Mentors are often left out of the discussion when talking about job search strategy but that doesn’t mean they are any less important than any other approach you take. According to Brazen Careerist writer Berrak S.:

Research indicates that people with mentors perform better on the job, advance more rapidly in their organization and have more all-around job satisfaction…

Hello again! Welcome, have a seat, get comfortable and let's talk. Last week I told you that over the next few weeks I would be blogging about our new program Start-Up Town and the wonderful world of entrepreneurship; specifically the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs. I've already discussed the way that young entrepreneurs can psyche themselves out by viewing their age as a hindrance and today I want to talk about one way to combat this mental roadblock: mentor-ship.

Most apprehensions that come with being a "young" entrepreneur have little to do with the "young" part and more to do with a perceived (or real) lack of experience in the business world or in the specific industry that the young entrepreneur is breaking into. My advice? Latch onto someone who is already doing it right! I don't know about you, but if I were learning how to swim, I'd want to be standing (or floating) next to the person that already knows how to keep their head above the water. Actually when it comes to finding a great mentor, it's not solely my advice, there are plenty of articles out there that provide tips and advice for young entrepreneurs.

Even the greatest of great historical figures, in fields ranging from the arts to the sciences, worked as apprentices and/or had mentors to guide them in the right direction. Here are a few examples of how having a mentor can benefit you. (You can read a full description of the benefits here.)

A good mentor will:

Provide Encouragement:

"A good mentor will motivate you with a simple statement that affirms you are on the right track even when things do not seem to be going well. They have the ability to reassure you that everything is going as it should be because they have been there before"; just like Mama used to do! Let's face it, things are not ALWAYS going to go as you thought they would, so it's nice to have someone there to acknowledge that and to keep you moving forward. (P.S You've chosen a REALLY great mentor if they also console you with a homemade PB&J and a glass of milk like Mama used to do.)

Reduce mistakes:

"Failure is only possible if you decide to figure out everything on your own." You will save yourself a lot of time and worry by having someone who can answer the questions you have about your business. They may not be able to answer every question, but sometimes just having someone to be a sounding board will help. So stop venting to your Carebears or that poster of Captain Planet on the back of your door (yeah, we know about that) and start working through the issues with someone who can prevent them before they arise.

Eliminate weaknesses:

"If you have a good mentor, understand that you are not always going to like them. Their primary role is to be your mentor and their secondary role is to be your friend. Your best friends see you as you are, your mentor sees you for who you can be." It's business, it's not personal, so heed the advice and know that what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger . . .and that if your mentor tells you something that REALLY gets to your feelings, you can always hug those Carebears.

Bring out your strengths:

"Talent cannot be taught which is why coaches are more valuable than players. Without good coaches, talent would be useless. A good mentor will help bring out the best in you when you don't necessarily see the qualities you possess." While you may be aware of your skill set, you might also be undermining it. Having an outside perspective of your talents and weaknesses will bring to light some attributes that you may not have even known about yourself. Always thought your were really quirky or strange (for liking Captain Planet)? Perhaps you just have untapped creative potential (and an undeniable love of the environment).

Honesty:

"A mentor will tell you the truth because their primary objective is to make sure you are successful." All great relationships start with honesty; in life and in business.

So how do you find this great mentor? Well there are a number of ways to do it, but I recommend finding someone who is attainable; someone with which you can communicate on a regular basis either in person, by phone, or by email. Your mentor should know who YOU are just as much as you know who they are. So try meeting someone at a networking event or within a business social circle. Your mentor does not have to look like you, sound like you, dress like you, or even love Captain Planet as much as you, but they should possess the professional and personal standards that you admire.

When you find a person, or multiple people, who you would like to mentor you, I suggest scheduling a time to speak with them in person and discuss what it is you want out of the relationship and how often you expect to communicate. If your person of choice does not have the time or does not want to make the obligation, ask them if they can suggest someone else to you. Great minds usually spend time with other great minds and you will be able to move on to another person who is qualified and who may be a better match for you.

Keep searching, the right mentor is out there!

"Student and teacher" courtesy Wonderlane via Flickr Creative Commons

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Mentors are important. This is non-negotiable. If you are a college student and you want a leg up on your competition for job placement, there are few resources as valuable as having a mentor.

What we advocate at ThinkTalk, perhaps more than any other idea, is that advice from proven professionals who have succeeded at a high level is indispensable. The type of advice and feedback you can receive from a mentor can be the deciding factor in how you build your resume, format your cover letter and operate in an interview.

Today's Wall Street Journal reports that finding a mentor in this economy might not be so easy, but it is still possible - with some hard work.

[F]inding and developing a relationship with a career sage takes more legwork than it did during boom times. During economic upswings, managers feel positive and less hassled about taking on a mentee. You need to be more thoughtful and strategic when times are tough. First, take a personal inventory of your mentoring goals. What would you like to gain? Do you want to learn more about project management? Are you interested in learning about the people side of the business? Do you want help navigating corporate politics? Make a prioritized list of your goals.

The article's author, Toddi Gutner, also points to some resources for helping out your mentor search. These include looking within your current employer (if you currently have a job or internship), as 70% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentor programs. Also recognize that mentoring "is a two-way street." This means that you need to recognize the limitations and pressures that your mentor is under in this climate and attempt to offer something back. Play to your strengths, and consider "teaching a mentor how to use Twitter, setting up a page on Facebook or helping a manager figure out how to get the most out of a LinkedIn page."

For your mentor search, I would also add talking to your professors or college career center. Often, schools will have an alumni mentor program that you can utilize to connect with former students who had similar majors or are currently working in similar fields. However you go about finding a mentor, I cannot stress enough how important it is to actually do it. In this job market, a mentor could make all the difference.

Enough jibba jabba, on to The Links . . .

Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.