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What is career mentoring?

A career mentorship is a professional relationship where a more experienced professional (mentor) shares industry knowledge and career experiences with a less experienced professional (mentee).

What are the benefits?

In a mentorship, both partners benefit from the relationship. Mentors have the opportunity to guide newer professionals in their field grow and develop, and mentees will benefit from career development conversations that help them:

  • Set career goals and outline actionable steps to reach them
  • Improve planning and communication skills
  • Learn from another perspective
  • Enhance leadership skills
  • Build a professional network
  • Discuss challenges and problem-solve ways forward
  • Gather constructive feedback

Who should seek out mentoring opportunities?

 You’re a great candidate to be a mentee if:

  • You are a new professional or planning to make a career change
  • You are looking to enhance your professional development in your field
  • You are willing to drive the mentoring relationship by sharing your goals, setting meeting agendas, asking questions, listening, and following up to keep the mentorship moving forward

 How do you find mentors?  

 Here are some suggestions for where you can search for a potential mentor:

  • Join our Learner & Alumni Networking Platform – different from signing up for a formal mentoring program, the Learner & Alumni Networking platform supports one-time or short-term interactions between members.
  • LinkedIn – See our guide for how to Connect with Capella Learners and Alumni
  • Professional Associations – view the association directory or check if the association offers a mentoring program to members.
  • At work – if you are already in the field, consider asking a colleague one or two levels above you, or even a peer who is admired and respected by leadership. Your company might also offer a mentorship program.
  • In class – You might have a classmate who is already in the field or maybe a classmate has excellent presentation skills and you want to learn from them. Don’t hesitate to ask if they’d be interested in mentoring you.

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