Guiding Questions

Here are some guiding and questions to discuss with each other

Icebreakers that you can begin with

At the beginning of a mentorship relationship, it is a good idea to start to get to know each other by asking questions like "What made you decide you wanted to pursue this as a career?" or "What was your first job like?". Here are some topics to explore.

• How do you stay productive, and how do you maintain a work-life balance?
• What were the career path options when you began your journey? 
• What made you choose this career, and would you do anything differently looking back on your academic journey?

Skill Related Topics

These topics and questions can be about technical and soft skills, problem-solving abilities, or industry-specific knowledge. 

• What soft skills are the most important in industry? 
• What skill(s) should I look to grow the most in the next three to six months? 
• How do I improve my leadership qualities before getting into the industry?

Career related Topics

These are topics like career goals, advancement opportunities, and strategies for professional growth.

• How do you navigate going from academia to industry? 
• How did you set goals for yourself once in a job?
• How do you handle disagreements with a colleague or teammate