Be A Mentor
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 9:11PMSo many of us who are advancing in our career, taking every opportunity to develop professionally, and build on our experience sometimes need to stop. And think.
Think about how what we've learned, where we've been, and how we've built our careers could leverage these experiences to enhance and, in some cases, ensure another person's success.
When I graduated from the University of Maryland in 1999 right at the peak of the internet bubble, I had no idea how much having a mentor would impact the next ten years and counting.
I was lucky. In 1999, jobs were plentiful. My first job was an "executive support person" (yep, you're right, a glorified assistant) for three senior vice presidents at a business and technology consulting firm. However, after three months, I found myself helping to open up a brand new office in another city, sitting in on high level executive meetings, and building an office from four to forty in a matter of months. After the office was up and running, I went and worked with the user experience group at the same company and soon after that was positioned to rise in the ranks of the client relationship management track. Those were the days of stock options, stock splits, making the S&P 500 as a digital company (that was not a common feat back then), and riding the wave of a growing high profile organization.
Then the bubble burst. And about half the company got laid off (along with thousands of others at interactive and tech agencies around the country and the world).
But I learned a lot in those two years and it was because I had incredible mentors.
Mentors that taught me to:
- Ask for what you want. I would have never gotten that experience working with the amazing people in the user experience group had I not initially asked for it.
- Ask forgiveness later if you're confident in the results. You can be sure there were quite a few people that thought a "green" employee like me had no right to be doing some of the level of work that I did. But my mentors trusted me and my skills. That gave me confidence to get it done.
- Trust your team. There were days when I felt so unbelievably out of my element I wasn't sure if I could deliver. The team I was on pulled me through. And we did that for whomever needed it. Every time.
- Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. Back then, there weren't a whole lot of women in technology. In fact, at one point I was one of only two women on the team. And I was young. And I got ribbed. But I learned to laugh along WITH them and dish it out every once in a while.
- The sky's the limit, you own your professional development. I have never forgotten this. If I start to get comfortable with what I know...well, then I know this: It's time to start challenging what I already know and learn some more as much as I can. And I'm not just talking about what's offered internally. Diversity in where you obtain your knowledge and ideas is key.
- It's all about relationships. With your teams. With the people who support you. With your clients. With your partnerships. Relationships are the foundation of everything.
So, when I was asked by the folks behind #Happo if I'd volunteer to review a resume as part of a giveaway they were offering, I did not hesitate to take the opportunity. It was just last summer that I had returned to the corporate world at Fleishman-Hillard and I'm no fool...good karma keeps breeding good karma.
I was introduced to Brianna Fisher, a stellar senior in the PR program at Temple University. Their PR program includes a student-run agency and Brianna's hopeful for landing her dream job after graduation this year. I could tell you how the process went, but she does it so well here.
I've told Brianna that I look forward to being her mentor moving forward if she wants and I'm committed to being there as she continues her job search, makes decisions about offers, and advances in her own career.
I've got mentors in my life now who I can turn to...whether it's a gut check or a major career decision. And being a mentor to people gives me purpose and keeps me grounded, too. So it's win-win.
If you're interested in being a mentor or you are looking for a mentor or simply want to share your story about the importance of being or having a mentor, please share in the comments.
Reader Comments (9)
Jessica:
We're so glad you're involved with HAPPO. But, more importantly, it's so great to see someone at your level giving back. That's been one of the most rewarding parts of the whole HAPPO experience for me.
Like you, I've been fortunate to have many mentors in my professional life. At times they've spurred me along. Other times, they've encouraged me to be patients. But I've always listened. After all, these are the people that have taken on the same challenges I'm facing now. And, I'm willing to bet they failed a time or two. But you know what? I get to learn from those failures, too (and their successes, too). Can't tell you how valuable that's been.
And now, I too have taken every opportunity to pay it forward. That was one of the big reasons Valerie and I came up with this HAPPO concept. We believe in giving back. Big time. It's almost like once you get a taste for it and what it feels like and what it can do, there's no looking back. I'm addicted to giving back now. And, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Thanks for the post Jessica. And, thanks for being you. Hope we have an opportunity to meet in person very soon.
@arikhanson
Great advice Jessica! All I would add is the best advice I ever received.
Measure your success by what you had to give up to achieve it!
Hold true to your values and don't spend too much time working. You still have to live life!
What great reminder of why mentoring is so important. As Arik commented, it is extremely inspiring to see someone who has achieved as much as you have, take the time and invest the energy to help make a difference in someone else's career. Reading your post (and I actually read it several times today) made me reflect on some of the great advice and mentoring I have received over the years. The best advice I ever got? Never stagnate. If you feel that you are stagnating, that means it's time to move on.
Thank you for sharing some of the wisdom of your mentors and for making this resume review into such a great experience (for all of us). And beyond HAPPO, a more general thank you- you serve as a great source of inspiration for this working mom (1 yr old & 3 yr old)
@valeriesimon
As you know, you have mentored me. Thanks for always being so willing to help others succeed!
Oh gosh! How I would benefit from a mentor. I realize that I am at a point where I am sort of stuck. I am in a place where I am not exactly sure where my true passion lies and I feel pretty much all over the place sometimes. Many times I have felt I should have taken most of what I have done online more "seriously." What I mean by that is thinking things through more. I created a Twitter acount with no real thought to a long term goal with it and now I just don't like my username.(@frugalgirl) Also, I am not thrilled with my blog name anymore, either. Go ahead, say it....the mentors will be busting down my door, won't they? I would just love the support and wisdom that a mentor could offer.
Cathy
I love the idea of mentors, and have had a few good ones at different points in my life. I think the important thing is to have the mentor match the stage at which the person is in - aka people may(or may not) be mentors for life, but they can still be learned from. Great ideas!
You are one of my mentors! Love having you as a colleague, you rock. Great post. Good luck to Brianna!
I absolutely LOVE Mentors...their commercials are SO funny! Does anyone remember that video by the Foo Fighters that was made to look like a Mentors commercial? H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S.
Okay, now that most people have stopped reading....I could not agree more Jessica. If you're in business and don't have a mentor, GET one. If you're in business and you're not being a mentor, BE one. It doesn't matter what level you're at, from the top to the bottom, we all need mentors and we all need to be mentors.
Oh yeah, I was just kidding about the Mentos stuff.
Great post Jessica. This blog is an excellent resource for those looking to grow in their careers, especially in the PR/Marketing fields. As a recent grad from the University of Southern California at her first job, I am definitely in need of a mentor. I feel I have all the raw materials to excel but no real direction to channel my rigor.
I can see from the comments section that this blog is full of great mentors, anyone want to take me on? I promise I’m worth it! @missJess915