October 26, 2021
Connecting with a Mentor
“Don’t just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living or dead or unborn couldn’t do it better”.
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Well, all of us want to achieve excellence in what we do, but the question is what is the right career path for us? With tons of options available and some trending more than others, it is indeed very difficult!
Many stalwarts say we can do a good job only if we do what we truly like to do. But how do we identify our true calling? A ‘career mentor’ is one of the options you can think about to solve this dilemma.
What is a Career Mentor?
A career mentor is someone who can simplify your career decision and help you building an exciting future based on your natural strengths. Moreover, a mentor can also provide you a long-term path.
Isn’t the term ‘mentor’ used mostly in corporate life?
Well, technically, you can have a mentor at any stage of your life!
Consider the case of Amrita (*) who has been a very bright student throughout her schooling years. She had always dreamt to be a doctor, specifically a Pulmonologist. However, her parents think it’s a tough profession and a risky one too considering virus breakouts which is no longer a future phenomenon. They are also worried about the competition and the availability of seats at the post-graduation level.
Amrita is also very good at Maths, and they think she would also be able to have a great career in any ‘Tech’ job as well.
A good career mentor can help Amrita solve this dilemma by understanding her personality – what she is good at & what she likes.
Although being a ‘Pulmonologist’ and ‘Techie’ seem to require a background in ‘Science’, the basic nature of both jobs and skillsets required is different. And a career mentor works based on the ‘nature of the person’ or to be precise by identifying the ‘natural strengths’ of a person.
How is a career mentor different than counsellor?
Although both these terminologies are similar and many times used interchangeably, there is a difference in approach as well as outcome.
| Career Mentor | Career Counsellor | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Performance specific – mentor empowers a person to see a possible future and believe it can be obtained.
Mentor also helps in identifying the right career for you and suggests specifics actions you need to take to achieve your long-term goals. |
Career development – suggests multiple choices based on aptitude/choice of the person. |
| Style of working | Participative | Directive |
| Structure of interactions | Long-term, informal interactions within a defined structure to achieve specific, measurable, achievable and time-bound goals. | Short term and formal |
What is the typical approach which career mentors take?
Typically career mentoring involves the following:
Assessment of your personality and identification of your strengths
Creation of career development plan
- Discussion to understand your goals & aspirations
- Explaining the results of personality assessment and suggesting various options for career
- Encouraging to do further research on suggested options
- Meeting again to discuss what would be the best option suited to you, and helping you create a long-term yet rewarding career and academic path!
Career mentor firmly believes that every individual is born with a differentiator and everyone holds several assets that are powerful and unique. These special assets need to be honed for success in life.
Start believing, start dreaming and start preparing a blue-print for your success!
(* Disclaimer: Names and events above are fictitious. No association with any real company, people, or events is intended or should be inferred.)
