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Seeking a mentor

Often, young professionals are acquainted with the mentorship process at the institution where they studied.

Yogesh Chandekar, 23, a graduate from the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, was a student mentor for projects.

He guided junior students at an academic level and, by the end of the term, he was also advising them about their personal lives.

Mentorship at work is acceptable although only at a professional level, he believes. He wouldn't go out of his way to find it himself as he is an introvert.

"It is not necessary to have a mentor but it is certainly advantageous as it helps motivate you," he admits. But there is also a fine line between seeking a mentor and sucking up to a person at work.

Nitesh Tiwari, an engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, tells us that professors were often given the responsibility of mentorship to non-Mumbaiite students, where they also functioned as their local guardians.

Today, Nitesh is creative director at the ad agency Leo Burnett. He has had enriching relationships with not one but multiple mentors.

"I think it's very healthy to have mentors in the system. I used to discuss my work with people I admired, seek their opinion, judgement and reassurance. When stuck on a campaign, I talked to them. Today, others do that with me," he says.

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