Career Mentorship: A #BufferChat Recap
This week on #bufferchat our community chatted all about mentorship and how it can be helpful for your career (and life). Read on to discover all of the awesome insights shared during the chat!
Catch our weekly Twitter chat, #bufferchat, at TWO times every Wednesday for valuable industry insights and to meet hundreds of other smart marketers and social media enthusiasts. Same topic, same place, just at different times – feel free to join whichever chat time works best for you!
4 pm AEST (Sydney time)
9 am PT (San Francisco time)
This week’s stats:
Bufferchat #1 (4 pm AEST): 13 participants; reach of 976,313
Bufferchat #2 (9 am PT): 54 participants; reach of 1,098,840
Q1: Do you have a career mentor? Have you been a mentor for someone else?
From the community:
A1: Absolutely, i’ve had different mentors for different times within in my career from beginning to college years, and now. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them! ❤ #bufferchat
— Angela Ballachino ?? (@amballachino) May 2, 2018
A1: I do have a career mentor! ?
It’s great to have someone that is a few years ahead of you (or where you want to be) that can help with pain points and can give a good sense of direction with your career path.
I mentor college students and graduates! ?♂️#bufferchat
— influencerTONY ? New videos every Tuesday! (@InfluencerTony) May 2, 2018
A1: 2 – But I honestly think I’ve gotten the most out of being a mentor. I love watching professionals I’ve met with grow in their career, and it’s really special when you can learn new things right along with them. #BufferChat
— juliestuckey (@JulieStuckey) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 1 here!
Q2: How do you go about finding a mentor?
From the community:
A2. There are so many ways. Speak to someone who you respect about your goals to improve, ask for their views. Network. When you find someone who you really think would be a great mentor, just ask if they would. #bufferchat https://t.co/MUN83JLfK3
— Ben Sailors (@SailorsBen) May 2, 2018
A2: Instead of talking about what, I’ll pass on a tip about who. Consider recently retired/still active & accomplished professionals. They have the time & energy to give, bc they aren’t taxed with the time they owe to a company, yet still very knowledgeable. #bufferchat https://t.co/8zBOjpL5YU
— Alex Burkart (@FelixSTL) May 2, 2018
A2: Oh! @10kcoffees is also a GREAT place to find mentors. Sometimes you might even connect with senior managers. #bufferchat pic.twitter.com/9qv1av6nLS
— Alexandra Sebben (@alexandrasebben) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 2 here!
Q3: Do you have any tips on building a relationship with a mentor/mentee?
From the community:
A3:
1. Show your vulnerable side without apprehension
2. Listen. Listen. Listen a bit more and then again some more.
3. Welcome disagreement and counter view points. Few in your trusted circle will actually give you critical feedback for improvement. Mentor is one. #BufferChat
— Tejaswi Raghurama (@Tejazz89) May 2, 2018
A3. As a mentor I made sure to continuously ask what my mentee wanted to know and how could I help—specifically. I also gave a balance of the good and the bad when explaining experiences and parts of the job. #bufferchat
— D Johnson Lindsay (@djohnsonlindsay) May 2, 2018
A3: When starting a networking convo, I suggest having 3-4 questions to ask that you’ve prepared ahead of time. From there the initial convo will be a breeze.
To decide if someone is a good fit for you, make sure to listen to what they have to say. You’ll know #Bufferchat
— Bryn Hafemeister (@brynhafemeister) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 3 here!
Q4: What does your ideal mentor relationship look like?
From the community:
A4: The best mentor I had asked me at 25 – “What do you want to be when you grow up?” He asked again at 30. Sameish answers, different results. Guess the good ones don’t really give direction, instead they frame a story? #bufferchat https://t.co/p6QtwjK6rD
— David Pennington (@dtpennington) May 2, 2018
A4: Two way communication. Always leaving me with “aha moments” and actionable items.
As a mentor: Was I able to provide value to you through our conversation?
Regardless the coffee☕ is on me:)#BufferChat
— Raul Rovira ❄ (@RaulARovira) May 2, 2018
A4. A balanced give and take with growth happening with both parties. A mentor should be open to growing from their experience with their mentee, just as much as a mentee is looking to grow based on the mentor relationship. #bufferchat https://t.co/sbUQc2P5F0
— Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 4 here!
Q5: How does having or being a mentor benefit your career (and your personal life)?
From the community:
A5: Having someone share the mistakes they’ve made prevents you from making the same mistakes. #bufferchat pic.twitter.com/0X4rSWwoLs
— Peter Schroeder ? (@peterschroederr) May 2, 2018
A5: My first mentor gave me self-confidence, I wouldn’t be who I am today without her patience and guidance. It’s incredible the impact one person can have on your life/career. #bufferchat
— Angela Ballachino ?? (@amballachino) May 2, 2018
A5: Mentors provide amazing support, especially to entrepreneurs who often feel as though they are alone and unsure if anyone else ever shared the same struggles as they did. They can help you stay on track and confident about pursuing your dreams! #bufferchat pic.twitter.com/QtxZ1sXq4S
— MyCorporation (@MyCorporation) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 5 here!
Q6: If you could have anyone as a mentor, who would you choose?
From the community:
A6: Oh, without a doubt @MichelleObama. She is pushing the boundaries for what a strong, intelligent woman looks like. I would love for a chance to sit down and pick her brain. #bufferchat pic.twitter.com/7DWhsQ29VP
— Alexandra Sebben (@alexandrasebben) May 2, 2018
A6: Obviously Fiona the Hippo @CincinnatiZoo but I think a great answer for anyone is a relative, especially a parent, aunt/uncle, cousin, or even sibling! When it’s your family, there’s an added level of trust that’s tough to compete with ? #bufferchat
— Hippo Direct (@HippoDirect) May 2, 2018
A6: I would love to hear from @garyvee @richardbranson or @melrobbins from a business perspective. They are just TITANS. But creatively I would love Patti Smith to infuse me with some of that punk wisdom ? #bufferchat pic.twitter.com/n0OKaoWae8
— Pippa ? (@PippaRogers82) May 2, 2018
See all the great answers to question 6 here!
Thank you so much to our awesome community for sharing such great insights in this chat!
Do you have any comments or answers to these questions? Leave your thoughts in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!