Alumni Mentor Guide 2020 Alumni Mentors 2020_A5 digital_v5_single | Page 11

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 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.