For National Mentoring Month, we’re telling the stories of mentors and offering resources for making mentoring a part of your career
When Executive Search Solutions president Tony Perry started thinking about becoming a mentor, he felt something was missing from his career.
“I was in a place professionally where I felt something was lacking,” he said. “I was self-employed, so I didn’t want to go find another job. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to add a new dynamic.”
So he joined an online mentoring network, and made himself available as a recruiting expert. Since then, Perry has coached two eager protégés – and the partnership has made his life more fulfilling, he said.
“I don’t know that I’ve benefited professionally, but I know that I’ve benefited personally,” Perry said. “Anyone who’s volunteered understands that he who gives gains much more than he who receives.”
But given that poor communication and management skills are the plague of the workplace, perhaps mentoring is an opportune way to develop those qualities in oneself. “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” advises Perry.
If you’re looking to set yourself up as a mentor, try the following networks:
How to create a mentor culture at your organization
Career break may be opportunity, not setback, for women
Providing vision: a key HR mandate
“I was in a place professionally where I felt something was lacking,” he said. “I was self-employed, so I didn’t want to go find another job. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to add a new dynamic.”
So he joined an online mentoring network, and made himself available as a recruiting expert. Since then, Perry has coached two eager protégés – and the partnership has made his life more fulfilling, he said.
“I don’t know that I’ve benefited professionally, but I know that I’ve benefited personally,” Perry said. “Anyone who’s volunteered understands that he who gives gains much more than he who receives.”
But given that poor communication and management skills are the plague of the workplace, perhaps mentoring is an opportune way to develop those qualities in oneself. “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” advises Perry.
If you’re looking to set yourself up as a mentor, try the following networks:
- Score.org
- Small Business Development Centers
- Women’s Business Centers
- Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers
- Minority Business Development Agency
- Micromentor.org
How to create a mentor culture at your organization
Career break may be opportunity, not setback, for women
Providing vision: a key HR mandate