ReInventYourself

Mentoring

One of the most important factors in many people’s career success is to have a mentor.

What is a mentor? A mentor is someone who is experienced in selecting and achieving their goals. Mentors are often someone who knows more about your organization or career than you do. Your mentor could be your boss, someone who works in your organization, or someone who works outside your organization. Your mentor can be a man or a woman, it doesn’t matter.

What does matter is that your mentor be someone who believes in you and helps you to attain your goals.  Being exposed to a positive, successful person is a great way to learn how to become one. 

All the Directors, Managers, and Supervisors at BMA/IMMI would be happy to be a mentor for you. All you need to do is take the initiative and ask for their help.

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

1. Make a list of possible mentors
2. Choose a mentor from your list
3. Ask the person if they will be your mentor
4. Make an appointment to discuss your career with your mentor
• Bring two or three ideas you have for what you might want to do in the future and ask for feedback
• Ask what have been the key ingredients in their success
• Ask how you can get the experience you need to move forward in your career
• Ask which skills you need to hone or what you need to learn about
• Ask where they see you going in the next 5 years
5. Formulate a plan of action for career development based on the information you receive.
6. As you follow through on your mentor’s suggestions, let them know how you are doing.
7. Meet with your mentor periodically to refine your plan and identify new actions that can help you move forward in your career.