEDS
FINDING A MENTOR
WHEN SEEKING A MENTOR WE SHOULD HAVE COURAGE AND HUMILITY. IT'S NOT EASY TO ASK FOR HELP, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE SEEK A MENTOR. WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN SERVE AS AN OCCASIONAL SOUNDING BOARD AT WORK WHO CAN HELP US WORK THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THINK ABOUT SEEKING ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. TRY TO SELECT PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE ALREADY HAVE A CONNECTION. MOST OFTEN, A MENTOR IS A MORE EXPERIENCED OR OLDER PERSON WHO ACTS AS AN ADVISOR, ROLE MODEL, COACH, SUPPORTER, CHALLENGER, AND GUIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG SCIENTIST MAY TURN TO A LONG-TIME VETERAN TO HELP HIM/HER EXPLORE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS OR TO TEACH HOW TO MANAGE A DIFFICULT PROJECT.
A MENTOR MAY SOMETIME MISPERCEIVE THE MENTEE'S POTENTIAL AND SET GOALS THAT ARE TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED TO RELY ON SEVERAL PEOPLE CAN HELP AVOID A FUTILE SEARCH FOR THE "PERFECT" MENTOR. MEN OR WOMEN ARE EQUALLY GOOD AS MENTORS BUT THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT HE/SHE SHOULD BE CAPABLE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE YOUR POTENTIAL, MOTIVATE YOU, ENHANCE YOUR CAPABILITIES AND HELP YOU IN ACHIEVING YOUR CAREER GOALS.
WHEN LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE MENTOR IT IS TEMPTING TO NARROW DOWN OUR OPTIONS WITHOUT GOOD REASON. WE SHOULD NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A MENTOR WHO IS NOT LOCAL TO OUR PLACE OF WORK, AS IT IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE BY PHONE OR EMAIL. DEPENDING ON THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO US, TRY A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:
MENTORING
IF WE RECEIVE HELP FROM SOMEONE TO LEARN, TO SORT OUT A PROBLEM OR TO DEVISE A PLAN, WE HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY HAD A MENTOR. IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY AND THE WORD 'MENTOR' MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN USED. THE TERM 'MENTORING' IS BEING USED MORE WIDELY NOW IN OUR SOCIETY AND PEOPLE ARE OFTEN ENCOURAGED TO SEEK A MENTOR. MENTORING IS A RELATIONSHIP, WHICH GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES, AND TO GROW AND DEVELOP IN THE PROCESS. MENTORS RECEIVE SOME BENEFITS, TOO, SUCH AS EARNING A REPUTATION FOR SPOTTING NEW TALENT; OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE NO MOTIVATION TO DO IT.
THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP CAN BE FORMAL, INFORMAL, SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM. THE TWO KEY CONCEPTS OF MENTORING ARE LEARNING AND RELATIONSHIP. WHEN SEEKING A MENTOR, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WITH SIMILAR VALUES, EXPERIENCE, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO DEVOTE TIME TO THE RELATIONSHIP. ONCE THESE CRITERIA ARE MET, A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP CAN TAKE ROOT. HOWEVER, A MENTOR CAN ONLY ASSIST US WITH OUR CAREER, BUT WE ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION IT WILL TAKE.
MENTOR AND HIS ROLE/RESPONSI-BILITIES
AN EFFECTIVE MENTOR HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE WHO:
M - MANAGES THE RELATIONSHIP
E - ENCOURAGES
N - NURTURES
T - TEACHES
O - OFFERS MUTUAL RESPECT
R - RESPONDS TO THE MENTEE'S NEEDS
FINDING A MENTOR
WHEN SEEKING A MENTOR WE SHOULD HAVE COURAGE AND HUMILITY. IT'S NOT EASY TO ASK FOR HELP, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE SEEK A MENTOR. WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN SERVE AS AN OCCASIONAL SOUNDING BOARD AT WORK WHO CAN HELP US WORK THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THINK ABOUT SEEKING ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. TRY TO SELECT PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE ALREADY HAVE A CONNECTION. MOST OFTEN, A MENTOR IS A MORE EXPERIENCED OR OLDER PERSON WHO ACTS AS AN ADVISOR, ROLE MODEL, COACH, SUPPORTER, CHALLENGER, AND GUIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG SCIENTIST MAY TURN TO A LONG-TIME VETERAN TO HELP HIM/HER EXPLORE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS OR TO TEACH HOW TO MANAGE A DIFFICULT PROJECT.
A MENTOR MAY SOMETIME MISPERCEIVE THE MENTEE'S POTENTIAL AND SET GOALS THAT ARE TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED TO RELY ON SEVERAL PEOPLE CAN HELP AVOID A FUTILE SEARCH FOR THE "PERFECT" MENTOR. MEN OR WOMEN ARE EQUALLY GOOD AS MENTORS BUT THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT HE/SHE SHOULD BE CAPABLE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE YOUR POTENTIAL, MOTIVATE YOU, ENHANCE YOUR CAPABILITIES AND HELP YOU IN ACHIEVING YOUR CAREER GOALS.
