Ask senior staff to designate mentoring facilitators. Good Questions to Ask a Mentor. Because of the mismatch, I'm not sure what my goals of this mentorship program could be or what kind of questions I could ask beyond the simple ones (how did you end up in your specialty, etc). Don’t put all of your expectations on one mentor to meet your needs. The 13 Must-Ask Questions for Your Mentor by John Maxwell and posted by Douglas Raine Steven Spielberg, the genius behind movies like Jaws and E.T., once said, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” I love the wisdom in that statement. As highlighted and discussed below by Anthony Tjan, CEO and founder of the venture capital firm Cue Ball, he notes, “These five questions, when asked in the order presented, … What are my research goals? Does your mentor have children, a favorite charity she supports, or an addiction to a particular Mediterranean cuisine? In my article 23 Fun Questions to Ask Your Mentor I list some questions that help lighten up the mentoring session. “The biggest question to ask a career mentor is what they think you should do. When you apply for a PhD position, it’s likely that your main concern is whether or not they accept you, but you must also think about whether the supervisor is right for you. Here’s how it works: Before every meeting with your mentor, prepare one question from each of these categories: stories, situations, self-awareness, and skill building. What questions would you add? Search or ask the scientist in advance for links/PDFs of scientific papers they have written, or news clips about their research or their area of research. Ask this question for one reason only — digging. “For mentors, the most important thing, really, is to ask questions, to be this guide on the side, rather than the sage on the stage,” she says. But before selecting a mentor, you should first do some form of self-assessment and ask yourself some questions. 12 Questions You Should Ask Your Mentor ASAP Don't waste your mentor's time--or yours. Wherever you are on your career journey, from starting a PhD to your first permanent academic post or to taking those initial tentative steps as a manager, other people have been there before and are often willing to share their valuable advice and insight. Why have a mentor? To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these key questions. Each student has also a seminar advisor who helps your student with the process, in particular with scientific writing, but typically is not an expert in the field of the student's research. What experiences does this potential mentor have that are relevant to your journey? I'm also already involved in research and don't think I have time to get involved in any more projects, so a research-mentor relationship isn't likely. Getty Images. It’s best to find more than one mentor and capitalise on their individual strengths. Survey Research; Constructing the Survey; Question Content; Question Content. Therefore it is useful to have questions that you could ask should this moment arise. Explain what position you are in, and leave out all the fluff about how awesome you are. Approach the relationship with realistic expectations. Ask all the questions you can think of! Related: Research Assistant Resume Samples These types of questions can be difficult to ask. 10 objective survey questions you must ask your mentors and mentees: (1) What’s your name? Provide training and recognition for the mentoring facilitators. Ask your potential mentor if he or she can make time for an hour meeting with you. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself and your mentor some tough questions. This question is about expected research progress, and how your future advisor may judge if you are thriving or struggling (especially during evaluation periods). Write questions to ask your mentor about each topic and script your next meeting. We suggest you ask some--or all--of the following questions when you meet with a potential mentor. Here is a simple, but extraordinary, list of questions to use when talking with your mentor. Make sure they have a true understanding of your business and look them dead in the eyes with open ears. Here are some fun, quirky questions to break the ice and get to know a different side of your mentor, one that might not be immediately apparent in his or her professional persona. Here’s how to do it. 15 Top Questions to Ask Someone about Their Career Path. But setting up appointments with all the friends, professional acquaintances and corporate executives you can is just the first step. • What are his/her authorship practices? • How does the mentor describe his/her mentoring and managing style? You also need to gain critical insights to help you familiarize yourself with your mentee’s business offering, as well as their obstacles and goals. Questions to ask a potential supervisor before starting your PhD. How involved will the mentor be with you and your project? But sometimes you really want to go deep with the questions you ask your mentor. Research assistants perform several vital tasks on the job, so preparing for the interview to demonstrate their qualifications for the role is vital. (Read more below to find out how to create and crosscheck your questions.) Did my undergraduate degree prepare me for grad school and this program specifically? What to ask your mentor? Questions to Ask a Potential Mentor • What are the mentor’s expectations (duties, research project, timeline, meetings, work hours, etc.)? For some people, a mentor is someone who gives you the occasional helpful tip. While creating questions specifically for your panel is the very best way to make your discussion unique and engaging, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. Do form a relationship with them, and use the opportunity to gain valuable insight into teaching and your own practice. A mentor can be many things. Consider naming them, and listing some specific questions you’re wrestling with that they might be able to help answer. For others, it’s a person who provides support, knowledge and motivation. By June Gruber, Jay J. Don’t bombard your cooperating teacher with all 25 questions while they’re trying to grab lunch and make copies all at the same time! Is the Question Necessary/Useful? 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