One of the first things that you hear about when starting pharmacy school is the importance of finding a good mentor. To some people, this may seem intimidating because reaching out to faculty and preceptors can be intimidating. However, it can be one of the most important steps you take as you start your journey to become a pharmacist.
Building your network
So why is finding a good mentor so important? Mentors can serve as a great resource throughout pharmacy school and your future career. One of the benefits of having a good mentor is helping to connect you with pharmacists and residents who share similar interests.
Having a mentor help you build your network will give you access to knowledge and experience of someone who has been down this road before. An additional benefit of finding mentors is that your mentors are likely the people who you are going to want to have write your letters of recommendation for future job applications. These people should know you and your career goals, aspirations, and strengths.
Another important reason to find a good mentor is that they can also help you construct a well-developed CV. Going into pharmacy school, I (Ben) never had to use my CV and did not really see the true importance of having one. One of the biggest things that I am thankful for was finding a mentor who was able to help me formulate a respectable CV.
Good mentors can also offer guidance and advice about school, work, life, or anything really. Pharmacy school can be taxing and everyone needs a support system. My (Justin) mentors are a crucial part of my support system. I had tough situations during my time in pharmacy school, and my mentors put everything into perspective for me. They really helped me get through those rough times.
Knowing that it is important to have a mentor is one thing, but it can make some people anxious or nervous reaching out to someone. One of the best places to start looking for a mentor would be the faculty at your school. Many faculty members are very receptive to students and want to do everything they can to help them succeed. When reaching out to faculty for the first time, instead of focusing on the actual topic of mentorship, spend time getting to know each other better. Many faculty have an open door policy specifically for this reason.
Does your chapter have an APhA New Practitioner Mentor? Our chapter has several and has benefitted greatly from these volunteers.
Finally, although faculty can be excellent mentors, not all mentors have to be faculty at your school or college. Pharmacists, supervisors, and community leaders can also be excellent mentors. An important thing to remember is that having a mentor is only as good as what you make of it.
Mentees become mentors
Another key experience that both of us participated in was a leadership-
oriented class at Purdue. During this class, we heard stories from leaders in the pharmacy world about how they got where they are today. Many of these individuals spoke about the mentors that helped guide them throughout their careers during and after pharmacy school. The speakers spoke at length about the importance of finding mentors who can help develop you and your leadership skills throughout your professional career.
Another important insight that these leaders gave us was that although it is important to find great mentors, it is also important to give back and step into the mentor role when you are ready.
Start the conversation
Mentors can play a crucial part in your professional development. Everyone can use a mentor for support, help you grow, and advise you throughout your career. Finding a mentor should not feel daunting or something you should be nervous about. The best way to get started finding a mentor is to reach out to someone and get the conversation started.
If you do not have a mentor yet, reach out to faculty members who you think you might connect with. If you already have a mentor, take some time to let them know what is going on, whether it is to ask them for continued advice, or just to let them know how you are doing.
Just get out there and do it!