questions to ask potential research mentor

Tips for Meeting with a Potential Mentor

In contacting a potential mentor, you should be prepared to convince the mentor that you are right for a position in their group and determine if the opportunity is right for you.

The way in which you approach a potential mentor will have a great deal of impact on whether you end up being recommended by the mentor to join their group. There are two key things you need to do in order to make a positive impression: (1) provide information about yourself, and (2) learn something about the research topic in advance of making first contact.

Providing information about yourself is relatively easy. Useful information includes class level, major, GPA, relevant courses taken, and any prior experience. If you have a resume available, this is very helpful. Learning something about the topic is a bit harder, but a little effort can go a long way. Take the time to browse through the mentor's website and look for any relevant publications authored by the mentor. Sometimes journal articles are posted directly on the website, or you can use the Web of Science library search to find articles on the topic written by the mentor.

Once you have collected the information about yourself and about the research topic, you are ready to contact the potential mentor. The best way to begin is by sending an email message introducing yourself and explaining why you are interested in the topic. This would also be an appropriate time to set up an appointment to meet or for a telephone or Zoom interview to discuss the research opportunity. You might also request additional references or websites you can read prior to your appointment.

The first meeting with a potential mentor is very important, whether you do it in person (the best way), or by e-mail, phone, or video conferencing. Plan to spend some time with this step. Don't wait until the last minute to begin this process.

This is your opportunity to find out what the project will be, why it is important, and how you might approach it. It is also your chance to find out what it will be like to work in the research group. If you have not previously done research, the interview should help you form your expectations about what the mentor wants from you and what you want from the experience. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your experience will be enhanced if you spend some time in this initial, vital step!!

And now, on to the first meeting.

We suggest you ask some--or all--of the following questions when you meet with a potential mentor. You will impress the mentor and help them think more deeply about your project. These questions are general guidelines; they are not a checklist. Ask all the questions you can think of! After you talk to your mentor, think about the discussion, and then go back and ask more questions.

Try to find out in detail what this project is. What is the science? What is expected? What led to this question? Ask for more articles or literature references about the project, especially articles by the mentor or members of the research group. Then read the articles and ask questions for clarification or further information.

What specific tasks are required to do this project? What course background or skills do you need to do it? What is the likelihood of completing this project in ten weeks? What equipment will you need to use? When will it be available to you? Will you work on this project? Or will you work on something different? Ask whether you are a strong candidate for this project. (If you are not, you may want to talk to other prospective mentors.)

Who will supervise you? Will you have a co-mentor, a grad student? Have they been informed you will work in the lab? How many other students have they supervised? How much supervision will they be willing to provide? Ask to meet the co-mentor (if it is not the faculty member or JPL staff member), and ask them the same questions. When your mentor/co-mentor is not available, who else can answer questions or help you?

What is it like to work in this laboratory? Are students welcome at group meetings? When are meetings? Seminars? Journal clubs? Could you start to attend group meetings now as your time permits? Will you get a chance to present your work to the group during the summer? Can you get a brief tour of the lab? When do people work?

Read, note, and inwardly digest the information you get as you ask these questions. Consider the mentor's responses--do they eagerly answer your questions? If they seem hurried or distracted, ask whether there would be a better time to discuss a possible project. When you have given thought to the project and your interview, go back and ask more questions about the project; dig more deeply into the science. After you think about your interview, consider whether you want to work with this person on this project for ten weeks. If the answer to that is "no," you may want to start the process with another potential mentor.

Interview guidelines were prepared by Carolyn Ash, Quondam Director, Student-Faculty Programs.

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• Preparing for the First Meeting

Your first meeting with a potential research mentor is an opportunity for you to learn more about a faculty members research interests, ongoing projects, any collaborators or graduate students or other faculty they work with, and what expertise and guidance they may give you in a potential research project. For the potential faculty mentor, the first meeting is a time for them to learn more about you, your motivations, your intellectual interests, and how they can be most helpful to you. Before you head into your first meeting with a potential faculty mentor, consider the following:

Prepare ahead of time Read up on the faculty member's most currently published papers or summaries of their work and reflect why the work is interesting, what you’d like to learn, and what ideas you also might have to contribute to the work. Sketch out a short agenda (for yourself) outlining the important points you’d like to make or questions you’d like to ask.

