Survey Finds One in Five Women Never Had a Mentor

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 120 million members worldwide, recently released the findings of a study it conducted to learn more about women and their attitudes toward mentoring.

The survey results were unveiled during the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, the largest women’s conference in the state with more than 5,000 attendees.

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 120 million members worldwide, recently released the findings of a study it conducted to learn more about women and their attitudes toward mentoring.

The survey results were unveiled during the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, the largest women’s conference in the state with more than 5,000 attendees.

“Tooting your own horn is just one of the many ways you can increase the likelihood that you’ll shatter the glass ceiling and snag keys to that corner office,” said Nicole Williams, LinkedIn Connection Director, at the conference.

 “If you’re uncomfortable speaking up about your accomplishments, then often times, your best bet is to seek out a sponsor or a mentor in your office who can vouch for you,” she said.

Related: Women at work: Moving towards parity

LinkedIn surveyed nearly 1,000 female professionals in the U.S. and found that 19 percent of respondents had never had a mentor. LinkedIn asked women who never had a mentor why that was the case. Fifty-two percent of the women noted they hadn’t had a mentor because they had, “never encountered someone appropriate.” As part of the survey, LinkedIn also asked the women who had never been a mentor why they weren’t mentoring another professional, and 67 percent of those respondents said they have never been mentors because, “no one ever asked.” Yet, 82 percent of women agreed that mentorship is important.

Dr.Priya Nalkur-Pai, a professional coach who works with women on their career transitions told The Grindstone, “Mentoring is about a structured relationship. If you think you might have found someone who could be a good mentor for you, ask her explicitly if she will be your mentor. This crisply defines the relationship, which sets it up for success.”

Related: The economics of women in the workplace

In a related note, a survey released by USA Today earlier this month surveyed female CEOs, chairs and company founders in regards to workplace mentors. When asked to identify the one mentor who had the most influence on their careers, 33 of the 34 women who responded identified a man- perhaps further speaking to the greater number of men in high-ranking positions rather than a gender bias on behalf of working women.

Related: Infographic: Women are finally taking over