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Got a Mentor?
by
Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team
While personal ambition and talent are
necessary to accomplish career goals, few administrative professionals have
achieved success all on their own. Receiving a little help along the way
from a trusted mentor is often essential.
Unfortunately, many administrative professionals fail to partner with one
because they are intimidated by the prospect of identifying and approaching
a potential candidate. But finding a mentor is much less difficult than it
may seem. Here’s how you can do it:
Know what you need. Before you begin your search, consider what you
hope to gain from the relationship. Think about the specific qualities the
person should possess, as well as how the individual might assist you. For
instance, if you would like to move into a senior administrative assistant
role, start with someone who currently holds that position. He or she can
identify areas where you need to improve, such as communication abilities or
software skills, and highlight aspects of the role that you may not be aware
of, such as the need to sometimes work evenings or weekends.
Take the initiative. Don’t expect a mentor to come to you. After
identifying an individual whose success and work style you admire, approach
him or her and explain that you would enjoy finding out more about the
skills and techniques that have helped the person excel. Try not to make
your request too time consuming or demanding, particularly at the beginning.
People will be more receptive to serving as a mentor if doing so doesn’t
require overwhelming effort.
Address any concerns. If someone is hesitant to become a mentor, try
to find out the source of the problem and suggest alternatives that make it
easier for him or her to help you out. For example, you might reduce the
frequency of meetings if the person seems pressed for time or ask for a
referral to someone else who might be better suited.
Respect the person’s time. Once you have found a mentor and started
meeting, be respectful of his or her time. Arrive at scheduled sessions with
a list of questions, but don’t expect your contact to have all of the
answers. Research issues before you bring them up. For example, if you’re
wondering if you should pursue a professional certification, make sure you
are knowledgeable about the options available before you seek your mentor’s
advice.
Be appreciative. Once you’ve established the relationship, keep your
mentor updated on progress made in areas in which the person has helped your
career. Always thank him or her for any assistance provided and share the
credit for your successes when appropriate.
While it may require some effort to begin the mentoring process, the
long-term payoffs can be significant. You’ll have a valuable resource for
career guidance, allowing you to put yourself on an accelerated path toward
achieving your goals.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive
director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing
in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office
support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at
www.officeteam.com.
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