Having a mentor to guide you through your AINS® or CPCU® journey can be invaluable, and they can continue to help you even after you’ve earned your designation. In today’s post, we will discuss places you can look to find a mentor, give some pointers on making the ask, and also provide advice on how to make the most out of your mentorship.
Ace your AINS® & CPCU® exams with the help of our study materials!
Where can I find a CPCU mentor?
The first step is finding a mentor who will work with you. There are several sources you can turn to to seek someone who is willing to help you:
- CPCU SOCIETY: The CPCU Society has an online platform that is designed to match up volunteer mentors with members who are seeking mentorship. You can designate what areas you are looking for guidance on, so if you want help on getting through the exams and earning your designation, fill in the appropriate category when completing your mentoring application. The various CPCU Society chapters throughout the world also regularly hold events that make for excellent networking opportunities, where you can find a potential in-person mentor.
- CPCU CANDIDATES FACEBOOK GROUP: The CPCU Candidates Facebook group is already an incredible resource for students going through the study process, but it is also another great place to seek mentorship. Many of the group’s members stay on even after passing all of their exams, just so they can help others and pay it forward. Some users have posted asking for mentorship, and so can you!
- YOUR WORKPLACE: Especially if you work for a large company, chances are pretty high that one of co-workers has successfully earned their CPCU designation. Finding one of your fellow employees to be your mentor can be particularly effective because you’ll have someone you can connect with in-person. This increases your emotional investment into both the mentorship as well as the CPCU endeavor itself, since it will feel harder to disappoint someone you see everyday!
How do I ask someone to be my mentor?
Asking someone to be your mentor is not as hard as you think. Most people are flattered that you value their experience & expertise enough to seek their help!
That said, there are some key things you should think about and know the answer to before you approach your potential mentor:
- What skills and experiences does the mentor have that leads you to believe they can be someone you want to learn from
- Your goals & aspirations for the mentorship
- The frequency and method via which you wish to communicate with your mentor
Once you know these things, you can pretty much go through these points in a message or conversation with the person. When you open with item #1 above, frame it as a compliment. Move through each point, and always end with a “thank you” even if the person decides they can’t commit to what you are asking. Remember: you are asking this person to volunteer their time & energy to help you when they don’t have any obligation to, so always be gracious & respectful.
Conquer your AINS & CPCU exams using our study materials!
How do I get the most out of my mentorship?
Having a mentor won’t automatically make you successful, but it can take you far if the mentoring relationship is done right. Here are some additional tips that will ensure your mentorship is as effective as possible:
- Be respectful of your mentor’s time. We emphasize again that they are doing you a generous favor by agreeing to help you for free.
- Be honest about your shortcomings and any obstacles you face. The whole point of the mentorship is to have someone who can give you ideas to conquer them.
- Make a point to regularly meet up with or communicate with your mentor, so that you’ll be forced to be accountable for any goals you set. This also gives you the opportunity to touch bases about any difficulties you encounter as they come up, rather than bombarding your mentor with numerous problems all at once.
- Keep track of the things you want to discuss at your next meeting with your mentor. This ensures that you don’t waste their time & helps you remember to address everything you wanted to talk about.
Ace your AINS® & CPCU® exams with the help of our study materials!
Disclaimers: The Institutes, CPCU®, and AINS® are trademarks of the American Institute For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, d/b/a The Institutes. InsuranceExamGuides.com is not affiliated or associated with The Institutes in any way, and The Institutes do not endorse, approve, support, or otherwise recognize InsuranceExamGuides.com or its products or services. CPCU® and AINS® are registered trademarks of The Institutes. All rights reserved.