Career Blog
Most of the time, we as students – and professionals – have to deal with a lot of pressure. Having to go to work, making sure we get good grades, trying to spend some time with our friends and family. All of that can become overwhelming, especially while we are trying to figure out what we actually want to do in life. However, I believe it is actually good to not know where we will be in five years, or exactly what our professional journey will be like. In my case for example, I’m a third‑year accounting student, but four years ago, I saw myself enrolling in the nursing program, simply because I thought it fitted my personality better. And guess what, I picked accounting, and I love it.
For some of us studying business, being in third year means going through interviews and a lot of networking events. Well, by going over my interviews, I realize that the interviewers were not necessarily expecting to have someone’s personality matching the job. And guess what: your personality doesn’t have to match the job’s idealistic criteria. I got the opportunity to learn that by talking to people who had done a personality test like the ones they asked you to do while you’re in high school and even in elementary school.
When we look at jobs, we typically focus on things such as the job description, and we forget about few other things such as the social aspect of a job. This year, I had the chance take part in one of the Telfer Mentorship Programs. While talking to my mentor, I heard stories about his job as a CPA. He told me that he will always remember what his manager told him few years ago: « You are what I’m not, and what I don’t want to be, but the clients like you, and you’re bringing me money. » Quite shocking, right? But that one sentence made me realize that anyone can apply to any job, even if they do not have the « right » personality. They can still do amazing things.
Not knowing how to do something or what you will be doing in five to ten years can be stressful. Trust me: I’ve been there just like many of you. But we should all try to focus on this: what do we like, and how can we apply that in the future?
Want to learn more about yourself? Ask your friends, your family members, and your professors! You can also book a career-testing appointment through Career Launch.
“Mentorship is a two-way street — a relationship between humans — and not a transaction.”
(Fawal, 2018)
Behind every successful individual, there is a panoply of people, including mentors. Learning from a mentor is invaluable to a person’s success. Mentors can help us have an insight on what they do, but most importantly learn about the challenges that have shaped them.
Finding a mentor is great, but how to make the most out of your mentor is the biggest challenge. Having tasted both sides of the coin (being a mentee and a mentor), I’m sharing with you three lessons I’ve learned that will surely help you make the most of your mentor-mentee relationship as a mentee.
1. Take initiative
As a mentee, you have the responsibility to make the first move. You cannot reap if you don’t sow. Likewise, you cannot learn from your mentor if you do not ask or if you do not engage with him/her. Therefore, take initiative: invite your mentor for coffee, or ask if you can shadow him/her for the day. At the end of the day, the more you invest in building and maintaining the mentor-mentee relationship, the more you will benefit from it.
2. Set your expectations
As a mentee, you should set your expectations. If your objectives are not well defined, how can your mentor effectively help you reach your goals? Communicating your expectations will let he/she know what you want to get out of the relationship, and it will help him/her develop a strategy that is better focused on your needs. Ergo, concise and effective communication will enhance your professional ties.
3. Respect
Mentors go out of their way to support you in your endeavours: they put time aside from their busy schedule to answer any questions you may have, introduce you to new people, etc. Therefore, it is crucial that you value their time by showing up on time. Moreover, you should be respectful of their opinions and have an open-minded approach. Mentor-mentee relationships are about dialogue and sharing.
Being mentored is definitely a great way to help advance your career. As you set out for your summer co-op placement or summer job, if assigned a mentor, value this relationship, as you never where it can lead you to!