Best Questions to Ask Your Mentor

Mentoring is a tricky path for both the mentee and the mentor. Apart from expertise in the areas in question, this relationship requires trust and mutual empathy. Women tend to be more delicate and may simply fail to open up to a mentor if they are not a match. Sometimes, it is easier for women to confide in a female mentor rather than a male one. 

In this blog, we will review specific and good questions you can ask your mentor through the example of female mentorship.

Best Questions to Ask Your Female Mentor Offered by Miranna

There is no one-size-fits-all method for mentoring relationships; each one is unique. Think about questions that you believe will lead to a fruitful mentoring relationship and feel right for you. However, we've compiled a list of tips and ideas to get you going.  

So you found your mentor-to-be and scheduled a meeting. Your appointment is in 30 minutes, and the pressure is real. You checked your hair and camera settings, but the question remains: is this female mentor your perfect match for helping you shape your future and boosting your career development? 

We framed some questions you can ask your mentor to make the most of your meeting and see if you two can be a great team.

First Steps

Clearly, asking questions that center around the main areas you wish to improve is paramount. Inquire about your mentors' experiences, triumphs and setbacks, and the knowledge they have acquired throughout the journey. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be ready to see if you are a match.

What about less obvious inquiries? Read our blog to find out more!

Our Killer List of out-of-the-Box Questions

These may seem uncommon, but consider them your secret weapon for bonding with your mentor.

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What do you do in your spare time?

Go personal. Does your mentor have a goldie, a gym membership, or a Japanese food addiction? Most people seeking advice never bother to establish a sincere rapport. By collecting such feedback, you will be able to provide your mentor with tips on dog training, magazine clippings for passion projects, or recipe ideas. 

Is there anything I can help you with?

Most mentors are caught off guard by this question. What they can learn from a mentor is the main concern of most mentees. You will distinguish yourself greatly from others when you deliver a message that you are truly willing to give. In the end, a win-win deal works for everyone. 

Which professional associations do you belong to?

Attending relevant conferences and meet-ups is crucial for becoming a rising star in any industry. With the proper guidance, you can identify the top candidates and, with any luck, gain entry to exclusive invite-only insider groups.

How did you learn to handle failures?

Our career paths and private lives are a sequence of ups and downs seasoned by challenges. It is crucial to embrace your failures and feel you are not alone in losing your battles occasionally.

Given the gender gap in the industry, particularly among leadership, how did you achieve your level of success?

As weird as it may sound in our seemingly tolerant world, this issue still exists. Women often lack confidence in their professional and leadership skills and apply for their dream job only if they are 100% qualified. Men are less relaxed while advancing their careers. Female mentors who empower other women to chase their professional dreams are priceless.

In the past, did you envision your career as it actually is now?

Career goals do change as we progress; however, it is curious to know if your mentor kept following her guiding light all the way or shifted the course at some point due to specific reasons. After all, consistency matters, but flexibility is often the key to success.

How did you end up in your current role?

If you see your female mentor as a professional or personal role model, you should know which skills or strategies led her to her modern-day position. Some meaningful insights are guaranteed.

How did you manage to juggle your career and motherhood? 

Managing a family and a career can be difficult. Women are more likely than men to encounter career setbacks related to family, particularly parenthood. 

How can I prepare for our meetings?

Your mentor might have certain expectations of you doing part of the work yourself. And it makes sense! Mentoring is a two-way road; you two need to meet each other halfway. So it’s best to arrange your modus operandi in advance.

So, last but not least, below are the best practices for creating a fruitful mentor-mentee rapport:  

• scheduling regular talk sessions, 
• communicating honestly and openly about your expectations and objectives, fostering a respectful environment, 
• paying close attention to what your partner is saying and giving honest feedback, 
• maintaining consistency in your approach, 
• expressing gratitude for their efforts.

Conclusion

It takes a lot of work to come up with questions for your mentor. Remember that feeling awkward or vulnerable when getting to know your mentoring partner is normal. However, establishing a mentally safe space and developing a rapport with your mentor partner is essential. We hope this blog will help you with this challenging matter.