Where do YOU look for your mentors?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 14:26:45 -0500

I was going to make this a poll, but RP doesn't allow for enough options.

Do you look:

Within your Unit?
External to your Unit but on the same Post/Base?
Different Post/Base's?
Within the same AFSC/MOS/NEC?
If Junior Enlisted: Only at NCOs/SNCOs?
If Enlisted, do you consider Officers?
If Officer: Only at Senior Officers?
Do you consider Retirees?
Do you consider those that have simply separated?
Do you consider those serving in a different component (AD/Res/Guard)?
Do you consider sister services?
Do you consider peers?
Do you consider different AFSC/MOS/NEC's?
Do you consider anything I may have missed?

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jan 25 at 2015 3:02 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:02:18 -0500

I follow some advice I came across way back when . Find someone who did what you want to/has what you want. Notice what they do. Do that. If they are approachable, ask them what they did to get where they are.

The above is passive mentorship, rather than active, it isn't perfect, but it's easy and better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. It is an easy 70% solution more often than not.

For actual mentors (I've posted more about this somewhere on RP before, but too lazy to dig up at the moment), realize that is is a LARGE time & energy commitment on both parties' part. Be fully prepared for a "no." Mentorship isn't advice or counseling or training. It's mentorship, which is a very involved relationship over time... It is not a casual thing, and "no" may well be the best answer, with a bit of advice on alternate approaches preferably.

With that in mind:
1. I look for someone who has done/or is doing what I want to do (same as above).
2. Who is not in my organization, and preferably not in my uptrace.
3. Who appears approachable and like we might be a good personality match.
4. Who has more experience in the area under consideration than me.
5. Who is likely to be around for at least several years.
6. Who appears to be able to share his/her thoughts in a coherent (to me!) manner.

All else is details. Generally, they will end up being peer level or above, based on the above criteria, but far from always.

Response by SFC Steven Harvey made Jan 25 at 2015 3:35 PM

SFC Steven Harvey — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:35:08 -0500

I don't necessarily look, I've found that good mentors are the ones who genuinely care about you and take the time to make sure you're all set.

All of my mentors have been in the same field as me and usually two grades higher.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 25 at 2015 4:49 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:49:52 -0500

Where do I look for mentors? Everywhere, all the time. Where to look is not the hard part. The hard part is in the two way choosing (both mentee to mentor and mentor to mentee) not in the looking.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 4:53 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:53:59 -0500

Everywhere.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 25 at 2015 4:57 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:57:03 -0500

Corrallary question:

Do you look for one time mentor, short term or long term mentor or a mix of all three?