3 Reasons You Need a Mentor in Another Field -The Muse

3 Reasons You Need a Mentor in Anotzu sich Field -The Muse3 Reasons You Need a Mentor in Another FieldIf I asked you what field your ideal berater is in, youd probably respond, mine. And that makes sense. But you know what also makes sense? Looking outside your field. I see your side eye. I gave my journalist friend one recently when she told me that her most helpful mentor is a doctor. And that her favorite is a computer programmer. Random, I thought- until she explained to me why knowing someone in another field can actually be amazing. And trust me, once you hear these three specific benefits, youre going to want to find your own random mentor right away.1. They Can Give You PerspectiveWhen youre stuck inside of an industry bubble, it can be difficult to see, or even care, whats going on outside of that. However, by being aware of other professions and the challenges they face, youll not only get perspective- but also insight into how much different careers (and their skill sets) overlap. Also, coming from different backgrounds offers the chance to get a unique perspective on an issue (especially one caught in the echo chamber of your own industry). For example, my journalist friend talked to her doctor mentor about an article she was writing about healthcare. Not surprisingly, the doctor had a wildly different view of how to cover the story, which resulted in a much stronger finished product.And who knows You might find that another industry is more appealing after you learn more about it.2. They Can Help with Transferable SkillsTheyre not called transferable skills for nothing. In fact, my friend credits her doctor mentor for what she knows about customer service. Over time, shes given her plenty of pointers on how she deals with annoying or angry patients, as well as their frustrated families. My friend, in turn, uses this information to work more effectively with difficult editors and article sources. See These are the saatkorn skills, just applied to di fferent groups of people under different circumstances. 3. They Can Introduce You to Brand New NetworksYou know how you know people who work in different fields? So does your mentor For example It turns out, the doctors college roommate is a well-known journalist, and she was able to make an introduction for my friend. Small world, right? Never underestimate who someone knows just because of his or her profession. Not to mention, traveling in the same networks can get repetitive and stale. Lets get some new blood in thereNot sure where to start when finding mentors in other industries? Reach out to family members, friends, and alumni networks and ask for introductions to people who are just as motivated and ambitious as you. If nothing else, youll meet a few new awesome people.Photo of coffee drinks courtesy of Shutterstock.