Some people go through education and work never getting a mentor. They are just a face in the back of the class, making up the numbers. Other people can't make

Some people go through education and work never getting a mentor. They are just a face in the back of the class, making up the numbers. Other people can't make a step through life without having a quality mentor who wants to nurture them on to bigger and better things. It is a bit like having people that are sexually attractive or not. Some people have no problems finding a partner, to be pestered wherever they go. Others can go their whole life without anyone expressing an interest. Due to human nature we don't tell the less desirable amongst us the awful truth that they are 'ugly/dull/boring/whatever' because we don't want to or need to hurt their feelings. In mentorship there is often no benefit to the person putting in the time and effort. That teacher isn't going to get paid more or necessarily get any other return. That person on work placement picking up a mentor during a year out from their degree isn't going to return to the company doing the placement so there is no point in overly investing in them - but mentorship happens. There are advantages in having mentors but there is also freedom in not having mentors or attracting them. I also think that a formal, official mentor is never going to be a real mentor. The best mentors don't set out with prior experience and training in 'being a mentor' to mentor someone, it just happens. Sometimes it can only be after the fact that mentorship is recognised, a boss could be a boss whilst working for them but only later in another life chapter can the true extent of the working relationship be recognised. Equally, someone doing the mentoring might not realise that is what they are doing. It can be an accidental thing. Imagine some loser kid who is an embarrassment to their mother and an academic loser joins a team for some work experience. They might get babysat by someone that has a hands-off approach, not into disciplining their charge. The change from fear of punishment and retribution to just having the space to do stuff professionally might make all the difference for the previously written off junior hire to flourish. The babysitting employee might not be trying to be a role model and great mentor but they could be perceived to be those things by their underling. This does not do anything to answer your question, however, some people will naturally attract great mentors at every step of their development, others will go through life never finding anyone wanting to mentor them. My only advice is to change the variables, e.g. to do a new job or course, then show enthusiasm and confidence.