MENLO PARK, Calif. – According to a recent survey, 58% of chief financial officers polled said they have never had a mentor, either formally or informally. The survey was developed by Accountemps, a specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with more than 20 employees. Those surveyed were asked, "Have you, at any time in your career as a financial professional, had a mentor, either formally or informally?". Fifty-eight percent of CFOs polled answered that they never had a mentor while 42% said that they had. Those who answered "yes" were also asked, "Which one of the following is the single greatest benefit of having a mentor?". Thirty-five percent felt that the greatest benefit was that their mentor served as a confidant or advisor. Followed by 27% who felt that their mentor provided insight into a particular field or industry and 21% who said their mentor provided encouragement and boosted their morale. "While talent and dedication are sometimes all that are required to advance professionally, having a mentor can help pave the way to career success," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies. "The benefits of having a mentor shouldn't be underestimated, particularly for those who are just starting their careers. An experienced advisor can provide insight into office protocol and how to handle sensitive situations-areas that aren't necessarily taught in school, but are essential to career success."