Mentorship is a time-honored tradition that can help to move your career in the right direction. It can also be immensely helpful when clearing up your misconceptions and having an intellectual sparring partner. If you’re unsure about what mentorship is, here are some of its benefits:

Mentorship is a positive force that moves you forward.

If you’re at a career crossroads, don’t try to make up your mind about what direction to take. The key is to find someone who can help you make the right decision. Finding a mentor will allow you to find out how your work compares to your peers and what kind of guidance will best help you reach where you want to go.

Mentoring relationships are built on trust and respect.

If you’ve made it this far, chances are you’re pretty likely to be capable of working on your own. But the fact is that nobody works in a vacuum. Even if you have all the answers to questions about what direction to take, why not ask someone who has walked the same path?

Mentorship benefits both parties.

“But I don’t know anything about mentorship,” you might protest. The truth is mentors can learn from their protégés as well. In fact, the relationship should really be seen as a symbiotic one–mentor and protégé can help each other grow in their respective fields.

Mentorship helps to scale your learning curve

Mentors are good for more than just support; they also offer the ability to learn new skills. Mention anything from writing to project management to presentation skills–and you’re bound to find a mentor who can teach you something new.

You can learn how your mentor got started.

If you’re interested in starting up your own business but don’t know how to get started, someone you trust may be able to give you the inside scoop on how they got their business off the ground. The same goes for significant career changes that involve starting your own company.

Finding a mentor takes a lot of legwork. There are many ways to go about it, but the important thing is to start searching now. You never know where you might find that perfect mentor that can help you move your career forward by leaps and bounds.