Career Advice-3 Key Qualities to Make a Mentor Count

Career advice from Helene Naftali, founder of oneTRUEzone and author of Own Your Zone: What Students Need to Succeed From School to Career

1. Passion for mentoring you through the college to career process
2. Commitment to your success through energy and enthusiasm
3. Positive role model; a happy, successful and energetic person
I have frequently discussed the importance mentors, because finding the right mentor can be a key component in your path to success! Whether you are in the process of applying to college, in college exploring potential careers, or have graduated and looking for career guidance, a mentor is absolutely priceless.  What I would like to talk about today is how to make a mentor count by defining the 3 key qualities to look for in a mentor.

1. Mentors must have passion for you.  A true mentor gets joy from your progress and is energized by you!   It gives them a sense of pride to watch you skyrocket to success.  This passion comes from their personal connection to you, and is not connected to how they might benefit from your achievements. A sales manager training a salesperson to increase sales is not a true mentor.

2. A mentor must be committed to your success.  Mentors are much more than the colleagues who can show you where to find paper clips or a college friend that tells you which Geology professor to take.  A mentor is thoroughly committed to steering you on the road to success from college to career and beyond.   This is a long-term commitment to guide you through self-exploration, personal growth, open doors, and give you real-life experiences and vision.

3. A mentor must be a positive role model.  Remember, positivity breeds positivity.  In order for a mentor to guide you to a happy and successful career, he or she must actually be happy and successful. Remember this while seeking out a mentor.

The next question many of my students ask is “Where do I find a mentor?”  The truth is they are all around you.  What I tell my students is to use their own arsenal of resources. Leave no stone unturned.  Mentors can be friends, family members, co-workers, family friends, neighbors, college advisors, professors, etc.  One of the greatest joys that I get from my work at oneTRUEzone is to mentor young adults as they successfully make their way from school to career.  
However, I also get joy from watching students find their own mentors to guide them on their personal journeys.

Let me know what you think.  Do you have any success stories in finding a mentor?  Contact me and let me know how we can help you build your own path to success!  www.onetruezone.com