* Survey results from Robert Half Technology reveals most CIOs have benefited from having a mentor
More than half of CIOs can credit their success in part to having a mentor earlier in their careers, according to the results of a survey from IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology.
Robert Half Technology sponsored a survey of more than 1,400 CIOs from a random sample of U.S. firms with at least 100 employees. Just over half – 51% – of CIOs surveyed said they benefited from having a mentor at some point in their careers. This included both formal and informal arrangements.
“The technology field is fast paced and competitive – new hires, regardless of their experience level, must make immediate contributions in their roles,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “While it’s certainly possible to succeed without guidance from a more tenured colleague, having this support can make it easier to advance professionally.”
Indeed, of the 49% of CIOs who missed out on having a mentor, 72% of them felt it would have been easier to advance if they had an experienced advisor on their side.
Those who had a mentor were asked to identify the single greatest benefit from that relationship. Here are their responses:
* Provides insight into a particular field or industry: 37%
* Serves as a confidant or advisor: 32%
* Provides encouragement and/or boosts morale: 16%
* Provides introductions to key networking contacts: 11%
* Other: 3%
* Don’t know/no answer: 1%
Given these results, you may want to look for a mentor if you don’t already have one. Says Lee: “”Mentors often serve as sounding boards at critical points in one’s career development. They can provide insight on corporate protocol, make introductions to key industry contacts, and give up-and-coming managers an insider’s perspective on the business.”
For more information about Robert Half Technology, go to http://www.roberthalftechnology.com
