Networking with Mentors

The best mentors won't find you, You have to find them. My core values for career development: • Ownership - Taking responsibility for your growth • Courage - Moving through discomfort for what matters • Reciprocity - Creating value, not just taking it What I can't stand is seeing people wait for career opportunities while mistaking passivity for patience. Here's how to ask potential mentors (without feeling awkward): 1/ Be direct about your goals Don't beat around the bush. Tell them exactly what you need. "I was promoted to senior engineer and want to level up my systems architecture skills. Would you be willing to mentor me?" 2/ Tell them why you chose them People appreciate knowing what drew you to them specifically, showing you’ve done your homework. "I'm reaching out because of your experience leading engineering teams at high-growth startups." 3/ Start with a small ask Don't request a long-term commitment right away. "Would you be open to a 30-minute video call to connect?" 4/ Be gracious if rejected Sometimes people don't have bandwidth. That's okay. "I understand you have significant demands on your time." 5/ Ask for alternatives If they decline, their network might be your next opportunity. "Is there anyone you'd recommend I connect with instead?" 6/ Approach with the right mindset Confidence in your goals. Respect for their time. Gratitude for their expertise. I've seen too many careers stall because of fear of rejection. But I promise: The temporary discomfort of reaching out is nothing compared to the permanent pain of career stagnation. Stop waiting for the perfect mentor to appear. Make the first move today. What strategies have worked for you when finding mentors? Image Credit: GraciousQuotes --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

The best predictor of scientific impact isn't gender, seniority, methodology, or geography, it is the informal network of colleagues and mentors who provide guidance and feedback. We are often ignore the most important source of success. Informal support networks are the unsung heroes in science. Joining a great community of supportive and collaborative colleagues might therefore be one of the most important keys to success. This is based on a new paper analyzing the scientific impact of 86,000 scholars. The authors found that informal connections (ie the people who you thank in acknowledgement sections) are more important that your coauthors in predicting publication productivity and impact. https://lnkd.in/eFXqZnYP

Want to pitch someone on LinkedIn? Read this before you hit “send.” Every week, I get messages that go something like this: “Hi, I’m [Name]. I’ve built this incredible thing. It’s doing amazing work. Here’s why it matters. Can you help me/share it/connect me?” It’s not that I don’t care. I do. But these messages usually miss the mark and here’s why: They center the sender. Not the receiver. Here’s the truth: When you approach someone for the first time, you (and your project, product, or platform) are not the hero of the story. THEY are. If you want someone to care, start by showing that you care about what they do, what they stand for, what they’re building. Read their posts. Watch their interviews. Figure out what they’re trying to solve. Then ask yourself: how does what I’m doing help them win? Make your message less “I need,” and more “Here’s what I see in your work and how I can add value.” Additional tips: 💬 Keep it short. Long-winded intros are overwhelming. You’re not writing your bio, you’re opening a door! Three concise paragraphs is plenty (even less if you can). 🎯 Be specific. Instead of saying, “Let’s collaborate,” say: “I’d love to explore how we could align my youth platform with your mission to build stronger leadership pipelines.” People respond better when they know exactly what you’re asking. What’s your call to action? 🧠 Show you’ve done your homework. A thoughtful compliment goes a long way. “Your post on LinkedIn really made me think.” “I noticed you’ve been working on Y and I’m building something that could support that.” It shows you care enough to listen first. 🤝 Give before you ask. Share a helpful resource. Offer a useful intro. Tell them about an opportunity they might benefit from. Relationships are built on generosity. 📆 Respect their time. Instead of jumping into a call request, consider asking: “Would it be okay if I shared a 1-pager for you to skim in your own time?” People are more open when they don’t feel pressured. Please don’t immediately ask for a call. 💡 Think of it as planting, not picking. Your goal isn’t to “get” something, it’s to begin something. Not all outreach will lead to a project right away, but if done well, it can spark long-term relationships, ideas, and even unexpected opportunities. ✨ Bonus hack: I often ask my clients to count how many times they say “I” vs. “you” when they write to, present to or speak to their stakeholders. If the “I”s win, revise. It’s not listener-centric enough. Connection starts with empathy, not ego. Lead with curiosity. Offer service. That’s how collaborations are born. If these tips are helpful, check out Storytelling and Leadership for more. #Storytelling #AuthenticConnections #LinkedInTips #Leadership #PurposefulWork

