For young professionals who have recently graduated or are just starting out in their industry, getting their foot in the door somewhere can be quite the challenge. Once they’ve found a job, adjusting to the new environment can be an even bigger challenge. Through their college education, young professionals have acquired the “hard skills” that are necessary for their selected profession. However, these skills are only half of what makes a successful professional. “Soft skills”, such as leadership skills, understanding and communicating with others, and personal confidence are also a requirement.
Since there are no college courses on confidence (at least not that I’m aware of), these “soft skills” must be learned over time. Often, they come with years of experience. However, a great way for young professionals to develop a foundation of these skills is by seeking out a mentor.
The ideal mentor for a young professional is someone who has several years of experience within their industry, such as a supervisor or senior-level colleague. While peer-mentorships can also be beneficial, it is essential that this “student-master” relationship is established, as the mentor, with his/her experience, can provide the most effective kind of teaching for the mentee.
To provide this teaching, the mentor does not need to have extraordinary teaching skills. All they need to have are stories, and the willingness to share them.
When a mentor tells a great story to his/her mentee, it can be life changing. Not only will it strengthen the mentor-mentee relationship, but it can also provide the mentee with a great amount of guidance and inspiration. The better the story is told, the greater the effect it will have. This is why it is essential for individuals at all stages of work/life to have a strong grasp on their story, as well as the ability to tell it.
