Mentoring changes lives: the top four reasons you should become a mentor

By Taneshya Williams, Program Manager, 3 Cups of Coffee

When I was starting my professional career, I was a single mom, looking for a job, and trying to make ends meet. I wanted to be successful and worked hard to achieve my goals. I was determined to not accept help, but honestly, I didn’t even know there were resources available to me.
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Now, as the PA Women Work 3 Cups of Coffee program manager, I often reflect on that period of my life. I know that I could have benefited from a mentor – a professional taking me under her wing to help me define my goals, answer my questions and find a path to success. Being in the position I’m in now, I’m honored to have the opportunity to help women facing similar challenges by connecting them with individuals who can mentor and guide them.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back, consider being a career mentor to another professional or job-seeker. In my experience, here are the top four benefits to mentoring:

1. Give back – Mentoring someone is an incredible way to give back in a meaningful way. With 3 Cups of Coffee, it’s a small time commitment that can be worked around your schedule. It allows you to help others grow from your personal experiences, and you can make a real impact on someone’s life.

2. Develop professionally – When you open yourself up to meeting new people – whether that’s your mentee or other mentors – you will inevitably learn new ideas and skills. Not only that, skilled volunteerism helps you grow as a leader and offers a great opportunity to build your resume or LinkedIn profile.  

3. Build your network – Mentoring will build your mentee’s network – that’s a given. But what many don’t consider is how it can actually be a great networking opportunity for mentors as well. When you sign up to mentor with an organization, such as PA Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee program, you can be connected to other like-minded professionals, along with job-seeking mentees that could provide talent and diversity to help your company reach its hiring goals.

4. It feels good – When you mentor someone, you will help change their life. Your professional advice, positive encouragement and experience will provide your mentee with the support she needs to discover her goals, search for the right job, and ultimately get started on a new path to success. Not only that, when you invest your time and energy into someone’s life and see them succeed, it is an extremely gratifying experience.  

As a career mentor, you will make an impact. PA Women Work’s 3 Cups of Coffee is a short-term mentoring program, so the time commitment is minimal – just three one-hour meetings.
Whether you sign up as a mentor with our program, or you make the choice to mentor a professional at work, we hope you’ll choose to offer your skills and expertise to someone in our community who could benefit. We know you have so much to offer. 

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