At a time of job uncertainty, maybe you need a mentor
By Anita Bruzzese
Sometimes in our careers we need a kick in the pants. We need someone to push us, to make us see what's possible and how we can get there.
For people like Linda Swindling, that point came in college. For Christopher Wright, it came when he was enduring a job he hated.
Both turned to mentors. People in their lives who came along, saw their strengths and weaknesses — and for no pay at all — gave them invaluable advice that helped them land at better places in their career.
Now, at a time when most of us are confused and stressed about our jobs and career paths, mentoring programs appear to be more popular than ever — even employers are seeing the value in offering such support to employees.
Beth Carvin, CEO and president of Nobscot Corp., a retention management consulting firm in Honolulu, says that the company's mentoring division, Mentor Scout, is doing a booming business. The program helps companies set up mentoring programs.
"It's a way for companies to develop their talent, and it's cost-effective because they're utilizing their resources internally," Carvin says. "We're seeing a huge growth in mentoring."
Currently, about 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer mentor programs, but experts say no one in this economy should wait for an employer to find them a mentor.
"A lot of people don't even think of it until they lose a job," Carvin says. "You really need to think of it when you have a job."
Swindling, a Dallas-based speaker and author, says that she's used mentors since her college days, and still relies on them. "Mentors have really given me a push when I need it. They remind me of stuff I'm not doing and give me a different perspective," she says.
Wright credits his mentor from decades ago with giving him the skills he needed to run his own mechanical engineering practice. "He was very open about what he was doing and very patient with my persistent questions and in helping me fix my mistakes," Wright says.
Still, even with the fond memories for Swindling and Wright, both say that those going into a mentoring relationship need to understand it's not always enjoyable.
Swindling adds: "You find some people who say they can help you and they're lying. They just want you to help them sell their stuff. They want to use you."
If you're considering a mentoring relationship, those interviewed for this story have some advice. They say you should:
