Where To Find A Mentor
During college, we all face challenges and obstacles. Finding jobs and internships, working hard in classes, and staying active in PRSSA all put a lot of pressure on us. Don’t you wish there was someone who successfully went through what you did who was willing to help you out?
One of the most lasting benefits of PRSSA is the opportunity to connect with PRSA professionals. As we are in the middle of PRSSA/PRSA Relationship Month, it’s a great time to find a mentor and grow as a young professional. Here are some resources to help you find a mentor:
- PRSA JobCenter. Did you know you have access to senior-level members of PRSA interested in coaching you on your career path? As a PRSSA member, you do. Check out PRSA’s JobCenter for a full list of the resources available at your fingertips.
- PRSA Chapters. Each PRSSA Chapter is sponsored by a PRSA Chapter, and within those Chapters are professionals who believe in advancing the profession and the professional. Utilize these professionals by reaching out the Chapter. You can find contact information for PRSA Chapters here.
- Champions for PRSSA. PRSSA Champions support our Society in many ways, including offering professional mentoring. Check out the directory here and consider reaching out to a Champion near you.
- Your PRSSA Chapter. Within each PRSSA Chapter, there should be at least one Faculty and Professional Advisor who can connect you with professionals interested in mentoring.
- Social media. Use Twitter, Facebook and social communities to find public relations professionals and build your network. Once you do this, you can ask questions and learn from your network. Another trend is using Twitter Chats, such as #PRStudChat, to find and connect with mentors. Valerie Simon from BurrellesLuce wrote about how to use chats to connect with professionals.
- Your peers. Is there any rule to how old a mentor has to be? Not at all. A mentor can be found in different stages of their own career from entry to more senior level, and that means your peers on the Chapter and National level can help you, too.
During your mentor search, there are several important things to keep them in mind. Ryan McShane, a 2007–2008 National Committee member, wrote an excellent post detailing specific qualities to look for in a mentor. On the opposite end, PR Tactics published an article with solid advice on how to be a good mentee. Also, remember that you don’t need to limit the number of mentors you have, just be sure to be interested and stay in contact with each professional you consider a mentor.
So, where else do you find mentors? What are the most successful traits of both mentors/mentees? Any success stories you’d like to share?
7 thoughts on “Where To Find A Mentor”
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[…] Where To Find A Mentor 13 10 2009 ::from the PRSSA National Blog:: […]
I am happy to volunteer myself as a mentor if people think this is helpful. To be clear, I am a PRSA member and also a Council Member of our sister organisation in the UK, CIPR. I teach International PR and also International Political Communications in the UK at MA level. I could probably be especially helfpul to people thinking of undertaking further study or practising PR in Europe.
Quentin Langley
Director, PR PeopleBank Ltd
http://www.prpeoplebank.com
quentin@prpeoplebank.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/quentinlangley
I really enjoyed this post about the importance of a mentor in the PR field. I am thankful that I had an internship experience in Birmingham this summer under someone that I now consider my mentor. I feel that I can call on her for advice about school, classes or my plans after graduation. I would definitely say she has helped me maintain an optimistic attitude as I get closer and closer to graduation in these tough economic times.
Sara Sanderson
Platform Magazine Student Editorial Team
University of Alabama
Thank you for putting up this post, I think that having a mentor to help you grow in your field is extremely important. Dr. Iseman is one of our faculty advisors in PRSSA, and he has been supportive, understanding and helpful through my years as a PR major. I know he wants to see me succeed, and he will help me along the way. I consider “Dr. I” as one of my mentors. Our other advisor in PRSSA, Professor Alisa Agozzino, is also someone who I can rely on to help me achieve great things. A PR graduate from last year, Amber Upp, is another I consider my mentor. She was the one who encouraged me to become involved in PRSSA when I was a freshman! I’ll put the other advice on seeking a mentor to use; it is always great to have another person who you can trust and relate to as well. Our PRSSA chapter plans to start a Mentor Program soon for the benefit of our PRSSA members!
Stephanie Rowe
http://stephy3-onu.blogspot.com/
Ohio Northern University
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