Choosing Your Mentor Well Will Depend on How Far You Go

Being curious, motivated, talented, and above all, reliable is the single best way to attract a mentor. But how do you know what kind of mentor are you looking for?

Saleena Beharry is a web developer and designer working in Orlando, Florida. In her free time, she creates content about self-development, technology, and marketing. Here are four types of mentors the expert recommends you to seek:

Early Career Mentor

If you are looking to switch professions or break into an industry, don't start with highly experienced people you see in your books or on stage. Many of them are far removed from the experience of breaking in or have outdated. They can even have harmful perspectives if you seek out their getting started stories.

Instead, seek young professionals: they are hungrier for networking and value giving back early in their careers. This mentor is a few steps ahead of your career journey and provides up-to-date tips for your current situation.

Technical Mentor

This mentor has technical expertise in a tool or software you use to get stuff done. For example, an accountant would want to partner with a person who has excellent Excel skills. Another scenery: a construction worker will want to seek a person who knows how to use that new 302 CR excavator. Where to find them? You don't have to go too far because technical mentors are at your current job.

Every organization uses tools tailored to its needs. Find a technical expert who understands how that tool works and how it works for your organization.

Diplomatic Mentor

You're going to need a mentor within your organization who can help you through your dilemmas or questions about the business. This person has strong interpersonal relationships and has a good rapport with others. You can partner with your company's recruiter: they know everyone and acknowledge others' skills.

Also read: COLOMBIANS HIGHLIGHTED AMONG THE SPANISH RANKING OF 100 LEADING WOMEN

Gathering mutual support can also help with personal dilemmas. Maybe you're a distressed new parent, and you may want to partner with co-workers who are also parents. They can help you understand what it's like to balance a family and a career.

Guru Mentor

This mentor is your dream role. They can help get you where you want to be five or ten years down the line. If your dream position is at your current job, then partner with the person who holds that role.

If your dream role exists outside your job, find them on social media, it can be Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

In today's fast-paced content-saturated world, who you choose to follow is massively important to your development as a professional. There are notable thought leaders in your specific industry who offer free expertise, guidance, and insight.

Finally, if you're looking for a mentor, Saleena recommends you keep in mind these three things:

1. You're unsuccessful because you're deploying cheap tactics.

2. Become valuable. Be an asset rather than a burden.

3. Manage your mentor's relationship properly.

With all these tips, now you are ready to find the perfect mentor for you. Remember that you can also become someone else's role model one day. Keep persisting and surround yourself with the right people.