Mentors generally provide a sounding board for junior persons and insight about an organization.

Most successful senior managers attribute a major portion of their success to the benefit of a rewarding relationship with one or more mentors at key stages in their careers. Some mentoring programs focus on women and minorities with high potential for promotion and leadership; interns may be paired with a mentor who is at the level of assistant vice president or vice president, and the mentor and mentee periodically meet one-on-one. In addition, internal associations or networks are often available to complement a firm's mentoring programs and help employees feel that they belong in an organization.

When you begin a new job, seek out information on mentoring programs and learn about the criteria for participation.