Why Your Career Might Benefit from Mentorship
As a youngster reporting for duty on my first job, I remember stepping out of the train station and seeing the large offices, working people, and the buzz of London. It was a life I wanted to experience but felt slightly intimidated by. Then I met my mentor, who helped me see a realistic path towards a successful career.
I was 16 at the time, and had an interest in creative careers, like writing, but lacked the relevant knowledge of which job roles were available to me. That's why I decided to find an internship and was paired with a senior copywriter, Irina, at a marketing firm.
From our first conversation, she understood how scary it could be to work in London, but showed me the excitement and the intrigue of creative writing and marketing. Throughout those months, I built my confidence in copywriting, enjoying the variety it brought as well as the skills it taught me to write for different audiences. Irina supported my creativity and gave me opportunities to bring forward ideas for the firm.
In a rapidly-changing world, the need for a career mentor is becoming ever more important. A mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser — a confidant who can support younger people or those less-experienced. Someone who can be a friend, or a teacher, your manager, maybe even a parent or other family member. According to the careers website, Indeed, mentors guide, advise and support mentees through their careers. Mentors will use their experience and skills to guide others and help them achieve specific goals. By sharing knowledge and experiences, mentees can feel supported when starting a career. Mentors also help to offer opportunities and connect their mentees with others to advance their growth.
