How to ask someone to advise you Schedule an initial conversation. Clearly describe the guidance you are looking for (The Ask). Confirm that you are willing to do the necessary work and follow-up. Acknowledge and respect the person's time.
Ask your potential mentor if they can make time to chat with you for 15 to 30 minutes. You don't want to be rushed and for the other person to have enough time to ask you questions about your goals, etc. Mention what you like about the person's work, especially if you've never met. Let's say your boss introduced you to a potential mentor and neither of you knows the other.
Research the possible work of the mentor. Then start with what you like about their work. That will show that you have a thoughtful approach. You can even have different mentors to support you in professional, personal, and spiritual capacities.
But as you reflect on the situation, realize that your mentor may be going through things that you don't know about, Copeland says. If you mention your specific, achievable goals early on in the relationship, your mentor can help you stay on track at each meeting. Ensher advises asking your potential mentor for a no-obligation informational interview before your biggest question. However, asking someone to advise you can be a little uncomfortable; after all, it's a big favor to ask them for this favor.
When it comes to your career, mentors can be one of the fastest ways to get from where you are to where you want to be. It's harder for a mentor to give you neutral, constructive feedback if your work has a direct impact on them. So how exactly do you tactfully ask someone to be your mentor? We contacted five racing experts to find out that this was their advice. When reviewing their advice, it became clear that these two experts developed an almost gradual process to determine who you want your mentor to be and how to ask them correctly.
Since women and people of color suffer discrimination at higher rates than white men in certain fields, such as STEM, it can be especially useful for women and people of color to know how to intentionally seek out mentors. This will help a busy mentor stay on track and know what to focus on with you throughout your relationship. This will allow your potential mentor to have the confidence that you'll get the most out of the investment they're making in the success of your career. And that starts with you first thinking about exactly what goals you have for the relationship, how to structure your work together and what specifically you're going to ask your mentor to do.
Even if you already have an idea of who you want to contact, taking the time to research more potential mentors is never a waste of time.
