My senior year of college, I was lucky enough to meet the woman who would become my mentor.
This woman helped me learn to perfect my resume, articulate my strengths and skills, and prepare for the workplace or any event that could take place at work, all before I graduated. This woman is Dr. Jennifer Lee Magas.
I met her my senior year of college when she was teaching my Writing for Business class. We share a love for running, coffee, dogs, skiing, and writing, but above all of that, we share a desire to prepare for the future and set ourselves up for success.
Because of the relationship we grew during my time in this class, she offered me a remote internship position at her and her husband's PR Firm, Magas Media Consultants, where I helped expose her clients as well as MMC to the media. This was the first time I was put in a work environment and was challenged every single day.
Because of her, I was able to start my full-time job a week BEFORE graduating college, which I am very proud about, and felt a lot less like an amateur going in.
Even today, I go to Dr. Magas for advice on how to best handle certain situations with my job, my boss, and my personal life. We still make plans to meet up for tea and keep in touch, as I am very grateful for the unique relationship we have. Although I do realize I was very lucky to happen upon a woman like Dr. Magas, I advise my peers to find someone they can use as a mentor.
Having a mentor can help you with the following things that your experience thus far cannot:
1. Perfecting your resume - We might feel like we have mastered this skill because, after all, there is no perfect way of doing this. However, the resume of a college student screams amateur when that student hasn't been exposed to anything other than college! A mentor can give you a second set of eyes that can give you honest feedback on how to strengthen your resume and highlight the pieces that are applicable to the job you are looking for.
2. Crafting an elevator speech - You may have never heard of this term before, but an elevator speech is a short speech that describes your skills and your ability to use those skills as the perfect employee for the job you are applying for. You might never have to give an elevator speech in an elevator, but you will feel much more confident talking about yourself in short in an interview if you practice this ahead of time (and without all of the nerves).
3. Learning workplace behavior - From the first interview, to your first day, to asking for a raise, and submitting a resignation, a mentor can help you plan your approach. In college, you are almost solely around your peers who are dressed in casual wear and speak without thinking. Being so accustomed to this way of life (which we ALL are while in college) it can be pretty daunting to realize that you have to think about every word you say and every outfit you choose for work every day. Having a mentor can help you prepare for this and answer questions that might seem embarrassing.
4. Writing killer recommendations - You are going to need people to vouch for you when it comes time to applying for a job. You can go to your boss from your part time job, an old teacher, or even an aunt if you get really desperate, but a mentor that was there to guide you and witness your growth, is what will really help you. Even more, someone who displays a level of professionalism and experience while speaking about how you would be a good fit for the job speaks volumes.
Grab an advisor, grab a teacher, grab a neighbor, or an uncle. It doesn't matter. Find someone who you can learn from and stick to them like glue.