Mentors for Administrative Professionals

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.