Why Career Mentors Matter

Newly-released graduate from Eastern Michigan University to the workforce, I consider myself a professional sponge. To this day, I take on new projects to help promote success within a company, learn new software programs, and acquire new skills that I will utilize for future careers.  

Yet, there is so much more I can gain within the work environment. 

During my time within the Digital Summer Clinic Internship, we are gifted with FIVE mentors from all different fields -to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience, advise us through challenges, and presents ideas as we all navigate our own career journey. 

These mentors help accelerate our self-development, career progression, and overall self-confidence in our work. This is why many people think greatly to search for one, yet, only 37% of professionals have one. 

Benefits Career Mentors Provide

Having a solid foundation of a career mentor can provide multiple outlets, including:

• Growing personal network
• Increase chance for job promotion
• Increase job satisfaction 
• Learning from someone else
• Leadership skill of self-awareness 
• Exposes new ways of thinking

Seeking a mentor or continuing an already built career mentor relationship is key to understanding the importance of knowledge passing. I have already gained insightful information from all five mentors thus far from this clinic, and feel confident enough to incorporate newly acquired skills into my work projects. 

There is always something one can learn from as our world is constantly changing. Mentors are a great source for one to rely back upon and reconnect to strive to better yourself personally and professionally.