Mentorship is a pivotal tool in building a fulfilling, growth-oriented career.
“When I look back at my career, most of my successes can be traced back to a mentor,” says Allie K. Miller, global head of machine learning business development, startups, and venture capital at Amazon Web Services. “The benefits of the mentor-mentee relationship cannot be overestimated.”
Roughly 91 percent of workers who have a mentor are satisfied with their jobs. Employees with a mentor are also more likely to say they’re well paid and believe their contributions are valued by their colleagues. Plus, a survey found that 84 percent of CEOs credit their mentors with helping them avoid costly mistakes and becoming better at their jobs, faster.
Mentorship can be especially transformative in supporting women and marginalized communities’ personal and career development. Since these groups are historically underrepresented in the workplace, having a mentor in a leadership position to advocate for them, teach them how to advance in their career, and help them network and gain recognition is invaluable. An important stepping stone in pushing more underrepresented people into leadership positions and pipelines, mentorship can help top talent learn from those who have successfully climbed the corporate ladder before them.
If you want to take the next step in finding a mentor, take a look at what you should be seeking out in a mentor and how you can approach someone over email.
Read more: ‘You Have to See It to Be It’: Why Women Role Models Are Key to Gender Equality
What should you look for in a mentor?
The first step to finding a mentor is figuring out why you want one.
Are you eyeing a managerial role and need guidance on the steps to position yourself for advancement? Are you considering a career shift and seeking advice on transferable skills? Are you a parent who wants to maintain a better work-life balance? Are you facing challenges entering a specific industry and need networking strategies? Or are you looking for self-promotion and advocacy tips?
Once you know your why, here are a few qualities to look for when you’re searching for a mentor:
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Your mentor should be further along in their career path than you. They should ideally be in a leadership role and have plenty of experience and connections in the industry.
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The best mentors have been mentored themselves. They understand the benefits of such a relationship and have a working knowledge of how the logistics should work.
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Your mentor should have the time and dedication necessary to fit mentoring into their schedule. Mentoring is often a long-term commitment, and while meetings may be as infrequent as once a year, they require preparation and patience.
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A mentor should be honest, empathetic, possess active listening skills, and be able to offer you constructive criticism and feedback.
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You should genuinely be inspired and interested in your mentor’s work and preferably have some sort of overlap in terms of your interests, education, paths, or personal lives.
Read more: 80 Questions to Ask a Mentor to Grow Your Career & Confidence
5 email templates for approaching a potential mentor
Asking someone to mentor you can be intimidating. To increase your chances of successfully initiating a mentoring relationship, use these tips:
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Keep your message brief. People are busy, and no one wants to read a four-paragraph email from someone they don’t know.
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Make it personal. Why do you want to be mentored by this person specifically? Individualize your email and include specifics on why you value their expertise and knowledge.
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Acknowledge their time. It’s common courtesy to thank the person for their time. Be flexible with your schedule and try your best to accommodate meeting times that work best for both of you.
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Briefly clarify what kind of guidance you’re seeking. Are you hoping to get promoted to a leadership position? Do you want to learn more about artificial intelligence? Do you want tips for boosting your public speaking skills? Let them know exactly what you want help with.
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Start with a quick phone call or coffee meeting. You don’t need to dive straight into an intense mentorship relationship. Ease into getting to know one another better so you can first connect on a personal level outside of work.
Whether you’re attempting to reconnect with an old boss or cold email a thought leader you admire, here are five customizable email templates for different kinds of mentors you might approach.
1. When you’re cold emailing someone you admire
Dear (name),
My name is (your name), and I currently work as a (job title) for (company name). I've been following your work in (specific field) and have been consistently impressed by your achievements, especially (mention a specific project, achievement, or skill). As I navigate my own path in this industry, your insights and expertise would be invaluable in helping me grow professionally.
I’d love to connect for a brief conversation and ask a few questions about your career path. Could I ask for 30 minutes of your time over coffee or lunch to meet? If so, please let me know a date and time that works best with your schedule.
Thank you for your time,
(Your name)
2. When you’re reconnecting with an old colleague
Hi (name),
It's been a while since we last connected, and I hope things are well on your end. I’ve enjoyed and learned from the conversations we’ve had in the past, and I’d like to ask you a favor based on my respect for the way you’ve navigated your career.
As I continue to progress in my career, I think I’d greatly benefit from mentorship to further hone (specific skill) so I can prepare for a more senior role. I would be honored if we could find some time to reconnect—whether it's for a quick catch-up over coffee or a brief phone call—to discuss this kind of opportunity together and see if it’s something you’d be interested in and available for.
Let me know what you think,
(Your name)
3. When you’re reaching out to someone you know well
Hi (name),
I hope you’re well. I’ve been reflecting recently, and I’m considering leaving the tech world in favor of going into public policy. I know you transitioned from tech to nonprofits—would you mind sharing how you knew a career change was right for you?
Your advice and guidance over the years has been so helpful to me, and I’d love to continue tapping your expertise from time to time. Would you be up for grabbing coffee once a month or once every two months? Let me know!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
(Your name)
4. When you’re approaching someone who lives in a different location
Hi (name),
I'm an admirer of your work in (industry) and have found tremendous inspiration from your articles, webinars, and online discussions. Your expertise and depth of knowledge have been instrumental in shaping my understanding of the field.
The thought leadership you provide has been incredibly impactful for me, and I'm hoping to explore the possibility of a more direct mentorship relationship.
Understanding the distance constraints, I’m wondering if you would be open to a virtual mentorship relationship. I’d be happy to connect in a way that best aligns with your schedule, whether through periodic virtual meetings, phone calls, or email exchanges. Do you have 20 minutes to get to know each other better and discuss this opportunity?
Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
(Your name)
5. When you’re emailing someone who was a referral
Hi (name),
I hope this message finds you well. (Referrer's name) has spoken very highly of your work and contributions to (industry) and mentioned you might be open to a mentorship relationship.
Since I’m new to this field and have great respect for the work you’ve done, I’d love to learn more about your career path and ask you a few questions related to my career trajectory. Would you be up for meeting over coffee or lunch to get to know one another better? Let me know if you have time this week or next.
I look forward to connecting soon!
(Your name)
Read more: How to Find a Mentor & How to Ask
