This is a safe space and a two-way learning street. In some cases, the mentor might come from a different field or the mentor may be younger, but think about this primarily as a way of forming a new connection and learning about someone else’s career.
30 minutes fly by fast! Here is a suggested framework to prepare for your conversation and navigate it.
Before the meeting–
The onus is on the mentee to coordinate the meeting and send the invite. Be sure to e-mail each other your time zone, availability, LinkedIn profile, and decide on meeting logistics- whether it’s in person or over phone.
We encourage mentees to write down 3 questions to ask of their mentor.
During the meeting–
Here are some sample questions to ask of your mentor.
(1) Background and Career Progression: What’s your background and current job functions? What was your career progression like (overall and at your company)?
(2) Skills & Fit: How did you know this role was a fit for you? What did you major in and why? Which skills (professional or hard skills) are crucial to be the most effective in your current role?
(3) Challenges at work: Have you ever felt “stuck” in your career? How did you get “unstuck”?
(4) Career Learnings: What sort of practices, projects and opportunities did you take on to set you up for success in your career? What advice would you give to your 22-year old self?
After the meeting–
Here is a template to thank your mentor. You'll be way ahead of the game and they'll feel encouraged to further invest in your success.
“Hi _______,
Thank you so much for your time and advice today. I’m really glad we got the opportunity to connect through the #Mentor100kWomen campaign!
Here are some of my takeaways from our phone conversation today:
*X
*Y
*Z
Thanks again and I look forward to staying in touch! Will keep you posted :).
Warmly,
X”
