Suggested topics for
discussion with
your mentee
THIRD AND FOURTH MEETINGS
UNDERSTANDING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Entering the workforce
Share the experience of your first job
How did you find the transition from university to full-time work?
Share some tips and insights on the best way to write a CV and prepare for a job interview
FIRST AND SECOND MEETINGS – BUILDING RAPPORT
Discuss your background
Share your current role and career path to date – discuss key tasks and duties of your current role
Share your own experience of university
Did you balance study with a part-time job?
How should students make the most of university? Are joining clubs and societies a good idea?
Is studying abroad beneficial?
Ask your mentee what they find challenging about university
EXPLORE YOUR MENTEE’S CURRENT CAREER GOALS
Discuss the expectations of their future career within a particular field or fields
Discuss specialisations and job opportunities for new graduates
Discuss industry trends and areas experiencing growth
Is your mentee looking to apply for an internship or graduate role in the future?
Working life
Share your day-to-day experience of working life including how many hours you work, how
demanding your job is and its major challenges and benefits
Discuss how you manage work/life balance
Discuss career opportunities and share some insights of promotion and career progression
Are you a member of any professional associations in your field?
Discuss the realities of applying study to work situations. Do you have any examples of a work
project that was vastly different to what you’d come to expect from university study?
FINAL MEETINGS – NETWORKING FOR THE FUTURE
Building a professional network
Discuss the importance of maintaining professional networks. How has networking assisted you
in your career? Provide examples.
What is effective networking? What are some of the essential skills required to network
successfully?
What should you do after meeting someone? What are the next steps after a networking event?
Consider online networking such as LinkedIn.