how to effectively ask for a mentor

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY ASK FOR A MENTOR?

Einah Reza M. Pelaez, P.E.HDR Traffic Engineer/Associate

SWE New York Professional Section VPOctober 24, 2014

W H AT TO E X P E C T ?

H O W W O U L D Y O U A S K ?

W H E N D O Y O U A S K ?

W H Y D O Y O U N E E D A M E N T O R ?

W H A T I S Y O U R R O L E A S A P R O T É G É ?

W H E R E D O Y O U F I N D M E N T O R S ?

FACTS

Both mentors and mentees were approximately 20% more likely to get a raise than people who did not participate in the mentoring program

-Sun Microsystems survey

FACTS

Employees who received mentoring were promoted 5X more often than people who didn’t have mentors

-Sun Microsystems survey

FACTS

Mentors were 6X more likely to have been promoted to a bigger job

-Sun Microsystems survey

FACTS

Mentors were 6X more likely to have been promoted to a bigger job

-Sun Microsystems survey

82% of 1,000 women surveyed agreed that having a mentor is important.

Yet, nearly 1 out of every 5 women reported never having a mentor.

Furthermore, 52% of these women noted they hadn't had one because they "never encountered someone appropriate”

FACTS

Mentors were 6X more likely to have been promoted to a bigger job

-Sun Microsystems survey

82% of women who had never been a mentor reported they weren't mentoring another professional simply because "no one ever asked"

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Be Nice Tell them WHY? Be Specific Make it easy for them

Look at yourself in the Mirror, 3 things important in your life 3 Mentor qualities 3 things that a mentor can help

you Speak Attend networking events Think about those mentor qualities Follow Through

“ M I R R O R , M I R R O R , O N T H E WA L L … W H O ’ S T H E FA I R E S T O F T H E M A L L ? ”

SPEAK

“Hi my name is ______. There are 3 important things in my life, _______, _______ and ______, and it seems like you are _______, someone who has strong ______ and ___________________ . It is my hope that you can help me with _______________, _________________, and _________.

Einah

work-life balancefriendship

family faith careerpositive

values an expert in your field

personal growth

FOLLOW THROUGH

It would be an honor for me to have you as a mentor. I know that it may be a bit abrupt and I may have caught you off guard but I’d like to discuss this opportunity with you and see if we would be a good match. Will you be at the Lava Lounge sometime today, or can I join you for breakfast/lunch?”

What did you study? How long have you

been in the industry? Where do you work? What do you do in

your free time? What is it that you

like about your job?

Einah Reza M. Pelaez, P.E.einah.pelaez@hdrinc.com914-993-2052