{"id":6465,"date":"2015-10-28T11:00:03","date_gmt":"2015-10-28T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=6465"},"modified":"2018-08-16T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T17:27:12","slug":"celebrating-prssaprsa-relationship-month-why-you-need-a-great-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2015\/10\/28\/celebrating-prssaprsa-relationship-month-why-you-need-a-great-mentor\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating PRSSA\/PRSA Relationship Month: Why You Need a Great Mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tutor-407361_640\"<\/a>If someone asked me for tips on how to be successful in your career, one of my top answers would be \u201cfind a great mentor.\u201d I would not be where I am today without the help of my mentors. Mentors help you navigate the waters of your career. Finding a great mentor is easier said than done. While some organizations offer mentorship programs, mentors are not necessarily formally assigned to you. Instead, they are people who became mentors once you developed a relationship with them. Most of my mentors were my supervisors.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I was getting my master\u2019s degree in the \u201890s, I was assigned to be a research assistant to a well-known and highly respected public relations professor. On my first day, he did not say, \u201cHi, I\u2019m going to be your mentor.\u201d Instead, it took time to develop that relationship. He encouraged me to get my Ph.D., and I made sure I stayed in contact with him. When I graduated, he would go out of his way to introduce me to people. Now, nearly 20 years later, he is still one of my mentors, and has been a positive influence on my career development.<\/span><\/p>\n

A great mentor is someone who has time for you, and is interested in your growth. They are the ones you can turn to for advice and they want you to be successful. So what\u2019s in it for them? Many mentors want to give back, and for some, it\u2019s a way to build a legacy in the profession. Plus, many had great mentors themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

My advice for students is simple. Meet and talk to people. No one wears a sign around their neck that says, \u201cHi, I\u2019m a mentor.\u201d It may take time to find the right person, and most of the time, it happens organically. But you can help accelerate the process. Here are some tips:<\/span><\/p>\n