For fresh graduates or people in search of a job, getting into the professional realm is extremely fascinating yet terrifying. One of the most resourceful aids that you should utilize at this critical moment is mentorship. Whether you are looking for career advancement mentors or a career design mentor, it is important to note that seeking help has a positive correlation to your career growth and your ability to accomplish set targets in a shorter time.
The Importance of Mentorship for Freshers
Interviewing for a position or a first time job can be a daunting experience for anyone. This is where mentorship comes into play. Career development mentors can help you with:
- Knowledge about the industry you are about to enter
- Tips on how to hone the requisite competencies
- Mediation assistance in workplace conflicts
- Roadmap and strategies for career progression
Statistics indicate that employees seeking to enhance their skills through mentorship are five times more likely to land promotions than employees who fail to look for mentorship. For fresh jobseekers, this can translate to rapid advancement in career and high levels of job fulfillment from the beginning.
Finding the Right Career Development Mentor
When looking for the right career or just graduated, picking the right mentor is very important. Consider someone who:
- Has expertise in the area you are interested in
- Has good enough communication skills
- Is genuinely concerned with your improvement and development
- Is able to give you tips on how to go about searching for jobs and how to prepare for interviews
It is important to note that it has been reported that 87% of mentors and mentees are positively impacted by the mentoring relationships. It is this benefit of both parties that lays the foundation of your career growth.
The Importance of Mentoring in Career Design for New Professionals
New entrants into the job market, who often lack clear career goals, can especially benefit from a career design mentor’s guidance. They will assist you in the following ways:
- Finding out what you’re good at or what you are interested in
- Assessing different options within your profession
- Developing a career progression plan
- Developing practical career objectives that are both short-term and long-term.
With 94% of employees saying that they would remain with an organization for a longer time if there were career growth opportunities, a career design mentor can help in determining what to look for in your first job and where to shift your career afterwards.
Using Your Mentorship Opportunities Effectively as a Newcomer
In order to make the most of your mentorship opportunities:
- Schedule frequent calls with your mentor/meet your mentor regularly.
- Prepare yourself with the key questions and topics that you wish to discuss.
- Accept the criticism and be willing to leave your comfort zone.
- Take action on what your mentor recommends to you.
As a recent graduate, do not forget that 89% mentees mentored by quality mentors are more appreciated by their colleagues. Being appreciated at such a scale can be the starting confidence a new employee needs.
Setting Career Goals with Your Mentor for Enhanced Results
For enhanced results, it is advisable that you work closely with your mentor in setting career path objectives, especially when in your formative stages working. It means that this goal setting process involves:
- Analyzing what you can currently do and where you need to grow.
- Exploring what roles are available within your industry.
- Defining goal benchmarks, starting from getting your first position
- Incorporating time phases into the target and its achieving process
Through a collaborative or consultative approach, your mentor is capable of suggesting job goals that are appropriate for you and can successfully be achieved based on the current market.
The Importance of Mentorship in Developing Professional Competence for Early Career Employees
As a fresher or a job-seeker, you can possibly be faced with a number of career challenges, including:
- Difficulty securing your very first employment
- Self-doubt in your new position
- Integration into corporate ethos and work etiquette
- Managing work with private life
Your mentor can give you relevant views and techniques to combat these challenges. This is because mentoring is known to have positive results such as increased productivity, in this case, 70% of companies that offer mentoring programs were able to reap such benefits even from relatively new employees.
How Professional Mentorship Can Boost One’s Job Search
Further, for young job seekers, mentorship enables you to find the right opportunities in your search for a job. A mentor can:
- Read and comment on your CV or prepared letters of application
- Coach you on how to do job interviews
- Offer assistance on various organizational cultures and business environment
- Possibly introduce you to their contacts in the field.
It is worth bearing in mind that a good number of people who have managed to achieve remarkable success in their careers claim that it is through mentor networks and associations that they were able to gain the much needed information early on in their careers. It is thus evident that in seeking mentorship, you will be in a proper position to secure your future job.
While undertaking the career journey, make sure that you are able to learn from practicing professionals as a part of the career through mentorship.
