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Mentors Play a Key
Role in Women's
Career Success
Poll Finds 62% of Women Have Mentors
PORTLAND, Ore., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- More and more women are tapping
into the expertise and advice of mentors, male and female, to help them
achieve their career goals according to a CareerWomen.com QuickPoll(TM)
released today. "Importance of Mentoring in the Workplace" reveals that
the majority of women (62%) have a formal or informal mentor -- someone
who has influenced their personal and professional development and
contributed to their career success.
The survey asked women if their most important mentors have been male or
female. "We wanted to see if men or women were providing more
opportunities for women and how mentors have helped these women in the
workplace," said JillXan Donnelly of CareerWomen.com. "The results show
distinct differences in mentoring benefits and further highlight the
need to take advantage of several mentors throughout your career, both
male and female, who can help provide guidance, support and advice at
every stage of your professional development."
According to the poll results, 64% of women reported that their most
important mentors have been male while 36% reported that women mentors
have been the most influential in their careers.
The QuickPoll further reveals that male mentors help women they mentor
by providing general business training, leadership opportunities,
coaching feedback and advice as well as networking and advancement
opportunities. Women also noted that they learn negotiating skills from
their male mentors. By contrast, if a mentor is a woman, the most
essential contributions include informal fellowship, guidance within the
corporation, motivation and encouragement. Women also cite several areas
where women mentors are essential including: sharing strategies for
women's career success, work/life balance, job share, maternity leave,
advice on overcoming gender bias in the workplace, and even style advice
that male mentors may not be as able to effectively address.
TOP
The results of the survey point to how a mentor's guidance can vary
depending on whether the mentor was male or female.
If the mentor was male
the rankings are:
-
General Business Training....92%
-
Leadership Opportunities....95%
-
Feedback, Coaching, Advice....62%
-
Networking/Advancement
Opportunities.....76%
-
Motivations
and Encouragement....59%
-
Guidance within Corporation.....23%
-
Informal Fellowship...21%
If the mentor was female,
the rankings are:
-
Informal Fellowship....79%
-
Guidance within Corporation....77%
-
Motivation
and Encouragement.....41%
-
Feedback, Coaching, Advice....38%
-
Networking/Advancement
Opportunities....24%
-
General Business Training......8%
-
Leadership Opportunities.......5%
The results of the Quick Poll can
conclude that male and female mentors are both very important and each
has distinct advantages. Mentors contribute their expertise and advice
to assist less experienced professionals, helping them advance in their
careers. They pass along skills, knowledge, resources, advice, and can
provide introductions to career networking opportunities among many
other benefits. TOP
"After reviewing the results of the QuickPoll, we questioned, 'why did
the majority of women respond that their most important mentors are
male?'" continued Donnelly. "This may be due to the fact that men still
statistically out rank women in the highest positions within
corporations. As such, women often benefit from their male mentors
business experience and their networks of other's in senior management
who could be influential in their career. It could also point out that
mentoring programs are becoming more gender blind, or that women and men
are working better together to help women succeed."
Women who participated in the poll were offered the option to share
their comments. If they had a male mentor, comments included:
"It's surprising to think about, but I would consider my most important
informal mentors were/are male. They have provided counsel, advice,
business training, especially negotiating tactics, and how to advance in
a very competitive environment. As a woman, you really have to learn not
just business methodology but practical know-how."
"I find that men have taken a more active role in providing advice and
guidance in my career. They may not understand all the issues women
face, but they have taught me so much about business and how things get
done." TOP
If they had a woman mentor, comments included:
"She helped me learn what it takes to be successful as a woman in a
business environment. She gave kind, yet tough feedback and has been a
tremendous asset to my success."
"My mentors have encouraged me, given me positive advice and support.
They have helped me to value a balanced approach to work and personal
life."
About CareerWomen.com
CareerWomen.com is the leading online career center by and for women.
Tailored to the needs of today's working women, CareerWomen.com provides
easy access to top employers and recruiters who are actively looking to
recruit women. Since 1997, CareerWomen.com has helped thousands of women
find jobs in their chosen career. For more information, visit http://careerwomen.com/
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