Founders pay for advice. Advice? It's cheap. The internet has a million sources of it. Mostly free, mostly correct in the abstract. What actually moves the business is something else. Proximity to operators one or two stages ahead of you. People who'll see your situation in real context. People who'll give you the answer, sure. But also introduce you to the next three people you need to meet. Cost-per-hour, advice and proximity look similar. Cost-per-outcome, they're an order of magnitude apart. Choosing between three coaches at the same price? Here's the question that picks the winner. Not whose framework is sharpest. Not whose case studies are slickest. Not who's written the better book. Not who has more LinkedIn followers. Whose network does the work after the call ends? The framework you can read in a weekend. The network is the reason you hired them. I waited three years before finding my first real mentor. He came through a Google program for fast-growing agencies. He'd grown and sold an agency. He could see what I couldn't. That kind of seeing only happens with someone who's been in your seat. He didn't just give me advice. He introduced me to the people who'd become our next clients. Our next hires. The next conversations that shaped how we ran the business. The advice ran for an afternoon. The introductions ran for years. Most coaching markets price proximity like advice, by the hour. They shouldn't. Proximity compounds. Advice doesn't. Three calls with the right operator can move you further. Further than a three-month program with the wrong one. If you're paying a coach who hasn't produced an introduction, the math isn't working. You're buying content you'd find online for free, dressed up as a relationship. Stop paying for advice. Pay for proximity. The framework is the bonus, not the product. #leadership #founderlessons #mentorship

Behind every opportunity is a relationship, and behind every relationship is a conversation. Networking is about building real connections that last and have the potential to help you find your next opportunity. Data shared by the University of Maryland’s Department of Economics indicates you won’t find 70% of available jobs on any site that posts open positions. Those positions are usually found on a company’s internal network, often by referral. In other words, relationships can make the difference between finding a job or not. That’s no surprise to me. Throughout my journey, from engineer to investor, relationships have been a constant driver of growth. Mentors, colleagues and peers have not only opened doors, but also challenged my thinking, sharpened my skills and inspired my vision. Here’s what I have learned: - Be curious: Ask questions that show you care about people’s stories. - Be intentional: Connect with purpose, not just for your own gain. - Be consistent: Follow up, follow through and add value where you can. Networking isn’t a one-time event. It requires maintaining ongoing relationships rooted in trust and genuine interest in other people’s lives. Whether you’re just starting out on your professional journey or deep into your field, relationships are what power careers.

💡 If I were graduating today, I wouldn’t spend hours on job boards. Thousands of candidates apply every day, and most resumes get lost in the noise. Instead, I’d follow a proactive approach that actually works: 1️⃣ Track startups that just raised funding Check out venture capital firm pages on LinkedIn or their websites. Startups that recently secured funding are growing fast—and they need talent. 2️⃣ Find the founders and founding team They know exactly what their company needs, making them the ideal people to pitch. 3️⃣ Send a thoughtful, personalized message Introduce yourself, but more importantly, show that you’ve done your homework. Mention 1–2 things you genuinely admire about their product, mission, or recent achievements. 4️⃣ Show the ROI of hiring you Instead of sending a resume, explain how your skills can solve their immediate challenges or accelerate growth. Your outreach should say: “Here’s how I can add value,” not “Hire me.” Fun fact: one month before I graduated, I didn’t have a job. I got tired of applying through traditional channels, so I messaged every founder I knew, explained how I could help them grow, and landed my first Product Manager contract without a single job board application. 🔥 Opportunities don’t always come through the standard path. Sometimes, you have to create them yourself.

“Can I pick your brain?” Not the best way to ask for mentorship. 🙈 When I started growing in my career, I kept hearing the same advice: “You need a mentor.” But I had no idea how to ask without sounding awkward or needy. Here’s what I’ve learned: The best mentorships often start informally. You don’t need to slide into someone’s inbox with a formal request to “be your mentor.” Instead, be intentional, respectful, and specific. Here’s a better way to approach someone: 1️⃣ Start with genuine appreciation. Let them know what you admire about their work or career path. People are more open when they feel seen. 2️⃣ Ask one focused question. Instead of saying “Can I pick your brain?”, say something like: “I really admire how you transitioned from [X] to [Y]. I’m exploring a similar path. Would you be open to sharing how you approached that shift?” 3️⃣ Be respectful of their time. Propose a short 15–20 minute call or offer to send your question via email. 4️⃣ Build a relationship. Mentorship doesn’t always start with a title. Sometimes, a single helpful conversation turns into something long-term, but let it happen naturally. Remember: Mentorship isn’t about having one person guiding every step. It’s about intentionally learning from people whose experiences can light the path ahead. Who’s one person you’d love to learn from this year? Maybe it’s time to send that message.

