The word "mentor" comes from Homer's Odyssey. It is said that Ulysses, before leaving for the Trojan War, entrusted the education of his son Telemachus to his friend named Mentor.

The latter would have been a tutor and a trusted advisor, whose name, by antonomasia, slipped into common parlance.
Today, as the professional world becomes more complex and careers are less and less linear, the guidance and advice of a third party are more important than ever. At the heart of an initiative to help young people find employment with the 1 young person 1 mentor platform, mentoring is more broadly aimed at anyone seeking advice. A 2018 study showed that 66% of French entrepreneurs have a mentor themselves. These are leaders of large industrial companies (30%), members of their entourage (22%), or financial advisors (19%)*.

So what can a mentor bring to you in terms of personal and career development? How do you find a mentor and convince him or her to accompany you? How do you manage this very special relationship?

Mentoring: a boost for your career

When we talk about mentoring, many people imagine a manager at the end of his career, giving advice to his young protégé, in a subtle mix of Father Castor-like wisdom and Didier Deschamps-like coaching. However, mentoring can take many forms and mentors can provide a wide range of help depending on their profile and your expectations. In the same way, mentoring is not reserved for young people or specific professions. Anyone, at any age, can benefit greatly from the advice and experience of a mentor.

A mentor can help you set goals

It is difficult, at the beginning or during one's career, to step back and set achievable and measurable goals. A good mentor is able to find the right level to challenge you, without putting you in a position of certain failure. Most importantly, he or she can help you set the right strategy and the actions needed to achieve them.

A mentor can help you to surpass yourself

If it is necessary to know how to modulate the intensity of your efforts in a career, you should not fall into excesses of comfort. A mentor can challenge you when he or she senses that you are losing the zeal needed to achieve your goals.

A mentor can inspire you

By sharing their personal experience, a mentor can help you find keys to success or, at least, not repeat the mistakes they may have made themselves. Surrounding yourself with successful people, and finding "role models", can help you make the right choices and surpass yourself.

A mentor can open doors for you

A mentor does not necessarily open up his or her entire address book, but he or she will often give you access to key people and facilitate your networking by introducing you to influential or useful people for your career.

A mentor can bring you new knowledge

In addition to his or her skills and experience in "technical" aspects, a mentor can help you develop soft skills that are essential today. For example, he can help you express yourself in public, teach you how to manage professional conflicts, or give you management keys.

The keys to finding a mentor

Convinced you need to find a mentor? It's time to go on the hunt! Finding the right one can take time. And rushing to the first person who shows interest in you can be fruitless. Here's a simple approach to make sure you don't go wrong.

1. Formalize your expectations on paper

What skills are you looking to develop? Where do you want to be in 5 years? These questions are important because they will help you know what you need and what kind of mentor you need. You can, for example, start by listing the people who hold, or have held, the position you dream of in the medium term.

2. Take a look around you

Your ideal mentor may be closer than you think: a friend, a manager, a family member may be a good fit. Think about it: who around you has given you the best career advice? Which member of your entourage understands your ambition and is invested in your professional project? In any case, don't hesitate to talk about your approach with others. If your close circle of friends and family can't help you, their own network may be able to.

3. "Do your homework

Once you've finalized your list of potential mentors, do some research to find out a little more about each of them: their background, their skills, any connections and interests you might have in common, etc. A quick glance at their LinkedIn profile is often all it takes to get the information you need. Then, start contacting them one by one.

4. Be clear about what you want from your mentor

Once the contact is initiated, be clear about your intentions and expectations in the short and medium-term. Would you like to work in the cultural sector but don't have any details about the positions that might suit you? Do you know everything about the steps you need to take to get a place in finance? The person who engages with you will be able to guide you in the best possible way and will know exactly what he or she can bring to you. Mentoring is a two-way relationship, so listen to their expectations in order to initiate a healthy relationship.

5. Start gently

Don't ask for too much too often: a mentor has her own life and obligations. Ask for a few simple tips to implement on your end and give feedback quickly. This is the best way to know if your relationship will last. Then, without setting a fixed meeting schedule, discuss how often and how you want to stay in touch: a coffee every quarter, phone calls every month, and quick feedback by e-mail every week? Anything is possible.

6. Look for ways to return the favor

Mentoring is a give-and-take relationship. While you obviously have a lot to learn from your mentor, don't underestimate what you can give him or her in return: challenge his or her own practices, give advice on tools you use, share intelligence on a sector of common interest, give feedback on what he or she brings you, etc. Don't hesitate to ask them how you can thank them.

In your search, keep in mind that mentorship is above all a relationship. Your mentor should not just "check the boxes". To work well, a real exchange must take place.

How do you manage this special mentoring relationship?

Being coached requires a commitment and time on your part, and it is primarily your responsibility to make the relationship work. There are two key elements to making it work: accepting feedback from your mentor and giving it back.

Your mentor takes time out of his or her schedule to help you advance in your career. He or she does so freely and altruistically. If you seek his advice, the least you can do is to take it (or at least explain why you don't want to take it) and give him feedback: tell him what you got out of it, the connections you were able to make through him, thank him when his advice paid off, etc.

A mentor is a person who will see the best in you and help you reveal your potential by guiding you at key moments in your career. Each relationship between a mentor and his or her "protégé" is different, with benefits that vary according to the expectations and willingness of each.

Like any adventure, mentoring has an end: when you have achieved the goals you set for yourself, for example. A good relationship can obviously continue over time, on a new level. It is also an opportunity to give back what has been given to you and, in turn, perhaps to shed some light on another person's journey.