Latest / The Career Mentor Podcast with Fexingo: Finding Mentors, Sponsors, and Career Advisors / How to Find a Mentor When You Are a Career Switcher
Transcript
- Lucas: If you've ever tried to find a mentor while switching careers, you've probably heard some version of 'just network' or 'reach out to people on LinkedIn.' And if you're like most career switchers, that advice is frustratingly vague — and often ineffective. Luna: Yeah, because the standard networking playbook assumes you're already in the industry. When you're coming from a completely different field, you don't just lack connections — you lack the shared context. Lucas: Exactly. So today I want to talk about a specific approach that I've seen work for a lot of career switchers — something I call the 'informational interview with a twist.' The twist is that you don't just ask about the industry — you specifically look for people who made the exact same switch you're trying to make. Luna: So not just any product manager — you want the product manager who used to be an accountant. Lucas: Right. And I have a concrete example. A couple of years ago, I worked with a woman named Priya. She was a senior accountant at a mid-size firm, and she wanted to move into product management at a tech company. She had taken some online courses, built a side project, but every time she applied, she got rejected. And when she reached out to product managers for advice, most of them gave her generic feedback — 'you need more product experience,' that kind of thing. Luna: Which is not helpful when you're trying to break in. Lucas: Not at all. So I suggested she change her search criteria. Instead of looking for 'product manager at a tech company,' she should look for 'product manager who used to be an accountant.' It took her about two weeks on LinkedIn, using Boolean searches — she searched for 'product manager' plus 'accounting' or 'CPA' in their past roles. She found maybe fifteen people. Luna: That's a much smaller pool, but way more relevant. Lucas: Exactly. She reached out to five of them with a very specific ask: 'I'm an accountant trying to move into product management. I see you made that transition. Could I buy you a coffee for twenty minutes to hear how you did it?' Four out of five said yes. And here's the key — because they had walked the same path, they didn't just give her generic advice. They told her exactly which skills to highlight, which certifications actually mattered, and even introduced her to their network. Luna: So they became de facto mentors, even if they didn't use the title. Lucas: That's exactly right. And within about four months, Priya landed a product associate role at a mid-stage startup. Her mentor — the one who had been a CPA — wrote her a referral. So the first point today is: when you're a career switcher, don't go after the most senior person in your target field. Go after the person who made the same jump you're making. They understand the gap, and they're often eager to help because someone helped them. Luna: There's a natural empathy there. But what about the imposter syndrome that comes with that outreach? I've talked to career switchers who feel like they're wasting people's time because they don't have the 'right' background. Lucas: That's a huge barrier. And I think the way past it is to reframe what you're offering. You're not asking for a handout — you're offering a genuine connection with someone who shares an identity. And you have something to offer in return. For example, Priya was able to share her accounting expertise with her product mentor when they had to analyze unit economics. So you have value from your old career — don't discount it. Luna: So you're saying the mentor gets something out of it too, even if it's just a fresh perspective or expertise in a niche area. Lucas: Absolutely. And that leads to my second point: when you're crafting your outreach, lead with what you bring from your previous field, not just what you want to learn. Say something like, 'I'm a marketer moving into data science, and I think my experience with customer segmentation could be useful to someone building models. Could I share my approach and get your feedback?' That's a much more compelling ask than 'Can you help me break in?' Luna: It flips the dynamic from 'help me' to 'let's exchange ideas.' That's a much easier conversation to say yes to. Lucas: Right. And the third point I want to make is about building a mentor 'board of directors' rather than looking for one all-knowing guide. For career switchers especially, you need multiple perspectives. You need someone who's done the switch, someone who's a hiring manager in your target field, and maybe someone who knows your current industry and can help you reframe your experience. Luna: So instead of one mentor, you have a small group of advisors, each with a different slice of the puzzle. Lucas: Exactly. And you don't have to call them mentors. You can call them 'advisors' or 'sounding boards.' And you can meet with them quarterly or even just once. The goal is to get specific, actionable advice from different angles. For example, if you're a teacher