Question 1

Why seek out mentors?

Accepted Answer

Mentors can:
 • Provide advice on how to navigate your career/industry.
 • Help you get an interview
 • Help you grow within an organization
 • Help you explore new career options

Question 2

Who should they be?

Accepted Answer

Mentors should be people:
 • You click with
 • You respect
 • Who have knowledge/experience that can help you
 • Who take an interest in you
Examples:
 • Professors/teachers
 • Bosses/co-workers
 • University staff
 • Professionals you meet
 • Mentors or staff from programs such as PCF, Boys and Girls Club, etc.
Mentors are NOT everyone you meet.
 
Not everyone will have the same level of connection with you and that's okay! Conversations will vary with people depending on the nature of your relationship and how deep that relationship is.
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Question 3

Personal Board of Directors

Accepted Answer

Your “Personal Board of Directors” are a group of mentors that you can turn to with questions throughout your career (and life). Different people can play different roles. For example, while your mom might be your best cheerleader and incredibly important to talk to in stressful situations, it’s great to receive career advice from someone who has experience in your industry.
Be on the lookout for people who might serve in the following roles, pulling from all areas of your work/school/life.
 
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Question 4

How do you build relationships?

Accepted Answer

There are many different ways to build relationships. Here is a list of options that you can choose from and match to the different people you’d like to grow into advocates.
The basics
 • Send thank you emails after conversations.
 • Connect with them on LinkedIn.
 • Follow their advice and let them know when you do it (e.g. read a book they recommended or applied to a job/internship).
What to ask for
 • Advice
 • More conversations with new questions
 • Help on revising your resume, preparing for interviews, etc.
Share
 • Congratulations- New job, promotion, new product launch, etc.
 • Good news about yourself- New job, new classes, new school, etc.
 • Bad news about yourself- Left job/school or difficult problems. This is tricky. Sometimes people feel like they should never share hard times or challenging situations with mentors/potential mentors.
    • What this is not: an email blast to your entire network updating them that you lost your job.
    • What it can be: one-on-one conversations with people whose advice could be helpful to you and will be respectful of the situation you are in.
Help them (personal-related)
 • Personal introductions- Introduce them to people who would be helpful with their personal life (e.g. looking for a babysitter or a new gardener).
 • Offer recommendations if they bring anything up that is challenging for them.
    • Examples from alums:
       • Offered restaurant recommendations for someone new in town
       • Tutored a mentor’s son in Spanish
       • Offered to help a mentor’s daughter apply to colleges
Important: Only do these things if you have the bandwidth to do them (i.e. Don’t sacrifice academics!). If you do not have the capacity to help, offer ideas for other people/resources. “I won’t be able to tutor, but I have a friend who has great tutoring experience.” It’s ok to say no.

Help them (career-related)
 • Send them articles of relevant work-related things.
 • Career introductions- Introduce them to people who would be helpful with their career.
 • Ask them what their problems are and send them ideas (in an email, in a PowerPoint deck, or ask to work on that problem for a school project/internship/part-time job).
You might feel like you don’t have much to offer your mentors, but you’re likely overlooking your skillset. For example, many adults would love to learn how to use social media or hear your perspective on how to market to a younger demographic!

Question 5

How often?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of reaching out completely depends on the situation and the person. If none of the above have been relevant, it’s nice to send a note once a year. Example topics:
 • Reflections on the school year
 • Happy holidays
Talk to your Eastside Career Coach if you have questions.
Q: What if they don’t respond?
A: That’s fine! Oftentimes, they will read it, smile, and not respond. However, when the time comes that you really need something, they will remember these notes and feel more invested in helping you.

Building Relationships Mentors and advocates are very helpful in navigating your career.

Building Relationships
Mentors and advocates are very helpful in navigating your career.