Mentor may assure career success

Getting ahead in information technology (IT) takes more than just the requisite technical skills; it also pays to have someone pulling for you, according to a new survey. Just more than half (51 percent) of chief information officers (CIOs) polled said they benefited from having a mentor at some point in their careers. The majority (72 percent) of those who missed out on having a mentor felt it would have been easier to advance if they had an experienced advisor on their side.

The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CIOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis.

"The technology field is fast paced and competitive—new hires, regardless of their experience level, must make immediate contributions in their roles," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Mentors often serve as sounding boards at critical points in one’s career development. They can provide insight on corporate protocol, make introductions to key industry contacts, and give up-and-coming managers an insider’s perspective on the business," she added.