Beyond The Algorithms
Speed Up With Human Wisdom.
Partnering with AI will definitely help you elevate your career journey. But while AI can provide information, it can’t provide wisdom. Adding human mentors, alongside AI, will give you experience-based insights and feedback. Their insights and feedback are something that algorithms cannot replicate.
Finding the right mentors is not easy. So let us walk through some considerations in selecting mentors. Your mentorship needs evolve as you progress in your career. So consider both your immediate needs and long-term aspirations when seeking mentors.
Mentors For Early-Stage Acceleration
Seek mentors who are a few steps ahead in your desired field in your company.
Early-stage mentors play a special role. They can help navigate entry-level challenges, understand company culture, and identify essential skills.
Consider senior colleagues, alumni from your university, working in your company. Look for people who are approachable and willing to share their time and insights.
Talk to your manager if you are unsuccessful in finding mentors. Your manager can provide mentorship or assign a senior colleague to be your mentor. This is not ideal, but having a mentor is better than having no mentor. Talking to people and getting their help is a very important skill to progress in your career path. So, don’t stop trying to find mentors on your own.
Mentors For Mid-Career Acceleration
The types of mentors you seek will vary depending on your needs.
Career-navigation mentors
Someone successful in leadership roles, their own businesses, or significant career changes. These folks can guide career planning and leadership development.
Industry-specific mentors
An expert in your chosen market (e.g., cloud services, Agentic AI) to shore up industry-specific knowledge.
Skill-specific mentors
An expert in a particular skill you want to develop (e.g., public speaking, negotiation).
Join a mentoring program or use an executive coach if you are not successful in finding mentors on your own. Use online advice if you cannot overcome the fear of reaching out to potential mentors.
Find Mentors Before You Are In Trouble
Building a robust in-person network of mentors takes time and effort. And this is usually a challenge for introverts. It is very easy to default to only using online “mentors.” You may think, “I can get words of wisdom without ever having to meet or talk to the mentor.” But a couple of in-person mentors will make the journey less lonely and more navigable. Build your in-person mentor network before you desperately need someone to help you.
Fear of asking for help is something that you must overcome. So take baby steps to continue your quest for a human mentor. Getting a bunch of rejections from very busy people is normal. Consider reaching out to a few retired folks who may have the time to guide you.
Remember, mentors don’t have to guide you, but you need their help. When you reach out to potential mentors, tell them what you hope to gain. Be sure to always respect their time and express gratitude.
If time permits, mentor someone who reaches out to you with intention.
If you know an introvert who could use mentoring, reach out to them.
The road ahead is yours to shape!
Suresh 😊