WHEN LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE MENTOR IT IS TEMPTING TO NARROW DOWN OUR OPTIONS WITHOUT GOOD REASON. WE SHOULD NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A MENTOR WHO IS NOT LOCAL TO OUR PLACE OF WORK, AS IT IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE BY PHONE OR EMAIL. DEPENDING ON THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO US, TRY A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:
REGARDLESS OF THE EXPERTISE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, TELL THEM ABOUT OUR SEARCH BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE CONTACTS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO SHARE WITH US
OUR ORGANISATION MAY ALSO HAVE A DEPARTMENT DEVOTED TO THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEES' TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THAT CAN NETWORK BETWEEN EMPLOYEES WITH SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS.
A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AT THE TOP OF HIS/HER PROFESSION OR DISCIPLINE TO BE A MENTOR. FEW ORGANIZATIONS DO A GOOD JOB OF SUPPORTING "OFFICIAL" MENTOR/MENTEE RELATIONSHIPS. TEACHING ASSISTANTS CAN MENTOR OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS CAN MENTOR UNDER-GRADUATES, UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS CAN HELP THOSE BEGINNING THE MAJOR. SOME SCHOOLS ARE COMING FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION AND EACH MENTOR IS PAIRED WITH ONE STUDENT OR RECENT ALUMNUS OR ALUMNA. THEY ENCOURAGE ALUMNI AND THEIR MENTEES TO CONFER BY TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE. DURING THIS TIME, THEY ASK THAT THE MENTOR SHARE INFORMATION ON HIS/HER CAREER PATH, CURRENT JOB, SUCCESSES, FAILURES AND CAREER ADVICE.
OUR ORGANISATION MAY ALSO HAVE A DEPARTMENT DEVOTED TO THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEES' TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THAT CAN NETWORK BETWEEN EMPLOYEES WITH SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS.
A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AT THE TOP OF HIS/HER PROFESSION OR DISCIPLINE TO BE A MENTOR. FEW ORGANIZATIONS DO A GOOD JOB OF SUPPORTING "OFFICIAL" MENTOR/MENTEE RELATIONSHIPS. TEACHING ASSISTANTS CAN MENTOR OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS CAN MENTOR UNDER-GRADUATES, UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS CAN HELP THOSE BEGINNING THE MAJOR. SOME SCHOOLS ARE COMING FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION AND EACH MENTOR IS PAIRED WITH ONE STUDENT OR RECENT ALUMNUS OR ALUMNA. THEY ENCOURAGE ALUMNI AND THEIR MENTEES TO CONFER BY TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE. DURING THIS TIME, THEY ASK THAT THE MENTOR SHARE INFORMATION ON HIS/HER CAREER PATH, CURRENT JOB, SUCCESSES, FAILURES AND CAREER ADVICE.
APPROACHING A POTENTIAL MENTOR
ONCE WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE MENTOR'S RESEARCH, WE ARE READY TO CONTACT HIM/HER. WE MAY CHOOSE TO INITIALLY CONTACT THE MENTOR BY EMAIL OR TO SEND HIM/HER A PACKET OF INFORMATION CANTAINING A LETTER 'OF INTEREST AND SAME DATA ABOUT 'OURSELVES. IN AN INITIAL CONTACT WITH A POTENTIAL MENTOR, WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
ONCE WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE MENTOR'S RESEARCH, WE ARE READY TO CONTACT HIM/HER. WE MAY CHOOSE TO INITIALLY CONTACT THE MENTOR BY EMAIL OR TO SEND HIM/HER A PACKET OF INFORMATION CANTAINING A LETTER 'OF INTEREST AND SAME DATA ABOUT 'OURSELVES. IN AN INITIAL CONTACT WITH A POTENTIAL MENTOR, WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
IF THE POTENTIAL MENTOR WHEN CONTACTED DOES NOT RESPOND, CONTACTS HIM/HER AGAIN AFTER SAME TIME. GETTING IN TOUCH WITH A MENTOR 'OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL TRIES. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED IF WE DON'T HEAR BACK FROM THEM IMMEDIATELY OR IF WE CANNOT REACH THEM RIGHT AWAY. KEEP TRYING.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE WE GO TO THE MENTOR TO BE ABLE TO STATE WHY WE ARE SEEKING OUT THIS PARTICULAR PERSON'S ADVICE.
IF THERE ISN'T A GOOD MATCH BETWEEN 'OUR INTERESTS AND THOSE 'OF THE MENTOR ASK HIM/HER TO SUGGEST OTHER COLLEAGUES WE MIGHT APPROACH.
REMEMBER, ESTABLISHING A MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT HAPPEN 'OVERNIGHT. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL. WE NEED TO BE EAGER TO LEARN, ACT AS A TEAM PLAYER, BE PATIENT, BE A RISK TAKER, TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, LEARN FROM THE MENTOR AND ACTIVELY SEEK EXPERIENCES THAT WILL EXPAND 'OUR CAREER.
REMEMBER, ESTABLISHING A MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT HAPPEN 'OVERNIGHT. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL. WE NEED TO BE EAGER TO LEARN, ACT AS A TEAM PLAYER, BE PATIENT, BE A RISK TAKER, TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, LEARN FROM THE MENTOR AND ACTIVELY SEEK EXPERIENCES THAT WILL EXPAND 'OUR CAREER.
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