moving into corporate training, you might have a mentor who did that switch, another mentor who's a director of learning and development, and a third who's a recruiter who can tell you how to write your resume. Luna: And you can find these people through online communities too. There are so many Slack groups and forums for career changers now — like the 'Career Pivot' subreddit or specific industry transition groups. Lucas: That's a great point. And I'll add that some of those communities have mentorship matching programs specifically for career switchers. For example, the nonprofit 'Transitions' runs a free program where you can be paired with someone who made a similar change. So you don't have to do all the outreach cold. Luna: I want to zoom in on something you said earlier — about having something to offer. I think a lot of career switchers undervalue their transferable skills. They think, 'I was a teacher, so what do I know about project management?' But actually, teachers manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders all the time. Lucas: That's a huge one. And I think the key is to translate your experience into the language of your target industry. So instead of saying 'I taught fifth grade,' you say 'I managed a classroom of diverse learners with varying needs, which required daily prioritization and communication with parents and administrators.' That's essentially stakeholder management and project coordination. Luna: So when you're reaching out to potential mentors, you want to show that you've already done that translation work. It shows you're serious and you've done your homework. Lucas: Exactly. And that brings me to a final practical tip. When you do get that informational interview, don't just ask 'What advice do you have for someone like me?' That's too broad. Come with specific questions like: 'In your experience, which of my current skills is most undervalued in this field?' or 'If you had to hire someone from my background, what would be the one thing that would make you say yes?' Luna: That makes the conversation much more useful. And it signals that you respect their time. Lucas: Right. And if you get good advice, follow up with a thank-you note that mentions something specific you learned, and then update them a few months later on how it helped. That's how you turn a one-time conversation into a lasting mentoring relationship. Luna: I want to add one more thing. Sometimes career switchers get discouraged if they don't find a perfect mentor match right away. But even a brief conversation can be incredibly valuable. I think there's a tendency to think mentorship has to be this long-term, formal thing, but for a career switcher, even a thirty-minute call can change your trajectory. Lucas: Absolutely. And one other point: don't be afraid to ask the same person more than once, but respect their boundaries. If someone declines, that's fine. But if they say yes to a first conversation, and you prepare well and show appreciation, they'll often be open to a second one down the road. Luna: Before we wrap up, I want to say something about the show itself. If we've helped you think through a career move or decision — even just one concrete idea — that's exactly why we make these episodes. And a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, if you've gotten something out of them. Lucas: Yeah, it's a small thing that makes a huge difference for us. And it keeps the podcast ad-free, which we love. Luna: So, back to the topic — one more strategy I want to mention is the 'reverse mentorship' approach, where you offer to mentor someone else in your current field as a way to build your network in your target field. Lucas: That's an interesting twist. Can you explain how that works? Luna: Sure. Let's say you're an accountant who wants to go into product management. You could offer to mentor a junior accountant who wants to advance in accounting. In doing so, you demonstrate your leadership and mentoring skills, which are valuable in product management. And that junior accountant might have connections to someone in tech — maybe their friend or family member works in product. Lucas: So it's like paying it forward, and it can create unexpected bridges. That's a great strategy. And it also reinforces the idea that you have value to offer, even as you're transitioning. Luna: Exactly. And I think it helps with the imposter syndrome too, because you're actively being a mentor, not just a mentee. Lucas: So to summarize for anyone listening who's thinking about a career change: first, find people who've already made that exact switch — they're your best guides. Second, lead with what you bring from your old career, not just what you need. Third, build a board of advisors, not just one mentor. And fourth, consider reverse mentoring as a way to build skills and connections. Luna: And if you have a specific question about finding a mentor as a career switcher, we'd love to hear it. You can reach us at the show's email or on social media. Lucas: Yeah, we're always looking for real stories and questions to feature. Until next time, keep making those connections.