January Is National Mentorship Month!

Join us as we celebrate one of the most important features of career progress! Mentoring others leads to improved leadership skills, and getting involved in a mentoring process can be key to your success! 

Why is mentoring important?
Think of a mentor as an experienced and trusted advisor. Often, mentors have already walked in the shoes of their mentee, and they may have experienced similar situations to those their mentee is currently experiencing. This positions the mentor to support the mentee, providing career guidance, impactful feedback, insights on growth and ideas for how to resolve concerns and connect to valuable opportunities. There are a plethora of contributions a mentor can provide. The potential is limitless!

Some interesting data to consider:
Mentorship can transform one’s career trajectory. According to a 2023 study on mentoring in the workplace:

• 130% of young adults with a mentor are more likely to hold a leadership position.
• 14% of organizations with mentoring programs reported higher employee retention.
• 67% indicated that mentoring programs helped improve employee morale and engagement.
• 50% of proteges in workplace mentoring programs reported higher productivity levels.
• 87% of mentors and mentees reported that mentoring better prepared them for their roles within an organization.
• 56% of women noted that mentoring led to career advancement.
• Diversity mentoring programs increase minority representation at the management level from 9% to 24%.
• 97% of mentees reported an expanded professional network after participating in a mentoring program.
• 64% of managers agree that mentoring played a role in their career advancement.
• 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive more than five years.
• 97% of mentors report improvement in their own communication and leadership skills.
• 69% of mentees feel more comfortable discussing work-related issues with their mentors.
• 55% of mentees report increased job satisfaction after participating in workplace mentoring programs.

Sources: Mentoring.org, Zipdo, Indeed

Look for more on mentoring during National Mentoring Month. Reach out to Laëtitia Gnago, LGnago@nvcc.edu, with questions.

 #WeLoveMentorshipMonth!  

Submitted by:
Latoya Garrison Ford, Career Connection Coordinator, LGarrison@nvcc.edu