Things to Remember in Seeking a Mentor

If you buy chopsticks with no intention of using them, you're likely to keep eating with a fork & knife.

Similarly, one should seek mentors only if they're genuinely open to change.

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A few pointers for mentees:

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1. Understand that mentors are as busy as anyone else. Their purpose is to advise & guide, not to take orders & get things done on your behalf.

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2. When asking for career advice, don't request them to review your profile & tell you what you should do. That's lazy.

Show your homework. Frame specific questions like "I've accomplished X, I want to get to Y because I aim to do Z, would you recommend W? Why or why not?"

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3. It's perfectly ok not to follow a mentor's advice if you feel strongly against it. However, if you find you're constantly in disagreement, respectfully walk away.

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4. Don't expect mentors to fix a mess that they warned you against. Worse, don't blame them for it.

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5. It's the mentee's duty to follow up & seek time.  "I didn't want to disturb you" is a lame excuse.

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6. Seek advice on things you are truly stuck on rather than asking them questions where answers are obvious.

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7. Don't rate mentors on their ability to narrate "feel-good" rainbow stories, but by the positive impact their advice brings when implemented.

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