Starting any new job can feel overwhelming because no amount of schooling can prepare you for all the little nuances you learn throughout your career — in any field. While I’ve heard horror stories from friends and colleagues about their time as interns or new hires, I was fortunate to work with some mentors who helped make my professional life easier.
When I interned at a nonprofit organization in Memphis, my boss understood how hard getting into public relations can be. He took me under his wing and started passing me tasks he didn’t have time for, exposing me to everything from taking photos at events to drafting press releases, blog posts and more. And let me tell you: My first copy assignment from him was bad. But we all have to start somewhere. Luckily, he took the time to show me where the draft could improve and how he would bolster the copy before helping me implement his suggestions and improve my next draft.
After that internship opportunity, I focused on supporting myself and put my dreams of working in PR on hold, devoting most of my time to my restaurant job. After spending nearly a decade as a restaurant manager, my internship was several years behind me, so switching to an entirely new career field was a little scary, and I had so many questions. Thankfully, a fantastic individual taught me the ins and outs of the industry and answered any questions I had — no matter how simple or “stupid” they seemed — which helped me grow without the fear of judgment.
Having a mentor can significantly enhance your job satisfaction, boost your confidence and support your professional growth. However, while 76% of people believe mentors are important, only 37% have one. I’ve experienced firsthand how transformative having mentors can be and want to discuss how employee mentorship can positively impact your career and personal development.
The Benefits of Employee Mentorship
Mentorship equips people new to (or interested in) an industry or topic to acquire practical, real-world skills and knowledge that textbooks, articles and lectures can’t adequately convey. While I knew how to make a basic media pitch, having an experienced colleague review my work and point out areas for improvement helped me quickly grasp how the industry works and what reporters want, ultimately feeling more comfortable in my new role.
Being new to the industry, I had no idea how my career could progress. What are my possibilities? How do I achieve these goals? One of the most helpful benefits of employee mentorship is access to someone who has been in your shoes before and can give you perspective on the possibilities and insight into the issues you may encounter along the way. This guidance helped me better understand my career path and build the confidence to navigate it. Plus, the data shows that 91% of workers with a mentor are satisfied with their jobs, including more than half who are “very satisfied.”
Mentoring doesn’t just help employees grow — it also helps businesses retain their staff and grow revenue. Companies with mentoring programs had profits 18% above average, while those without saw profits 45% below average. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, we developed the Comprise Shadow Program to help our employees thrive from day one, providing them with the guidance and support needed to succeed.
The Comprise Shadow Program
The Comprise Shadow Program sets up new employees for success on day one by pairing them with mentors experienced in public relations, creative design, copywriting and other service areas. New hires go through detailed lesson plans designed to quickly and comfortably bring them up to speed on their role, how to do things The Comprise Way® and what they can expect from their day-to-day responsibilities. We’ve built this unique employee mentorship program by focusing on three pillars — support, communication and involvement.
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- Support: We foster a supportive environment that promotes growth and development by encouraging new employees to take on challenging or different tasks and ask for clarification or insight. I often asked my mentor seemingly “stupid” questions throughout the program. Still, she took the time to kindly answer all my inquiries and never once made me feel less than or dumb for not understanding something completely. Thanks to this supportive environment, I became willing and excited to tackle new and complicated challenges, knowing someone would help if I ran into a roadblock.
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- Communication: We all work together — and communicate with one another — to make each other look good. Our mentors provide detailed guidance and feedback through weekly one-on-one meetings that allow new employees to discuss how their week is going, where they are struggling and what tasks they’d like to tackle. Having frequent check-ins early on ensures that those in the shadow program understand their tasks and goals and have everything they need to succeed — tools, resources, support, etc. I know that if I feel overwhelmed with tasks or confused, I can always ask for help.
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- Involvement: Through the shadow program, employees gradually take on more responsibilities, building confidence and competence through active participation and learning. Early on at Comprise, I helped research speaking and award opportunities, which gradually evolved into developing comprehensive multicategory media lists, writing pitches and more.
Reflecting on my journey, I credit much of my professional development to the mentorship I received. Sure, I gained many transferable skills as a general manager at a restaurant that ultimately helped me manage client relationships and work collaboratively. But I needed someone to teach me the nuances of the PR industry and dive deeper than what I learned in college coursework. Through hands-on experience with and constant guidance from experienced mentors, I was able to transition smoothly into my new role and start contributing to the team early on.
Embrace Employee Mentorship for Business Success
Working for a company with a strong employee mentorship program can enhance job satisfaction and personal growth. Mentorship helped me develop new skills, gain valuable insights and build the confidence to navigate my career. I’ll forever be grateful to Lauren and Andrew for their time helping me grow professionally.
Trust me — having mentors can make all the difference, whether you’re just starting your career or looking to change. Think of employee mentorship like working out with a personal trainer. You can do it alone, but you’ll see faster and better results when an expert can help inform your decisions. Business owners should cultivate a work culture in which people feel safe to learn and grow and upskilling is the norm. The rewards for doing so extend well beyond employee growth.
If you want to know more about how mentorship benefited me, connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d be happy to chat!
