For school leavers and recent graduates, the transition from school to work can be daunting. You may feel nervous and anxious about entering the workforce for the first time.
That’s exactly what a professional mentor is for. To calm your nerves and help you transition into the workforce by sharing knowledge, experience and advice.
What is a mentor?
Mentoring is a relationship in which a more experienced professional helps and supports a less experienced person.
Quality mentoring is always meant to encourage development and help the mentee reach their full potential through guidance, advice and reassurance.
What are the benefits of having a mentor?
Having a mentor is more than just having someone to talk to about your work life and concerns, it’s a relationship based on respect, trust and the exchanging of ideas.
As you enter the professional world, your mentor will become your support system.
Throughout your career, your mentor might change as you decide which roads you want to take and who you trust the most for guidance.
Some of the key benefits of having a professional mentor include:
- One-on-one access to industry leaders
- Practical experience
- Opportunities to develop strengths and work on weaknesses
- Guidance in situations of uncertainty
- Encouragement and support
- Extend your professional network
- Develop new skills and ways of thinking
- Improved communication
- Learning about company culture
- Constant feedback
- Increased confidence
- Better decision making
- Improved problem-solving skills
- Establish short-term and long term goals
- Accountability
How important is it to have a mentor?
Research studies suggest those who have mentors received higher salaries, achieved more promotions and felt more satisfied in their jobs.
For almost all career paths, having a mentor will help you excel in your chosen career.
How do you get a mentor?
Attending career expos is one of the best ways to meet plenty of professional mentors from a range of industries. After all, that’s what they are there for.
You might also have a family friend that is a professional in a field you are interested in. More often than not family friends are more than happy to be your mentor.
Find out more information for school leavers and graduates at CareersEvent.