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Find a Mentor Services

"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it."
~ Jonathan Winters ~


To help you find a mentor, we have provided the following two options:

Find a Mentor Services Available on the Internet

Tips for Locating a Mentor
There are a number of ways you can locate a mentor on your own. You may prefer to develop an in-person relationship or you may be quite happy with a relationship by telephone, mail, or e-mail. You might also discover that you do not need an actual person to act as your mentor. As unusual as this might seem, mentoring can often come from something you read or something you experience that can have profound meaning. What follows is a list of some concrete ways you can place yourself in a position to locate a mentor.

  • Check with local businesses or organizations to determine whether they have a formal mentor program you can access
  • Contact businesses or organizations to find out if they can provide you the names of any retired executives who might be willing to act as volunteer mentors
  • Ask your local Chamber of Commerce whether they have created a mentor program or service
  • If you are enrolled in a college or university, make an appointment with their student career services to find out if they have a list of volunteer mentors
  • Enroll in a college or university extension course to gain access to faculty members who could be potential mentors
  • Go to your local library and scan the trade publications associated with your desired area and identify potential mentors from the biographical or topical articles
  • Place an ad in a local newspaper requesting a mentor in your area
  • Place an ad on an internet site requesting a mentor in your area
  • Find the organizations or businesses on the internet that reflect your interest area and contact them by e-mail to determine whether they have personnel who can act as mentors
  • Review the list of mentor matching services listed at the top of this page to see if you fit any of those programs
  • Connect with exhibit areas of conferences and conventions associated with your field; these are often free admission events staffed by experienced persons who could be potential mentors
  • Use your network of friends and relatives to let them know what kind of person you want as a mentor. Ask them to keep alert to someone who could help you
  • Visit a retirement or senior citizen center and let them know you are looking for a mentor in a certain area
  • Use an internet search engine to find companies and organizations or individuals who are doing what you want to do and determine their interest in helping you
  • Go to the library and search out books or articles on your topic; contact their authors
  • Read biographies of people who have been successful in your interest area; sometimes their biography by itself can act as a mentor
  • Another option is to watch a video on YouTube by famed mentor Jack Canfield where he shares tips on finding a mentor.

Once you've developed a plan to locate a mentor, it's essential to develop a strategy to persuade the potential mentor that it will be worthwhile working with you. The core of any such plan is to be prepared prior to contact by reviewing and making notes about the following (adapted from Scott Allen's "Choosing a Business Mentor and Getting Them to Choose You)":

  • Define a list of your top goals for the mentoring relationship
  • Brainstorm a list of prospective mentors
  • Research available information about them
  • Select the top candidates who are aligned with your goals
  • Write a letter or email to the mentor prospect requesting a meeting (You do not have to divulge at this time that you are interested in a longer-term relationship with them, just that you are interested in getting their input on what you are doing)
  • Call to set an appointment
  • Prepare a short list of questions regarding their feedback on your current situation
  • Meet with them, and if they're willing to take time away from their office, that's best; you pick up the tab
  • Ask them about their history, current situation, and goals
  • State your goals and ask your questions and take notes
  • If you like their responses, you can test the waters with them regarding an ongoing relationship, such as: "I really appreciate your input on this, and I'd greatly value it on an ongoing basis. Would you be willing to meet with me again next month to follow up on what we've discussed today?"
  • Send a thank-you note and perhaps a gift
  • Review your notes
  • Take action on their suggestions
  • Call to discuss the results of those actions and request a second appointment (assuming you're still interested)
  • Propose a mentoring relationship. Be sure to spell out your goals and expectations, as well as your commitment to them (a written agreement will show you are serious about the commitment)
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