Latest / The Career Mentor Podcast with Fexingo: Finding Mentors, Sponsors, and Career Advisors / How to Find a Mentor When You Are Changing Industries
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was reading a study earlier this week that said the average person changes industries nearly three times in their career. And every time, the hardest part isn't the learning curve — it's rebuilding your network from scratch. Luna: That's exactly what I'm facing right now. I've been in journalism for eight years, and I'm thinking about moving into corporate communications. But my entire contact list is editors and fellow writers. Lucas: Right, and that's the classic problem. When you change industries, your old mentors can still offer advice, but they don't know the players, the unwritten rules, the politics of your new field. You need someone who's already inside. Lucas: And this is something we hear a lot on this show, so if today's episode actually helps you think through your own career move, that's exactly why we do this. And the way these stay ad-free is listener support — you can buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It keeps the lights on without any sponsors. Luna: Yeah, and honestly, it's a small way to say thanks for the insight. We really appreciate the listeners who chip in. Lucas: So let's dig into the strategies. First, you need to identify the right kind of mentor. Not every successful person in your target industry is a good fit. You want someone who understands the transition itself, not just the destination. Luna: What do you mean by that? Someone who's also switched industries? Lucas: Exactly. A mentor who went from, say, law to product management can empathize with the emotional whiplash of starting over, and they've already figured out how to translate their old skills into new value. That's more valuable than someone who's been in the industry for thirty years and never had to adapt. Luna: So how do you find these people? I can't just walk up to a stranger and ask them to mentor me. Lucas: Right, you don't. You start with informational interviews. But not the kind where you ask for a job. You're looking for their career story, their perspective on the industry, and implicitly, whether they're someone you could learn from. Luna: And you're also testing whether you actually want to be in that industry, right? Because sometimes the reality is different from the job description. Lucas: Exactly. So the goal is to have five or six of these conversations over a few weeks. Each one should last about twenty minutes, and you should come prepared with specific questions about their path, not generic ones. Luna: What's a specific question that works well? Lucas: Ask them about a moment when they almost gave up in their career change. That reveals their resilience, their problem-solving, and their true feelings about the industry. It also opens the door for them to share a personal story, which is how real connections form. Luna: That's a good one. And after the conversation, how do you turn it into a mentorship? Lucas: You don't ask for mentorship directly. Instead, you follow up with a thank-you note that mentions something specific they said, and then you stay on their radar by sharing an article or a resource that's relevant to their interests. Over time, you can ask for a second meeting, and that's when you might say something like, 'I found our last conversation incredibly helpful. Would you be open to checking in with me every few months?' That's a low-pressure ask. Luna: That makes sense. So what about using your existing network? I have friends who work in corporate comms, but some of them are junior, and I'm not sure if they can mentor me. Lucas: They might not be mentors, but they can be connectors. They can introduce you to their managers or more senior colleagues. A warm introduction is worth ten cold emails. So don't dismiss your peers just because they're at the same level. Luna: And what about alumni networks? I went to a pretty good journalism school, but the alumni network is mostly journalists. Lucas: That's still useful. Because within that alumni network, there are bound to be people who left journalism for other fields. You can search on LinkedIn for 'alumni of your school' plus 'corporate communications' and find them. They're more likely to respond because you share a common background. Luna: So you're saying the best mentors for a career change are often the ones who've already made that exact change. Lucas: Yes. They understand the transition specifically, and they can help you avoid the mistakes they made. But there's another angle: mentors who are slightly ahead of you, not decades ahead. Someone who made the change two or three years ago is closer to your experience than someone who did it twenty years ago. Luna: That makes sense. They remember what it's like to be where you are. Lucas: And they're also more likely to have time for you. A senior executive might be too busy, but a director or a senior manager might be more accessible. Also, they're still building their own networks, so they might see the relationship as mutually beneficial. Luna: But what if you don't know anyone in your target industry? I've been reaching out on LinkedIn, but I'm getting a lot of silence. Lucas: That's normal. When you're cold, the response rate is maybe ten to twenty percent. So you need to send a lot of requests, but make each one personalized. Mention something specific about their background, and explain why you're reaching out to them, not just any random person. Also, look for people who write about the industry on LinkedIn or have a podcast — they're more likely to engage. Luna: So it's a numbers game, but with a personal touch. Lucas: Exactly. And another approach is to attend industry events, but not the big conferences. Look for smaller meetups or webinars where you can actually have conversations. One good conversation can lead to a mentor, but it takes effort. Luna: And what about the framing? When I do get a conversation, how do I talk about my background without sounding like I'm starting from zero? Lucas: That's the key. You don't start from zero. You bring a portfolio of skills that are transferable. In your case, as a journalist, you have research skills, interviewing skills, storytelling, and the ability to distill complex information. In corporate communications, those are gold. So frame your transition as 'I bring this unique combination of skills' rather than 'I'm new at this.' Luna: And that's also what you want a mentor to help you with, right? Helping you articulate your value proposition. Lucas: Yes. A good mentor can help you see yourself through the eyes of someone in the new industry. They can also introduce you to their own network, which is priceless. Luna: So what's the biggest mistake people make when they're looking for a mentor during an industry change? Lucas: They give up too quickly. They send out a few requests, don't hear back, and think it's not going to work. But finding a mentor is a process. It might take months. And also, they often look for mentors in the wrong places — only at senior levels, or only within their current company. You have to cast a wide net. Luna: And what about reverse mentoring? I've heard that sometimes a junior person can mentor a senior person on new trends, but does that apply here? Lucas: It can. If you're coming from a different industry, you might have knowledge that's cutting-edge in your new field. For example, if you're moving from tech to healthcare, you could mentor a healthcare executive on data analytics. So even while you're looking for a mentor, you can be a mentor to someone else in your new industry. That builds your network and your credibility. Luna: That's a great point. So the relationship doesn't have to be one-way. Lucas: No, and the best mentorships are mutual. You're not just a mentee; you're also bringing something to the table. So think about what you can offer — your expertise, your network, your fresh perspective. That makes it more likely that someone will want to mentor you. Luna: So, to sum up, if I want to find a mentor for my industry change, I should look for someone who's made a similar transition, use informational interviews to build connections, leverage my alumni network, and frame my skills as transferable. Lucas: That's a solid plan. And remember, the goal isn't to find a mentor overnight. It's to build a relationship over time. So start with one or two informational interviews this month, and see where they lead. Luna: And if it doesn't work out with the first few people, keep going. It's not a rejection of you; it's just timing or fit. Lucas: Right. And one more thing: don't wait until you've already made the change. The best time to find a mentor is while you're still planning the move. That way, they can help you make the transition strategically, not just reactively. Luna: So, Lucas, what's the first step someone should take today if they're thinking about changing industries? Lucas: Write down three people in your target industry who you admire, and send one of them a personalized LinkedIn message asking for a twenty-minute chat. Just one. Do that today, and you've started the process. Luna: That's a concrete action. I think I'm going to do that this week. Lucas: And that's the thing — the best mentor is often the one you haven't met yet. So get out there and start the conversation.