How to Find a Mentor (And Manage That Relationship!)

Mentors and role models are crucial in the workforce, especially for women. Having the right mentor can not only help you gain the confidence to advance your professional career, but can also help open doors to opportunities you may have never dreamed of achieving before. Here at The Loop, we’re all about mentorship — we want to help you find that community where you feel comfortable growing and learning from one another.

Here are some of the top five takeaways on how to find mentors and manage your relationship with them:

1. Start with your existing network. Sometimes it can be hard to realize that the best types of networks are right in front of us! Reach out to family, friends, professors, and co-workers to see if they may know someone you could talk to. Having a mutual connection will also give you a more natural start to conversation.
2. Leverage social media. LinkedIn is a great place to start if you’re new to networking or if you want to find a mentor in a specific industry or company. For example, if you want to find someone who works at a company you’re passionate about, you can search for that company on LinkedIn and use the “People” section to see who works there. You can also filter by their location, college, and what sector they work in. Don’t be afraid to send them a connection request and introduction message — you’d be surprised how many people are willing to help!
3. Create a good first impression. After you find a mentor, whether in-person or online, make sure to introduce yourself in a respectful manner. If your first interaction goes well, that can pave the way for a succesful, long-lasting relationship. Respect can be expressed in many different ways: if, for example, you are scheduling an initial phone call with a mentor, take care to be mindful of their time and provide as many availabilities on your end as possible.
4. Show how you can add value. Mentorships don’t need to be solely one-sided relationships! A mentor can learn as much from you as you can from them. If applicable, reach out to your mentor and let them know what skills you have and how you can be of help to their professional work through a brief cover letter. This can really help to show your initiative and make relationships seem less transactional.
5. Follow-up over time. The best mentorships aren’t just one-time interactions, but sustainable relationships that continue over time. Even if you don’t have any questions for your mentor, it’s always nice to keep them periodically updated on your academic, work, or personal life. You can even just send them a greeting on major holidays. No matter the situation, they’ll appreciate you taking the effort to stay in touch with them.

And don’t forget — one of the easiest ways you can find a mentor today is by signing up for The Loop. Visit our website to answer a few brief questions about yourself and you can choose to be matched one-on-one or in a group salon. After that, we’ll do all the work! You’ll receive an email soon with information about how to virtually meet up with your new mentor.

Can’t wait to welcome you to The Loop network!