New to the corporate? Or maybe not sure yet!

swathipai13·Jan 08, 2022

Posted in:Advice

Hey amazing Elpha's!

I am recently transitioning from startup to PM role, hopefully at some good company. While I do so, I realised we need to network and ask people to refer etc. While I was fortunate to have @Sambhavi helping me through Elpha, I did find another guy from Product School, who texted me and said was interested to mentor me.

In moments he had my number and also asked for a quick chat. I had some time to think, because my battery ran out, and I just want to know, what's this whole mentoring thing like? I mean how long should we keep chatting and then ask for reference etc? What are the things to share and not share while discussions or chats?

Its not that I dont know mentoring, but at Indian Institute of Management, Banglore we scheduled slots with mentors and they guided us. No chats or anything!

Anyone like me around, or have been in similar situation, let me know how to handle, as well manage such situations!

Thanks

teresaman·Jan 08, 2022

For me mentorship is different for everyone so I think it highly depends on what you want to get out of it — which will then determine the mentorship duration, what you want to talk about, etc.For example, I've had a formal mentor few years ago where we set up an agenda for our biweekly discussions. I also shared some very personal details during our first chat, and that was because to me she was someone I knew I could trust right away. I've also had mentors where I don't reach out to more than a few times a year, only when I have a very particular question that I think they can support me in. So it all depends and I think it's good to set expectations in the beginning of what you're looking for, your and their availability, etc.!

swathipai13·Jan 09, 2022

Makes alot of sense @teresaman, makes alot! Thanks, for answering this such right! I just got what I needed🙌