Mentorship programs help you grow faster and help you achieve more than if you were to do it on your own. A mentor is an industry expert that helps to guide you in achieving your career goals.
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Do you think you might need mentorship? Isn’t that something only old people want? I mean, don’t you just know enough - right now - to do what you need to do? Who needs teachers and mentors when you’ve already got Google, Facebook, and Twitter? Well, as it turns out; we all do. Mentorship helps guide you on a path of learning, improving skills, and making yourself a valuable asset.
Your mentor doesn't need to teach you anything; instead, ask questions that will help you reach your own conclusions about how best to navigate work and life. In this article, I have highlighted 10 questions that will lead to a productive mentorship discussion.
1. “What do you wish someone had asked you when you were just starting out in your field?”
This is a great question because it gives your potential mentor an opportunity to reflect on what he or she might have done differently if given the chance. It's also highly personal, which will help break the ice between the two of you, thereby leading to a productive mentorship conversation.
2. “When did you first realize that you wanted to work in this industry?”
It's not uncommon for someone to end up in an industry without realizing it was what they wanted to do. Many people start out somewhere and then realize later that they want to be elsewhere. This is why this question is so important. It helps you understand how your mentor found themselves in the career path that they are on. If your mentor knew from the start exactly what they wanted, it may give you insight as to how to figure out what you want.
If your mentor was working in a different industry or role before switching over to the one they're in now, ask them about their previous roles. How did those jobs prepare them for their current ones? What skills did they gain from them? If you've never considered transitioning into a different field, this conversation might help you see how doing so might be beneficial to you.
3. “What was the first thing you learned about this industry or job?”
During a mentorship conversation, a mentor is likely to respond to this with a good story. You might learn something about your industry or the job in general, how things have changed over the years, or why they decided to pursue the career path they did. In turn, this can help you better understand why you're pursuing this field and advice on how to be successful doing so. Asking them what they wish they knew when they started can help set realistic expectations for yourself and show you how far your mentor has come since then.
4. “What is your favorite part of your job/industry? What do you most enjoy doing every day?”
This will give you an insight into what a typical day looks like and what people really enjoy about their job. In addition, it helps you narrow down your own position preferences and goals, and can help you find out more about the paths people have taken to their current positions.
5. “How does this industry define success?”
Is it money? A leadership position? Making an impact? Once you know how others are defining success, it's easier to think about how to get there yourself. You want to know where you're starting from and what you're working towards before you get into the nitty-gritty of networking, experience, and the job market. That way, you can tailor your efforts toward what's actually valued by those in the industry. Not only could this question be answered differently by people in different industries, but it could even be answered differently by different people within the same industry.
6. “What is the biggest lesson you've learned so far in this industry?”
This question shows a mentor that you're not only aware of the challenges of the job, but you're interested in learning more.
7. “Under what circumstances have your career goals changed over time?”
Everyone's path is different, but it's important to understand why someone chose one career over another. What was the most difficult choice you've had to make? Under what circumstances have your career goals changed over time? These questions open up a conversation that allows you to get a deeper understanding of someone's personal and professional life.
8. “Are there any skills or techniques that made a huge difference in helping you with this job and that not many people know about or use?”
This is the kind of question that can help you develop a skill set that not many people have. A mentor who's been doing their job for a long time will know all the tricks and shortcuts that make it easier to do their job well. They'll also be able to point out some things that they know don't work and can help you avoid wasting time on them.
If your mentor is willing to show you how they do their favorite techniques, even better! You can ask them to walk you through the steps they take when they want to do something specific or get a certain result. Asking them to explain what they're doing as they go along can be particularly helpful.
9. “How do you handle burnout at work? / What has helped you stay motivated over the years?”
Asking about burnout and motivation forces mentors to stop and think about their own lives for a second. It's one of those areas people don't always pay attention to but can have a huge impact on career trajectory. And because it's so personal, it can make for some of the most interesting conversations.
There are two approaches to this question: One is asking an executive who has been in their position for many years how they've managed to stay motivated over time, says Travis Bradberry, President, and Co-Founder of TalentSmart. The other is asking someone who has recently transitioned into a new role what strategies they used to get themselves excited about the change, which could also be useful for someone going through something similar.
10. “If I wanted to make my own way into this field, what would be some good places to start (after college)? What opportunities should I pursue, and which ones should I ignore? How can I get involved before graduation if I'm interested in learning more about this field of work/industry?”
Asking these questions will also help you get to know your mentor better and learn about their career path and experiences. You can start using their advice and experiences as a guide for what you should do next. You can learn about the most useful and relevant job opportunities for an entry-level candidate by asking such questions.
Conclusion
Successful mentorship relationships are formed when there is a great level of communication between the mentor and mentee. Mentors want to know that their advice will be taken seriously and mentees want to know that their hard work isn't in vain. In short, both parties need to know that they're adding value to one another's lives so they can build a stronger relationship than ever before. But what happens when you and your mentor have different opinions? What if you feel like the relationship is starting to stall? Well, the key here is communication.
Open lines of communication provide opportunities for conversations that are challenging and educational at the same time. If you don't know where to start or you're not sure if you're on the right track, you can use this article as a reference point.
