Post-grad life is a time for self-exploration, whether that be in your personal life or professional one. However, this might be easier said than done. Finding your footing after college is a tricky thing to do, which is why students and professionals often turn to mentors for advice and support.
In early 2023, Her Campus conducted an early career survey of 1,448 college students and recent graduates to find out their attitudes toward — and questions about — post-grad life. A whopping 79% of respondents said they were very interested in finding a career mentor, but only 12% felt they were completely confident in utilizing a mentor for their career.
Mentors can be a source of empowerment, advice, and networking for you in your personal career goals. Think of a mentor as your cheerleader as you work your way through the business world. However, when it comes to finding a mentor, it all comes down to finding the right fit. As a recent college grad or newbie in the career world, you might feel that you missed out on the resources presented to you in college for mentorships, but in reality, mentors are available right at your fingertips. From apps to networking, social media is a great place to find mentors after college.
Get connected with mentors through mentoring apps.
In this digital age, finding a mentor is accessible and easy through apps. This might be shocking news, but LinkedIn isn’t the only place to find mentors and career advice. There are plenty of social media apps out there to help you navigate your life post-grad.
- BetterUp
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BetterUp helps you get connected with a mentor tailored specifically to your needs post-grad. All you have to do is answer a few questions and the platform will connect you with one mentor that’s right for you. You can then attend one-on-one video sessions with them all on your own timing.
- Upnotch
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If you want to dip your feet into the business world, then Upnotch has your back. You might have big dreams and aspirations for a startup or a small business after college, but don’t know where to start. Luckily, Upnotch is a community of entrepreneurs, business executives, and other startups ready to lend a helping hand. You can search on the app for the perfect mentor based on your industry and expertise. It also allows you to connect with other career professionals.
- Pushfar
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Pushfar is a mentoring app that is used widely by students rather than career professionals. The platform suggests people to network with based on your interests and career, and connects you to mentors based on your needs. Beyond mentoring, Pushfar offers events and daily tasks to provide inspiration and motivation.
- Fishbowl
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Think of Fishbowl as LinkedIn’s cooler sibling. This networking app connects you with like-minded individuals through bowls (group chats), online events, job boards, and a live feed. As for mentoring directly on the app, you can remain completely anonymous as you ask questions.
- Elpha
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For my women in tech, this one’s for you. Elpha is designed specifically for women looking to make their mark in the tech industry. They offer mentors who have been in your shoes before, as well as office hours with industry professionals, such as Glossier CEO Emily Weiss. You can connect with fellow tech women, discuss struggles you might be having, explore job opportunities, and find news in the tech world. Elpha is a safe space for STEM lovers.
- Mentor Spaces
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Branching out into the world post-grad can be intimidating, especially when you feel like you might be competing for space. Mentor Spaces understands this, and created a community specifically for underrepresented professionals. The platform connects Black and Latinx career professionals (or new college graduates) with mentors based on personal goals. Whether you use it for one-on-one calls or group sessions, Mentor Spaces is available anytime for mentorship and advice.
Use the resources (and people) you already have.
The Her Campus Early Career Survey found that out of 409 respondents who have had a career mentor, over a quarter found their mentor through professors and university faculty. With the interactivity and fluidity of social media, connecting with those who made an impact on you during your college experience post-grad is easy. You can find fellow alumni or former professors and faculty via apps like LinkedIn and Fishbowl. When you stick to the people you know, it’s that much easier to trust them as a mentor (and it alleviates the awkward introduction stage).
Guest speakers that spoke at your college are also great starting points for mentorships. Find their socials — whether that be connecting on LinkedIn or reaching out to the email listed in their Instagram bio — and express your wishes for a mentor. As a former guest speaker at your alma mater, they know where you’re coming from, adding a layer of understanding to this potential mentorship. When cold-emailing someone to ask them to be your mentor, your email should include:
- An introduction. Introduce yourself with a little bit of your background, commonalities, and interests. This brief introduction, especially with someone who you might not know personally, can pique their interest.
- A proposal to meet. Email communication can only do so much to help you with advice, so scheduling a time to meet your potential mentor will allow you more one-on-one time and a personal conversation to ask questions. This is especially important if you’re asking for someone to be your mentor that you have no former connection with.
- An explanation of your goals. Explain what you’re hoping to learn through their expertise and why. This gives expectations for the guidance you’re seeking right off the bat. It might also be helpful to explain why their expertise is best fit for your needs.
- A willingness to learn. Advice from a mentor is a valuable experience, but it’s also taking time out of the mentor’s schedule. Affirming that you will do the work and absorb the advice given tells the mentor their time is being respected.
Follow mentoring networks on social media to find potential mentors.
Whether you want to be a marketing professional or a physical therapist, there are mentoring networks that exist specifically for your dream industry. A little trick to finding mentors on social media is to find the socials of those networks and keep up to date on who they feature on their page. For instance, the National Research Mentoring Network for STEM professionals features guest speakers on their Instagram, who you can reach out to for personal mentorship. Though this might be a less personal mentor, they still have advice they are willing to share, as seen by their work with their networks. These mentoring networks might also offer mentorship programs on their social media as well.
Post-grad might be scary, but thankfully, social media allows for easy ways to find mentors to ease the worries. Whether it be through networking apps or mentorship programs, social media has a handful of resources at your disposal. You got this!