What do you do if you need guidance navigating career transitions?

1 Identify your needs

Before you seek mentorship, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what kind of support you need. Do you need advice on how to update your resume, prepare for interviews, or negotiate offers? Do you need feedback on your skills, strengths, or areas of improvement? Do you need inspiration, motivation, or accountability? Think about your specific goals and challenges and write them down.

2 Find potential mentors

Once you have identified your needs, you can start looking for potential mentors who can help you. You can use various sources, such as your current or former colleagues, managers, or peers, your professional network, online platforms, or industry associations. You can also ask for referrals from people you trust or admire. When you look for mentors, consider their expertise, experience, reputation, availability, and compatibility with your personality and values.

6 Appreciate and reciprocate

Finally, you need to appreciate and reciprocate your mentor's time, effort, and generosity. You can express your gratitude regularly and sincerely, by thanking them verbally or in writing, sending them a card or a gift, or giving them a positive testimonial or recommendation. You can also offer to help them with something they need, such as introducing them to someone in your network, sharing your expertise or perspective, or supporting their projects or causes. You can also maintain the relationship after your career transition and keep in touch with your mentor.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?