At some point we could all do with having someone to talk to about getting ahead in our work-life. Perhaps you’re looking to boost your career? Maybe you need some inspiration for future work goals? Or somebody to bounce ideas around with? If this sounds familiar, perhaps you should think about getting a mentor through CharityComms. I spoke to some of the participants in the CharityComms mentoring scheme recently, and it was interesting to hear their feedback. The main points people highlighted included how useful it was to:
- Get a fresh perspective outside of the work place
- Learn through the experiences of a mentor
- Discuss work in a confidential and informal setting
The role of a mentor is unique. It combines professional learning with an informal setting and someone separate from your workplace - so you can feel free to speak openly about your career. A mentor will always be in a more senior role to you, so they will be able to relate to your work situation and have personal experiences to share.
Getting a fresh perspective on your career
Zoe Amar, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Lasa took part in the scheme last year. She explained: "…getting another perspective has helped me to approach situations afresh from a different angle." Meeting with a communications professional who is completely separate from your work can make you see things in a different light, and challenge you to think about different options and offer new ways to move forward. A mentor is able to take a step back with you and help give an overview. They can also offer advice, based on their experience, of what you may need to do in order to progress.
Learn through the experiences of a mentor
Learning from the work experience of a mentor can offer plenty of food for thought. Hearing how things are done at a different organisation can also be inspiring and give you new ideas and energy. Nick Edmans, a mentor on the scheme describes an average mentoring meeting:
"I act as a sounding board to different projects she is working on. We will often brain-storm problems, sharing experiences; it’s reassuring to hear similarities in the way things work at different organisations and to be aware of similar challenges. You get introduced to new ideas and ways of doing things."
Discussing your work in a confidential and informal setting
While mentoring is a professional relationship, it allows you to let your guard down in a way that you may not feel able to do at work. For example, you may be thinking of changing jobs and would like some professional input. Roberta Goldstein, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability and a mentor on our scheme, explains some of the issues she discusses with her mentee:
“We discuss where she wants to be in her next job role and the different jobs that there are within communications. We have spent time looking at her CV and how to improve it. I have looked over job application forms for her and helped her prepare her for job interviews.”
Give your career a boost
Starting mentoring is a fantastic addition to your professional learning. It is also an excellent way of showing prospective employers you are serious, ambitious and eager to learn as much as you can about charity communications.
CharityComms mentoring scheme
CharityComms runs a mentoring scheme for its members. This is a personal matching service, where we match communications professionals working in the charity sector with a mentor outside of their work place as part of their professional development. Find out more about the scheme, case studies from people who have taken part and information on applying for a mentor.
For more information on CharityComms membership, visit www.charitycomms.org.uk/membership