Having a great mentor can be extremely beneficial for career advancement, but choosing the best mentor for you needs to be a strategic decision to ensure the relationship will, in fact, help you move your career forward.

This week LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD), released the findings of a study it conducted to learn more about professional women and their attitudes toward mentoring. LinkedIn surveyed nearly 1,000 female professionals in the United States. The survey results, made public during the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, show that more young professionals are taking advantage of mentoring.

According to the survey, younger women professionals are taking advantage of mentoring.

  • More than half, 51 percent, of the Gen Y women (females between 18-29 years old) LinkedIn surveyed noted that they are being or have been mentored by women.
  • Forty-three percent of Gen X females (women between 30-44 years old) noted that they are being or have been mentored by women.
  • Only 34 percent of Boomers (females between 45-66 years old) noted that they are being or have been mentored by women.

A Catalyst study in 2010, found that mentoring, especially from senior level mentors, led to advancement up the corporate ladder for both women and men.

High potentials with current mentoring relationships received significantly more promotions.

The important point from the Catalyst study was that those high potentials with mentors at the CEO or senior executive level, or whose mentors were at higher levels than they were (i.e., supervisor level or above) received more promotions.

Women who had mentors at the top got promoted at the same rate as men who had mentors at the top.

Men were more likely to choose higher level mentors who advocated for them within the organization and acted as sponsors. These men, therefore, were more likely to get promoted. The women who had mentors at a lower level within the organization did not receive the same sponsorship and thus, were not able to advance their careers to the same degree as the men.

In their survey, LinkedIn also asked the women who had never mentored another professional why, and sixty-seven percent of those respondents said they have never been mentors because, “no one ever asked”.

If you are serious about your career consider finding a mentor.Think strategically about your career goal and choose a mentor who can best help you advance your career and who has the ability to sponsor you within the organization and then ASK!