Think back to the beginning of your career. Was there someone there to help you along the way? Who was your #1 advocate and inspired you to keep pushing through the tough times? Maybe there was one person in particular or multiple advocates along the way that mentored you in different ways. If you did, great!
Studies have shown that people are 77% more likely to stay in a job where they have mentorship, while those who do not have regular mentorship are 35% more likely to leave the company within 12 months.
And if that’s not reason enough … I have more
Having a mentor can do wonders for your self-confidence in every stage of your career — not just the beginning. Brainstorming new features, collaborating on designs, peer engineering, strategically planning your career — everything’s better when done together! And being a mentor is a great way to grow and give back. Providing direct support and advocacy to another individual inside or outside of your company doesn’t just help the mentee grow; it helps you develop your skills too. The gratification and joy that comes from seeing a mentee develop and succeed in their career is unmatched. Along the way, you’ll be surprised how much you can learn from them too!
How to find a mentorship program
If your company is one of the few that offers a mentorship program, take advantage of it. It’s a great way to build relationships and connections to other parts of the organization and gain empathy for employee struggles within your company. If your company is small or doesn’t have a mentorship program, never fear there are plenty of programs both virtual and local that can help you find your mentor or mentee match! If you’re networking in your community to find a mentor/mentee match, keep in mind that it should be a two-way street. The most sought-after mentors may already have two or three mentees or may not connect with you.
1 out of every 5 women do not have a mentor
Of course, mentoring doesn’t have to be within a company. There are plenty of organizations that connect mentors with mentees, and mentorship can also be found through networking. Even with these resources, historically women have had a more difficult time finding a mentor and according to recent studies 1 out of every 5 women do not have a mentor. Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In movement has brought this into the public spotlight and encouraged women to take the lead and mentor no matter what stage of their career they may be in.
As a strong advocate for women in the workplace, I give back by mentoring for WEST as well as being on the core team for GoDaddy Women in Tech where I’m currently developing an internal mentorship program. GoDaddy is also a sponsor and active participant in the Women Entering and Staying in Tech (WEST) program among others. WEST is dedicated to help women enter and flourish in tech roles via 1:1 mentorships over a 6 month period. The program uses the Everwise platform to create a truly interactive learning community where you can connect with mentors and mentees across the world about tough situations at work, learn how to navigate career transitions, and get tips from experienced individuals who’ve been in your shoes.
So, what’s your experience with mentoring? Do you have a success story from a great mentorship? I’d love to hear from you!
