Trust worthy advice from a well respected individual is called mentoring. Generally speaking mentoring is a process whereby people are recruited into an organization or system, then supported in regards to their own professional and personal development.
The person who does the supporting may be called a Mentor (or may still do the supporting but have no such title!). Most people are someone's Mentor normally, in fact, whether they know it or not. Everyone needs a Mentor, and most of us have one or more. A mentor will become a sounding board for plans and dreams that may affect your career. Mentors will fosters relationships and the development that can benefit both parties involved.
The mentor provides counsel, insight and guidance to the client or individual. The mentor task is an opportunity to invest in the accomplishment of others and contribute to their future goals and aspirations. We can say that mentoring has many sectors. They can be categorized in types of business: - Research – Marketing – Computing - Financial Planning – Advisory – Training - Business Review - Strategic Planning - Business Planning - New Technology -Software Development, etc. This does not mean mentoring has to be limited to those mentioned; it may be possible for a Mentor to work for a large firm on a specific project. Their expertise will be focused to the task and they will advise accordingly. Their job and position with the company may be for one task or a multitude of tasks.
The Mentoring Consultant programs available out there seek to provide opportunities to clients with one goal. To assist in managing and developing their long-term career goals. Mentors may register with several online service providers. They in turn will specify and choose whom they will mentor. This can become very competitive due to the Specialization and various disciplines in this field. They will in turn be matched with students who have similar goals.
These days’ consultants are changing their tittles and converting them into mentors. By far, most clients have a general idea of what they want to focus on, but they’re not sure. If they are in a mentoring program, they would like some help in choosing and guiding their goals, but they are not sure about admitting what they may consider a fault. Once they are asked to express these feeling in writing is when most clients and students falter. When filling out these forms most student or clients will fill this out with a generic topic. This will ultimately prove fatal and a waste of time. Once the client or student is comfortable enough and has a basis of trust and believed they can get the help choosing a Mentor becomes easier and will have a better success rate. Inevitably any mentoring relationship will lead to a mutual rapport respect and which can prove to be a positive and effective experience for both involved.
The Internet is another good place to find a mentor. Most will have various links to on-going projects or finished projects they have accomplished. Some Technical Schools or Educational Institutions may have a mentoring department where they can suggest and offer several names from their roster.
Mentoring is effective once the subject’s goals and objectives are established clearly. Establishing clear outcomes will assist both parties in maximizing the potential benefits that may develop from the mentoring relationship. Career Mentoring assists student in establishing relationships and networks in order to achieve their full potential. Once participants have gone through a regimented course and program they have stated the boost in confidence when interviewing and marketing their abilities as a Mentor.
