Finding a real estate mentor can be as easy as going online, getting fit, or just going outside.

Key takeaways:

• The right mentor can provide guidance, advice, and assist in problem-solving situations.

• There are multiple places to find a mentor, including networking and industry-specific events.

• Public transportation hubs, restaurants and bars, and just about any public space are suitable for finding a mentor.

If you’re a newly minted real estate agent, you may be in the market for a mentor, someone to pull you under their wing and get you moving in the right direction. Surprisingly, it may not be that hard to find one.

“Working with a mentor provides innumerable benefits,” freelance writer Heather Johansson wrote in an article for Entreprenuer.com. “Not only will you receive guidance, advice, and help when trying to solve tough problems, you’ll also be able to leverage your mentor’s extended network of contacts for new partnerships, employees, and clients,” she wrote.

Where to find a mentor

If you’re too shy to ask someone from your new brokerage to mentor you, consider one of these seven suggestions from Johannson:

Online membership groups — Try an online mentoring group. Johannson suggested FindAMentor.com, which is just one of the groups dedicated to matching seasoned professionals with those in need of career guidance.

Industry networking events —These events enable you to mingle with professionals in many different areas of the real estate industry, face to face. Even if you don’t find a mentor on the first go, you’ll have expanded your network, Johannson noted.

Fitness classes — “Businesspeople generally like to stay active, maintain their health, relieve stress, and find new contacts, which is why you’ll frequently find them in fitness classes and fitness-related groups,” Johannson wrote.

Volunteer events — Volunteer events are usually chock full of retired and active people who could potentially serve as a mentor to you. Real estate agents often participate in philanthropic events as a means of staying in touch with clients or giving back to the communities in which they work.

Industry meetups — Formal industry-specific events such as real estate trade shows, conferences, and speaking events provide great ways to feel out a potential mentor. Or, Johansson noted, there are also informal meetups you can attend that are advertised in classified ads or through sites such as Meetup.

Online platforms — Social media offers numerous platforms for finding a mentor. Sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter are great places to start. Johannson suggested doing a keyword search first to find professionals who may fit the bill. She also suggested not asking outright. Instead, she wrote, “get to know your hoped-for mentor first; and, if you can, offer something of value to begin the relationship.”

Public spaces — Public transportation hubs, restaurants and bars, and just about any public space is suitable for finding a mentor, or at least, meeting someone who may help you in your search. “Take the time to talk to more people about who they are and what they do,” Johansson wrote. “Sooner or later, you’ll bump into someone who’s a good person for you to know in the business world.”

Where else would you suggest is a great place to find a mentor? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: “Looking for a Mentor? The 7 Best Places to Start,” Entrepreneur.com (May 11, 2017)