Finding and working with a career mentor in Oklahoma provides guidance and support throughout your professional path. The mentor can share industry insight, suggest relevant skill development, and introduce you to members of their network to help you reach your career goals.
Understanding how to find and work with mentors helps you reach your career potential. These suggestions can help.
Follow these guidelines to find and work with a career mentor in Oklahoma.
Search for a Career Mentor
Look for a knowledgeable industry professional willing to provide you with career guidance and support. Common resources include community mentorship programs, nonprofit organizations dedicated to making fields more accessible, and professional organizations. Or, you could search LinkedIn for industry professionals who might be interested in being a mentor.
Connect with Potential Career Mentors
Use a phone call, email, or LinkedIn to ask each potential connection to meet for coffee and discuss career guidance and support. Remember that although they likely want to help, their schedules might not allow them to meet with you. If so, you should thank the professional and reach out to another one.
Meet with Them
Have clear objectives and specific questions ready to ask a potential mentor. Also, limit the conversation to 15-30 minutes. These activities show you respect the potential mentor’s time and clarify how they can effectively help you.
When the conversation is finished, ask the potential mentor whether they would be willing to meet again to discuss career guidance and support in more detail after you have time to implement their advice. If they agree, schedule the next conversation far enough in the future, so you have time to apply what you learned and discuss your progress.
Build a Relationship with Your Career Mentor
Maintain regular contact with your career mentor. Include semi-regular updates on how you implemented their advice, your progress, and specific outcomes.
Ask them whether they would like to schedule weekly, monthly, or quarterly conversations. Share your desire to continue benefitting from their guidance and support.
Respect Their Boundaries
Remember that although your career mentor enjoys investing time and energy into helping you, they also have goals and a personal life. Therefore, you must respect your mentor’s boundaries.
For instance, ask your mentor when and how they would prefer you contact them. Also, request discussions on specific topics, such as constructive feedback on a project, well in advance so your mentor can consider adding it to their schedule.
Give Back to Your Career Mentor
Help your career mentor whenever possible. For instance, offer to assist with a project that overlaps with your skill set. Or, treat them to coffee when you meet. Show that you appreciate your mentor’s time, advice, and support.
Partner with a Staffing Agency
Work with a recruiter from HireCall to gain industry insight and explore career pathways with Oklahoma employers. Visit our job board to apply for a role today.
