Mentors & MBA Life (vB)

You might have heard, “Getting your MBA is less about the classes, and more about the networking.” A year into the program, I can definitely say I agree. While the classes I’m taking have been both challenging and valuable, my ultimate reason for coming back to get my MBA is to advance my career. It took me a while to learn that advancing your career had everything to do with who you knew and how you leveraged it. Having a mentor is a great way to get to know someone successful who has many connections, and learn about professional experiences on a first-hand basis.  

via GIPHY

I decided to sign up for the mentorship program offered at my school. I carefully read the job descriptions of all the available mentors, before submitting my top choices. 

A few words of advice when trying to find a mentor: 

• Find a mentor whose career path sounds like one you would want to take. Do you hope to be in their position in the future? 
• If you are interested changing careers, I would suggest finding a mentor in the area you are interested in (but have no experience in.) This will be your chance to learn about the ins and outs of that new career, and to get to know whether you should actually take the leap. 
• Your mentor does not have to be through school! Sometimes, the best mentors are ones you have known for your whole life. If you see them as motivating and role model who you can look up to for your career, they may be a good match.  
  
  

Once you are matched up with your mentor, be sure to initiate and maintain the contact with your mentor. He/she is most likely busy being successful and all, and may not reach out to you to make plans. In fact, schools discourage mentors to reach out because it is the students responsibility to initiate. After all, the mentor relationship is most valuable to you.  

I was matched up with the mentor I picked as my first choice. She is someone I can truly say I look up to and can see myself in her position in the future (hopefully!). We keep in touch, and grab lunch every once in a while. I keep in contact with her via email and text. You should find out from your mentor at the beginning, what method of communication works best for them. Once that has been set and you begin communicating, make sure to clearly explain what your career goals are, and what you are hoping to gain from your mentor relationship.  

For me personally, I wanted a professional advisor. Even if I have an idea of what I’d like to do, I like to get my mentors feedback anyway. When I was trying to decide between two summer internships, I sent her the descriptions for both, as well as my preferences. She was aware of my career goals based on prior conversations, so it was very helpful to get her feedback. Ask all the career related questions you want. You don’t have to go with their advice- ultimately the decision is yours. But it’s nice to get feedback from a professional in your industry, who is already successful.   

Your mentor/mentee relationship should not just be about finding a job, though they can certainly be door openers for you. You want to learn about their experiences first hand, have an advisor who knows your career goals, and someone who can connect you with others who could be helpful to you. It is important to show your appreciation and stay on top of communication. Once you develop that relationship, it’s easier to maintain. In fact, you may just find a friend in your mentor! 

Mehek Sawani
SMU Cox MBA Candidate