How to get the most out of a mentorship

You took the first step and asked someone to be your mentor. Congrats! Whether you chose this seasoned pro to help you hone specific skills or to give you long-term career advice, it’s up to you to drive the relationship­. Maximize each mentor meeting so you get the most out of the time both of you are putting in. 

“When you work with a mentor who can give you a lay of the land, support you when you’re faltering, and help keep your goals on track, you’ll get from A to B faster and more intelligently because you learn how to avoid common pitfalls and to stay dedicated to your process,” says Gerard Adams, co-founder of media company Elite Daily, entrepreneur, and self-made millionaire.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? It’s a give and take, but with these tips, you’ll be able to help your mentorship further your career.

Put aside your ego

If you’re the type of go-getter who’s upping your job game with the help of a mentor, you’re probably a motivated, driven, and accomplished person yourself. But in this role, you’ve got to remember that you’re the student, and he or she is the teacher. So relax and allow yourself to be taught. That means respecting your mentor’s opinion, considering everything they say carefully, and ultimately, taking your ego down a notch.

“In mentorship, it’s important to be a good listener,” says Adams. “Many people don’t take constructive criticism well and can’t manage their ego that tells them they’re always right. Know that you are always going to be learning, and be willing to listen when advice is brought to the table.”

Set a consistent meeting schedule

Chances are, your mentor is extremely busy. He or she hasn’t gotten where he or she is by slacking off. So be respectful of their time by scheduling each mentor meeting in whatever way is most convenient for him or her.

“Students can get the most out of their mentorships by setting a consistent meeting schedule with their mentors and using every minute of those meetings to their best interests,” says Greg Stahl, special projects consultant at Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform based in Boston. “These check-ins could be in-person, via Skype, over the phone—whatever allows the mentorship to fit seamlessly into the mentor's schedule.”

Know the right questions to ask your mentor

Too often, and especially in mentorships with younger people, mentees know they want a mentorship but don’t know what they want out of it. That’s why coming to each meeting with guiding questions, based on what you want to accomplish, is key to a successful relationship—plus, it saves you from wasting time figuring out what to focus on.

“If you’re still a student, questions could relate to how you can prepare for your career path, how to balance remaining schoolwork with making decisions about your post-grad plans, how to effectively make these decisions, and so on,” says Stahl.

You should also learn why your mentor has made professional decisions. It’s helpful to become familiar with your mentor’s career arc and how he or she has achieved professional success—but it’s even more useful to understand why your mentor made such decisions. That way, you can apply a similarly discerning thought process to your own professional choices.

Focus on the outcomes

Create a series of short-term and long-term goals—and check in periodically with your mentor so you can track your progress. This will not only help keep you focused and accountable, but it will also show your mentor that his or her advice is valued.

“Demonstrate that their investment of time, effort and expertise in you was worth it via a disciplined focus on key milestones you commit to,” says David Nour, CEO of The Nour Group, a consulting firm based in Atlanta. “They have to see you improve, grow and become a stronger professional. Otherwise, they’ll lose patience and you’ll take the wind out of their sail to want to continue to help you.”

Be grateful, and keep in touch

Usually, mentors don’t owe you anything. They’re taking you under their wing under the goodness of their hearts (and they see potential in you). And their investment in you can and often does lead to real results.

Ashley Hill, CEO of College Prep Ready, a Cincinnati-based scholarship firm, remembers how influential her mentor was in finding career success (she was a graduate assistant in her biological sciences degree program).

“She took time after class and outside of office hours to help me understand the class material as well as give career guidance,” says Hill. “This relationship led to a $10,000 internship and allowed me to discover my love for research. As a result, I am in a very fulfilling career that is using those research skills to assist students in leveraging talents and achievements to find and win merit scholarships to pay for college.”

Someday, you may find the roles reversed, so it’s important to be grateful to your mentor, especially after you’ve found success.

Do your homework

Each mentor meeting can teach you loads of skills you won't learn on the job, but even when your mentor isn't around, it's up to you to do the heavy lifting. Could you use some help strengthening your professional development? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you'll get career advice, job search tips, and industry insights to keep you ahead of the curve.