A Young Professional’s Guide to Successful Mentorship

As a young professional, one of the most valuable things you can do to prepare for future success is to find yourself a mentor. 

I’ve leaned on my trusted mentors myself to help guide my early career decisions and navigate the daunting post-grad life that lies ahead. Mentors have given me insight into job applications, work-life balance, and managing healthy expectations, as well as  teaching me life lessons that reach beyond my professional aspirations. 

Through my own experiences and research, I’m here to offer you my insights into the importance of mentorship through a compilation of advice that will help you both find and keep a good mentor. 

Analyze Your Existing Network 

To begin a successful mentorship, you must find a mentor. A great place to start is by looking at the network you already have. If you’re a student, you more than likely have a built-in network of professors to lean on who are invested in your career success. Begin your mentor search by reaching out to those professors that you’ve built positive relationships with, and spark up a conversation with them about your career goals. 

A professor may be a great fit for you as a mentor, or they can connect you to other colleagues who are down for the job. Make sure to be specific with the professors you approach about your reasons for wanting a mentor so that they can realistically advise and guide you. 

Build Your Network With Intentionality 

A solid mentorship is best created with the help of a strong network. Taking the time to expand your network will serve you well in the pursuit of a new mentor. When it comes to networking, intentionality is the key to finding and building solid relationships. Keep in mind that the depth of your connections you build will serve you much better than building a large but shallow network. 

Connecting with every face you come across on LinkedIn probably won't be the smartest path to success in building your network. It is helpful to first visualize the kind of person you are seeking to learn from as you search for potential mentors. To connect with professionals who truly align with your values and goals, the internet will be your best friend. Use it to your advantage and do your research before reaching out to just anyone with a request for mentorship. Look into their career backgrounds to see what kind of work they have already done, and find out if there are any other characteristics you share with certain professionals that might help you relate with them on a deeper level. 

Let Someone Else Find You a Mentor 

While intentionally choosing your own mentor is a great path, looking out for opportunities for a built-in mentor can also serve you well in the mentor search. Designated mentorship programs are great for supplying young professionals with eager industry pros to fill the mentor role. 

West Michigan’s chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA) has their own “Mentor Match” program where they pair PRSSA enrolled students with professional mentors from their group to facilitate professional development. This program is a great way to find a first mentor if you find networking overwhelming or are having trouble finding a professional that is looking to dedicate their time to a mentee. 

Be a Human and Keep Things Natural 

So you found someone (or matched with someone) who would like to be your mentor– yay! Finding a mentor is hard, but actually meeting with them face-to-face and discussing your goals can be even harder. The best advice that I’ve received on ensuring a smooth mentorship meeting is to simply be a human and keep things natural. 

Be sure to take time in your meetings to share personal stories, talk about hobbies and truly get to know your mentor. It goes a long way to get to know them beyond the surface level, and will help build a sense of trust and understanding between both parties. A relationship with a mentor is like any other, and keeping this in mind can ensure that your meetings are more enjoyable and built in mutual trust. 

Other Tips
This short blog doesn’t cover all of the ins-an-outs of strategic mentorship, but I hope it does inspire you to reconsider how you can best approach meaningful mentorships going forward. There are many other ways you can maximize a mentorship beyond the tips I’ve chosen to highlight. If you’re interested in learning what else you can do to elevate your mentorship approach such as knowing what topics to bring up, what preparations you should take, etc., check out this wonderful article from NPR on finding and keeping mentors for all kinds of advice on the topic of mentorship.

Emma Buschle is a rising senior double majoring in Advertising & Public Relations and Dance. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of GrandPR, a student-led integrated communications firm, and sits on the executive board for Grand Valley’s chapter of PRSSA. This summer, Emma is working as a PR Intern at Lambert. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, attending group fitness classes, and spending time with friends and family.