🌟𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬!!! Recently, I received my 5th UN consultant contract. Some friends and interns came to ask me how to get a consultant position at the UN. In order to write this post, I also talked with more than 10 UN consultants. Hoping this post will be helpful in your UN application journey🥰 🎯 3 Paths to UN Consultants 𝟏. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧-𝐭𝐨-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | It’s not that difficult, but needs a bit of luck. It needs to meet the following 3 requirements:  • Your team has project funding for consultants • Supervisors recognise your work  • A junior consultant position opens up Actively Initiate a consultant transition conversation with your supervisor 3 months before the internship ends. Be proactive and professional! 📌 Conversation Tips:  Prepare a slide presentation showing: ✓ Deliverables Achieved ✓ Current project impacts ✓ Identified gaps + concrete solutions ✓End with: “I wish to contribute to our team more after the internship.” 𝟐. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠  Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐| The key skill in the UN 🔸 Within the UN System (contact with):  If you can't get an offer in your group, you need to start networking with your supervisor, colleagues, and friends. It's better to start with common contact or be introduced by others because it's a small group where people tend to know each other, and not everyone is comfortable with strangers sending messages to them. 🔸 Outside UN System: 📩 Step 1: LinkedIn  Search: "Your target area + relevant staff” Send a polite and brief Cold message  DON'T: Say  “Give me a referral" at first   📅 Step 2: Participate in UN events  Online:  Join in UN's Webinars or Open Day events (UN Career Webinars) Offline:  If you have the opportunity to go to the UN headquarters or Office (New York, Bangkok, etc.), you can sign up for forums or summits and take the initiative to meet current employees. ☕ Step 3: Coffee Chat Tips Before meeting for a Chat, research the person's professional background and prepare questions accordingly. Starting with the other person's experience will make it easier to close the distance. 𝟑. 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Competition ratio can be 1:100 or 1:200 for entry-level position 🔸 What to know:  Rule 1: Specialist > Generalist Rule 2: Experience is Currency  🔸 What works:  Building relevant experience Use the UN Personal History Profile (PHP) format Set weekly alerts and application plan on the UN Careers Portal Marathon Mindset Cultivation （ I have applied for over300 UN positions since 3 years ago) 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://lnkd.in/gs9rFVcX Don't let UN job codes scare you: ✅ Every “rejection” = 1 step closer to cracking the system ✅ Every coffee chat = 1 piece of the UN career puzzle #UN #Internship #UnitedNations #UNCareer #consultant #SDGs #youthempowerment

Want to write like a CEO? Cut the fluff. The best leaders communicate with: ✅ Clarity ✅ Brevity ✅ Impact They don’t send long, rambling emails. They don’t hide behind corporate jargon. They get to the point fast. I have written four books and have advised 300+ CEOs on their communications. Here’s the 5-part writing framework top executives use: 1 – The Subject Line Should Say It All Before you write anything, ask: ➡️ What’s the ONE thing I need them to know? ➡️ What’s the ONE action I need them to take? If you can’t answer this, don’t send it yet. 2 – Lead with the Bottom Line Busy people don’t have time for long intros. 💡 Start with the main point, not the backstory. ❌ “Hope you’re doing well! I wanted to reach out because we’ve been working on…” ✅ “Here’s the update: [Key message in one line].” 3 – Cut the Fluff High-level executives don’t read wordy emails. They scan. ✂ Remove “just,” “I think,” and “wanted to.” ✅ “We should move forward.” ✅ “The results show a 20% increase.” 4 – Be Direct, Not Rude Great leaders are clear, not cold. 🚫 “Per our last discussion, I believe this approach might be beneficial.” ✅ “Let’s move forward with this approach. Thoughts?” 5 – Always End with a Clear Ask ❌ “Let me know what you think.” ✅ “Can you approve this by Thursday?” 6 – Add Warmth Charismatic people are both competent and warm. If you follow 1-5, you may come across as competent but it may be hard to connect. Therefore, add some warmth at the end. ❌ “Looking forward to your response.” ✅ “Appreciate your time on this—excited to hear your thoughts!” 📌 Follow me Oliver Aust for daily strategies on leadership communications.

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book