Mentorship is Not a “Nice to Have” – It’s a Career “Must”

You went to a top MBA school, you work hard, and you’re an excellent team member, but you’re not being promoted as quickly as you would like. If this sounds like you, it could be that you’re missing a key component of moving up the ladder – mentorship.

In honor of National Mentoring Month in January, consider starting the new year by getting a mentor or finding a mentee. It can make the difference between a good career and a stellar one.

Mentorship benefits mentees, mentors, and companies because it can lead to higher levels of career satisfaction, retention, and promotions. Statistics bear this out:

• Employees who received mentoring were promoted five times more often than those who didn’t have mentors. (Source)
• People who served as mentors experienced lower levels of anxiety and described their job as more meaningful than those who did not mentor. [Source]
• People with mentors are happier at their current jobs than those without. [Source]
• Both mentors and mentees were approximately 20% more likely to get a raise than people who did not participate in the mentoring program. (Source)

Despite the clear evidence that mentorship is a game-changer, and 84 percent of Fortune 500 companies have established formal mentor programs, only 37 percent of professionals have a mentor. BIPOC professionals face an even greater hurdle to mentorship, with studies showing that they do not have access to the same mentorship opportunities to help fuel their careers as their white counterparts.

Regardless of what is holding you back – whether you’re afraid to reach out to someone you don’t know to ask for career support or you’re concerned about committing the time and energy to serve as a mentor – remember that being mentor or mentee is an investment in yourself and your career growth.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started with Forté’s guides to Top Tips for Finding a Mentor and Mentoring Well.