The NASPP Blog

Are you looking for ways to enhance your career? If so, first you’ll want to listen to the audio archive of our latest webcast, “How to Succeed in Equity Compensation Without Really Trying!” It is chalk full of tips on how to be successful in your jobs without really trying. Second, find yourself a mentor! A mentor can take you under their wing and cultivate your career goals (think Yoda to Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series).

How to find a mentor and what to look for in one?

Identify a professional you admire, respect and have a good chemistry with. You might also want to narrow your search to someone who is working in the same profession as you and is in a position that you’d eventually like to be in. This person might be a colleague at your company or someone you know through a professional organization, such as the NASPP or the CEP Institute. Formal mentoring programs do exist, but the best mentor/mentee relationships are often formed naturally over the course of time without the involvement of a third-party.

The key is to connect with someone you feel is going to make a long-term commitment to your professional development, celebrate your successes, listen to you, is easy to communicate with, introduce you to key players in the industry and has no ulterior motives.

Cultivating your relationship

There is no reason to formally invite your mentor to be a trusted advisor. Most often, all that is needed to develop a relationship with this person is to express your gratitude for their insight and ask if it would be okay to continue to learn from them. Also, be sure that when you connect, it is in a way that is natural, informal and easy. For example, if you both enjoy physical fitness, offer to chat over a jog.

How can a mentor help you?

Mentors can be as important to those just beginning their careers as they are to seasoned professionals. Who doesn’t need a second opinion or sounding board for ideas? Your mentor can share lessons learned with you–mistakes and successes–with the hope that you will learn from these. Mentors can provide a fresh perspective on issues, help you develop a long-term career plan, expand your social network by introducing you to key players in the industry and simply help you develop some of the skills necessary for the job you are working towards.

Express your gratitude

Mentors aren’t compensated for their time; they gain satisfaction in their relationship with you by sharing information, insight and work-related experiences. Regardless, don’t underestimate the power of a thank you. Explaining how this person has positively impacted your professional career is a sure way to continue your relationship for years to come.

Go ahead and find yourself a mentor today–you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing so!

-Robyn