A mentor isn’t a cheerleader

Information, knowledge, and feedback can be found everywhere. There are friends and family who can tell you what they think about your work, and there are numerous free resources online that can help you upskill. But, a mentor’s role in your career exceeds these things.

A mentor goes above and beyond the polite feedback of your peers or loved ones or the detachment of educational resources. However, a mentor is not meant to be your 24x7 cheerleader, and it can be quite disappointing if you expect them to get behind your every idea.

A mentor’s role is to objectively analyze your work and make sure you’re on the right career trajectory. They do not hold back on the criticism, but they also make sure that it is constructive. A good mentor can also open a lot of doors for you in terms of networking and career opportunities.