What is a Career Mentor?

A career mentor is someone who shares their knowledge & expertise

to guide and support you as you progress in your career. They help you
to achieve both short and long-term career goals and leave
decision-making to you. They also answer any concerns
or questions about your career path, and offer advice on how
the industry works and share tips on steps to be successful.
 Benefits of Having a Career Mentor
Learning from someone who is already successful in your field of
interest will help you boost your confidence. Having a career mentor
also helps you to be more strategic in dealing with any challenges you
may face on your own way. So what are the main benefits?

Connection
Mentors help newcomers to the industry connect with professionals
or experts in the field.

Guidance
Get career advice and insight from the mentor about their career
path inside and out.

Career Advancement
To improve the performance under the supervision of a mentor
and make smart career decisions to improve your long-term career
prospects.
Below are some examples of career mentors that can serve
as models for mentoring programs:

One-on-One Career Mentoring

In this mentoring, the relationship is strictly between you and mentors.
The main goal is to help develop your skills with sharing knowledge
and experience to advance in their career.

Peer-to-Peer Career Mentoring

Where two people of similar ages, experience levels, or both work
together to help each other grow. They provide support and advice
and act as a source of inspiration and new opportunities.

Group Career Mentoring

Bring multiple people to the group discussion. However, the team
is led by one or more mentors, who are responsible for guiding
the team in the right direction and helping everyone get the most
out of the experience.
 Where can you find a Career Mentor?
Before finding a mentor, consider making a list of your specific career
goals. This will help you find the right people to help you reach those
goals and find a career mentor who is compatible, has the same values
as you so they can help you properly.

Some good values that career counsellors often look for include respect,
willingness to work hard, flexibility, adaptability & openness to criticism
and feedback.