Integrating social exchange theory and socioanalytic theory, this study examines the roles of employee performance and perspective taking in the supervisory career mentoring (SCM) employees receive, which is vital for their career development. We propose that perspective taking captures an important relational factor in the process of protégé selection, a factor which will not only have an incremental effect in predicting SCM above and beyond the contribution of employee performance but will also strengthen the positive effect of employee performance. The results from a multi- source multi-wave field study and an experimental study indicate a positive effect of perspective taking, and a positive moderating effect on the relationship between employee performance and SCM. In addition, from a social exchange perspective, the study finds that cost-benefit analysis mediates the main effects and the interactive effects on SCM. Thus, the paper highlights the importance of combining employee ‘getting ahead’ and ‘getting along’ attitudes in understanding the protégé selection process. The paper concludes with theoretical and practical implications.