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Do you have a mentor? If you are like most college students, you are missing out on this essential and pivotal relationship that can jump start your career.

A mentor is a person who has been where you want to be and is willing to help you get there. Mentors provide a listening ear, practical advice, support, and encouragement. Mentorships can be formal, through school and work, or they can be casual, through personal or social connections. How ever you find a mentor, it is important to have one on your side.

If you don’t already have a mentor, here are four ways to find one.

1. Inquire with your school’s Student Services Department. Many schools have formal mentorship programs that pair students with working professionals in students’ fields of interest.
2. If you are employed, inquire with your Human Resources Department. Many workplaces have mentoring programs that match young workers with more tenured employees.
3. Ask your favorite professors if they would be interested in mentoring you. Be specific about what you would like to gain from a mentoring relationship.
4. If you are pursuing a CPA designation, apply to become a mentee with the MICPA Mentorship Program. In this program, experienced and emerging leaders who have already earned their CPA licenses provide advice specific to passing the CPA exam.

A mentoring relationship doesn’t have to take much time. Mentor-mentee meetings typically take place about once a month for an hour or so. This small investment can pay huge dividends down the road. A study conducted by the consulting company, Gartner, in 2006, found that people who had mentors were five times more likely to have been promoted and 25% more likely to have received a raise. With results like that, you can’t afford not to have a mentor.