Page 20 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Chapter 1

Find a Mentor

What is a mentor, and what can one do to help you and other mem-
bers of the ever-growing global workforce? A mentor is a person
who has the experience to counsel and reassure a less trained, less
seasoned person—you (the protégé).
Some companies offer mentoring programs; others mentor infor-
mally through their human resources departments. Some have
flexible mentoring situations—a different employee has lunch with
the foreign visitor each day of the week—and some leave it up to
you, the newcomer, to seek help. Americans often don’t know how
to reach out to people from other countries on this quasi-business
quasi-social level. Arturo and Akira—and others—fostered their own
informal mentoring program. You may have to do the same.
People in the United States are willing to share information and
time, but Americans basically value self-sufficiency and indepen-
dence. They don’t always pick up on the newcomers’ needs. You can
build a network around you based on your needs, but it may not be
easy. It will, however, help you to maximize your value to the company
and the value of the U.S. experience for you. Having a mentoring rela-
tionship might increase your chances of a promising career. The first
step is to make a list of your needs and update it periodically. Analyze

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