3 Ways to Find a Health Career Mentor

Think back to a time when you conquered an assignment that you thought was impossible, all thanks to the gracious help of your teacher. Remember how great that felt? Now imagine what it would be like to have that feeling on a regular basis. Having a mentor will make it possible.

A mentor is a more experienced person already working in your field of interest who acts as a role model, teacher and coach and gives significant career assistance to a less-experienced professional or student (the mentee).

The mentor-mentee relationship may be short-term, long-term or task specific, but nonetheless, having a good mentor could make the difference between finding success and failure in any health field. Read on for our tips on how to find a health care mentor in three easy steps.

Step 1: Prepare your case

Mentors offer their mentees many benefits, but that’s just one side of it! Have you considered the value that you can possibly offer your mentor? Maybe you have special gifts and talents that can help them with research projects or you have a knack for grant writing or preparing conference presentations. Think through what skills your experiences so far have given you so you can really make the case for why a busy mentor should take you under their wing.

 



Step 2: Make a list of potentials (think outside of the box)

Consider people you already know or ask for referrals. When choosing, be cautious about selecting someone solely because of their popularity. These individuals may not have enough time to dedicate to developing a positive mentorship. It’s important to choose someone who has wisdom, kindness, and time for you! Don’t overlook peer mentoring. Though we mentioned earlier that mentors are often more experienced professionals, peer mentors can help you become familiar with a profession’s culture, a school’s resources, or strategies for success in your field.

Step 3: Start your outreach

This is perhaps the hardest part because it will likely take the most time: now you’re ready to start your outreach. At this step, you may find this Forbes article about how to ask a stranger for career advice.

Comment:

I am anxious to find a Mentor, but I am going to wait a bit, till I have been in college a little while and comfortable with everything.

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