LinkedIn Is Rolling Out a Feature That Makes It Easier to Find a Mentor

When it comes to career advancement, there really is no instruction manual or guidebook. A mentor helps you feel like you’re not in this alone.

Having a mentor is like having a big brother or favorite aunt looking out for your career, answering questions when you’re confused and providing guidance when you have no idea what direction you should be going in.

Now LinkedIn, your favorite social-networking site for all things career-focused, is coming out with a new feature that’s intended to help your work life flourish.

By the end of the summer, all members should have a new dashboard with a “career advice hub” where they can sign up to get advice from a more senior member who’ll serve as an informal mentor, Fast Company reported.

And apparently, many upper-level professionals on LinkedIn are just itching to share their knowledge. An internal analysis found 89% of senior leaders on the site would be interesting in giving career advice, Fast Company reported.

The new feature will be free to LinkedIn members (a basic membership is free as well!), and you can specify what you desire in a mentor by using parameters such as industry and location, as well as what type of advice you’re looking to receive.

LinkedIn’s algorithm will then match you up with suitable professionals. Next, both parties have the opportunity to verify whether they’re interested in connecting, and the mentoring relationship can begin!

Fast Company said the new feature will start rolling out today to “a small subset” of select members and will expand as it’s tested over the summer.

Suzi Owens, group manager of consumer products and corporate communications at LinkedIn, said this new feature is not designed to replace traditional, long-term mentorships but instead is intended to serve as an outlet where professionals can get “quick question” requests answered by someone with more experience.

But I can imagine if a pair makes a really solid connection, this could serve as a springboard to establishing a substantial mentoring relationship that spills over into real life and lasts years.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.