CAREER MENTORS ARE GOOD FOR YOUPauline Byers MBE

Before Finding a Career Mentor Questions to consider:

• Why do you need a Career Mentor?• How can a career mentor help• Where do you want to be in 5 years?• Have you completed a SWOT analysis?• Have you created a 5 year plan?• Think Win! Win!• Don’t Play the Victim

What is a career mentor?

A career mentor is someone• who provides career advice

and assistance.

What is a career mentor

Guide you throughout or aspects of your career.

Advice given is:• indispensable both starting out • when moving up the career ladder.

How can a Career Mentor Help?

• set and achieve goals• avoid career mistakes• navigate office politics• and bureaucracy.

Tips for Finding a Good Mentor

Research the field and find out about the people who are in it.

Create a list of people who seem like good fits with you

Begin by • Start contacting them slowly

at first - a polite and formal email, for example - and see who responds.

Forming A relationship• Try to form a relationship, and get to know their

personalities even as you try to exhibit yours.

• Go with your gut feelings• When you find the right mentor, you'll know it.

• People like helping other people!

• By asking a prospective mentor for help

• they are being told they are admired for what they do#

• career is in demand

• experiences and insights are valuable to others

• start asking, you'll be surprised how receptive people are.

• A mentor should have experience in the field or specialty in which you work, or aspire to work

• Choose a mentor who is local or nearby, if possible, and ideally someone in your organisation

What to look for

• Find a mentor who has a good balance

• similarities

• and differences compared to your strengths and weaknesses.

Steps to Perusing Your Dream Job• Find someone who already

works in that field who can offer guidance and advice

• Do it afraid / Feel the fear and do it

Developing and Advancing your Career for Success

• Networking • Navigate politics and • Learn what they didn't

teach you in school.

What Your Mentor Will Encourage You to Do

Raise Your Profile • Look for suitable jobs

• Read job specification

• Join a Recruitment Company – tell them the type of role you are interested in

• Aim High

Committ to Personal Investment

• Keep you CV updated and professional (not more than 2 pages

• Complete a 5 year plan• Work to a Excellent standard• Maintain a professional portfolio • Access Regular training and Complete

Appropriate training• Invest 10% of your income into your CPD

Networking

Start early• to maintain contact join

professional associations and attend meetings when possible.

• a national society or professional association etc.

• Never stop networking – Even if you have a great job.

NETWORKING • Assume each person you meet is a valuable connection. • If you leave a company, be sure to leave on good terms, try to stay

in touch.

• Combine “inter-net-working” with face-to-face personal networking.

• When networking online, use reputable sites and obey the rules

• Get out and About! The more places you go, events you attend, and people you meet, the more successful you’ll be