Stories of the benefits of having a mentor to help promote professional growth abound, but while it may sound like a nice idea, how do you go about finding a mentor and what do you do once you have one? Mentorship can be a great way to gain a foothold as a new employee, move up the proverbial ladder, gain experience outside your current job role or simply build a mutually supportive professional connection. While finding the right person to be a mentor might feel like a challenge, the good news is, it might be easier than you think. Explore ways to seek out a mentor and benefit from this type of professional, mutually advantageous relationship.

While networking may sound somewhat like a buzzword, the reality is that getting to know a variety of people within your organization or line of work can help you establish relationships that can develop into a professional mentorship. Informal ways to meet others in your workplace outside of your immediate team or department might include casual conversations in the elevator or break room, especially with those in areas you may be interested in transitioning to in the future. Never underestimate the power of conversation in establishing a strong connection.

Volunteering for committee work in your company is another good way to get to know employees or supervisors outside your circle. Letting your manager know you are interested in joining a committee can help get your foot in the door. Joining a professional organization can also lead to meeting people in similar industries, especially as remote work has become more common, making workplace relationship building more difficult.

The important thing to remember about a mentorship is that it should be mutually beneficial and positive. Knowing someone just because it could benefit you isn’t the goal. A mentor is someone who knows the challenges you face and is willing to help you overcome them over time. Developing a professional relationship requires a balance in accountability and expectations from both parties in a trust-based environment. It involves honesty and candor, as well as mutual respect. It is easy to see why finding the right mentor is imperative.