Entry level employees face a challenging task on how to take care of their career and what are the necessary steps that could get them promoted. Since they do not have any experience, they are often left out in the open without any idea on how to tackle their career development. Sure, there are information that can be found online and in books but what is written may never be the same with actual experience.

Inexperience should never be the reason for the lack of career development. Since experience is lacking, help should be sought to ensure proper career development. That is where the concept of career mentor enters.

Career Mentor as Tool for Advancement

A career mentor is someone who will guide you in your career in terms of selecting the right choices and on how to improve your career. They are, of course, employees who have been successful in their career and have the enthusiasm to share what he or she knows.

It is a common misconception that a career mentor should be able to provide you with the actual choices for career advancement. A career mentor will never provide you on what positions to apply or industry to work with, but a career mentor will help you have a mind frame that could help you in your career.

If a career mentor just selects the career move that you have to make, you will end up as someone who became successful but does not know how to move from where. Success is a very important part in a person’s life but it should never be end goal. Being happy in a chosen career is more important as well as the ability to assist others in their career advancement.

Selecting the Right Mentor

The basic requirement for career mentors is to show success in their chosen field. Your manager, the business owner or your supervisor can help you as a career mentor.  One important factor that should be considered while selecting the right mentor is the mentor’s disposition or philosophy in career advancement.

Everyone has a different idea on how to advance in their career and some of them might never be the same with your philosophy. Talk to the person regarding career development and you will know in a few minutes how they are able to face the challenges in their career.

Interacting with your Mentor

Your interaction with your mentor should never be just a one way flow of information. Your mentor could say a lot of things but he is also expecting a lot from you. One of the ways to get help in your career is to ask for it and if you do not talk to your mentor regarding your struggles, you will never have the right tips on how to tackle your career.

The outcome of your career will be greatly influenced on how you perceive your problems in your career and how your mentor could guide you in answering those problems effectively.