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It is common for people to advise you to find a mentor, but they seldom tell you who exactly you should look for.

Depending on what you need, should the person you contact be someone senior in your field, someone who has a career that you respect, a well-connected individual who can put you in touch with various opportunities, or someone at a similar level to yourself who understands the situation you currently find yourself in?

It doesn't follow that the most impressive person you could approach would be the right mentor; rather, it should be someone whose experience, viewpoint, and method of mentoring correspond with the goals you are attempting to achieve.

It is beyond one mentor's ability to provide everything.

You might find it necessary to have someone who will listen to you and assist you in working through a problem, together with a role model who can show you what is possible, a connector who can help you extend your network, a knowledgeable individual who can direct you to useful resources, or a peer who progresses with you and gives you honest feedback.

Before you talk to anyone, make sure you know why you want a mentor. What specific goals do you have? What knowledge, experience, or networks do you lack? What kind of communication style suits you? And what can you offer in return to the relationship?

The importance of that final question lies in the fact that mentoring isn't just a one-way transfer of advice; you also have experience, skills, viewpoints, and relationships which may be of value to your mentor.

When you want to get in touch with someone, don't send a general message asking them to become your mentor. Instead, state the reason for your choice, explain what you hope to learn, and make clear the kind of commitment you are requesting. This enables the person to decide whether the relationship is suitable for them.

If you haven't already decided whom you would like to match with, Mentor Connector can assist you. It is Mentor Canada's free national database of mentoring programmes, enabling young people to find virtual or community-based opportunities and providing potential volunteer mentors with a way to connect with programmes throughout Canada.

Their Finding Your Next Mentor toolkit below helps you determine what type of mentor you need, prepare a well-thought-out request, and understand how the relationship might progress after it has started.

Download the free guide to finding your next mentor ⬇️