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As a young person in my 20s I felt like there were many options available to me in business. I chose to start at the bottom rung of a mortgage company thinking that hard work and expressed interest in career advancement would move me up the ladder professionally. I was at a perceived disadvantage to most guys in their early 20s because I had not yet finished my degree. As I completed my degree, I was able to see some success and failures in my career interests. From insurance processor to mortgage delinquency counselor my ambitions quickly outpaced my achievements. During the month of my 26th birthday I moved to another state with a promotion my wife received. The company relocated us to Saint Louis and we suddenly found ourselves in a new job market with many different possibilities. I had completed my Finance degree but struggled to find the right position for me. I landed at a large corporation working in a commercial loan division. While there, my boss Frank, saw potential in me that I didn't know existed. He worked with me daily and helped me hone my business skills and helped define the characteristics needed to lead and rise in a company. Franks philosophy was always to work towards the next challenge in life. I applied Frank's teachings and was promoted within that organization to a high ranking manager. Frank left the company for successes in another industry. I often think about the attention Frank provided to my career and personal development. Frank made the difference in my professional life. He extracted my strengths and helped define what I wanted to do with my professional life. I believe that corporate mentor ship is an undeserved area of corporate life. Looking back at my career path, I could see my path would have been dramatically different had Frank decided not to mentor me. My honest advice to all young job seekers who desire fulfillment in their chosen work field is to seek out mentors in your organization. Use these mentors to help you achieve your professional goals. Don't forget to become a mentor and give to that wandering employee when it is your turn.

Learn more about this author, Jeff Parker.
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