Potential Questions to Ask :

• Can you tell me more about your project on ...?
• How can I learn more about this topic? Are there papers or courses I should take to prepare myself?
• How do students typically get involved in research in your field?
• What would independent research look like in this field?
• Have you mentored undergraduates on independent research projects before? If so, how did they prepare for starting an independent research project under your guidance?
• What would a research assistantship for you entail? What are your expectations for a research assistant (time commitment, relevant skills)?
• What are your expectations of a thesis writer? (How often do thesis writers check in with you?)
• Are there any opportunities for me to get involved in research under your guidance or with your graduate student mentees or postdocs?

During the meeting Take notes and ask questions. Don’t be afraid of concepts that may come up on in conversation that are unfamiliar to you. Show your interest and curiosity for what they do, which will provide context for you to describe your interests in working with them. 

Post-meeting Review the notes you took during your first meeting. If you were seeking a faculty mentor for an independent research project, think about their research and expertise, their communication style and how they might be helpful. Keep in mind that a potential faculty mentor’s interests may not directly align to your own. if you feel that they have given you substantial information to consider and if you enjoyed the conversation and feel comfortable seeking their advice, they may a make good mentor for your research. If you are seeking additional expertise or other guidance, it is also okay to have additional mentors or advisors in the wings. Follow up with a thank you email, acknowledge that you have read papers that they have recommendeded, and ask what next steps there may be if you are interested working more closely going forward.

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How to Find, Approach, and Interview Potential Faculty Mentors

Postdoc appointments at Stanford are initiated by an offer from a faculty member. Selecting the best faculty mentor requires thought and investigation. Consider the following guidelines:

Start with your research interests and career aspirations.

What are your research interests? Your career aspirations? What excites you in your research field? Can you identify a productive research area that fits your values and career plans? Who is engaged in research that is complementary to your interests? Do you have geographical limitations?

What kind of mentor best fits your needs?

Famous mentors have connections and resources but may travel a lot and have big labs. Up-and-coming mentors may be in the lab every day but may still be developing resources. Do you prefer hands-on guidance or a more removed mentoring approach? Are they nurturing? Is that important to you? Are they collaborative? Competitive? What kind of connections do they have in academia? In industry? Where have former postdocs from that lab ended up? Read their work and work from their lab widely and critically.

Approaching potential mentors:

Introduce yourself via a succinct cover letter or email.

• The story of your current research (question, approach, results, and significance)
• Your career goals, your plan to achieve them, and how a postdoc position in that lab fits into that plan
• Your postdoc project interests (be creative!) and proposed approach
• A description of how this collaboration is a great match

Preparing for the interview:

Read up on the field in general, read the last several papers from the group, and research their current interests and projects. Think about the lab’s ongoing work. Conceive of complementary projects that aren’t in their current inventory. Prepare a 30-minute talk in advance; in this talk make it clear why you did what you did and the foundation of that work. Be prepared to answer some hard questions - don’t be defensive; discussing and defending your work is part of the process.

Questions to ask current/past group members (be selective, the focus should be on your science):

About them: Ask about their science and the lab environment.

About the PI:

• Is the PI a micro-manager?
• How often do you meet?
• Are they available for guidance?
• Do they play favorites?
• Are lab meetings confrontational or supportive?
• How responsive are they with manuscripts and deadlines?
• How is authorship/project ownership handled?
• About opportunities: Are there opportunities to teach/mentor? Leadership development?
• About the lab environment: What is the lab work ethic? What is the time off with pay policy in practice? Is there encouragement/financial support to attend major meetings? Who represents the groups at department functions? Is there formalized, regular feedback? How long do postdocs usually stay?

Questions to ask the faculty mentor:

What are the mentor’s expectations of a postdoc? How is a postdoc’s research program determined? How many postdocs has the mentor had? Where did they go? How many others are in the lab (grad students, staff, etc.)? How many papers are being published, and where? What is the mentor’s policy on travel to meetings? Are there opportunities for practice in grant writing, teaching and mentoring, oral presentations, and reviewing manuscripts? How long is financial support guaranteed? On what does renewal depend? Are there adequate research funds to support the proposed research? What is the mentor’s approach to help in finding a next position? How are projects shared?

Adapted from John Boothroyd’s “Finding the Right Postdoc for YOU,” Preparing for Faculty Careers, and “Questions to Ask When Choosing a Postdoc Advisor,” Pathways to Science.

Other Resources:

• How to Find a Mentor and Lab (Stanford Biosciences)
• Advising and Mentoring : the value of multiple mentors (Stanford Biosciences)
• Quintessential Careers : how to find a good mentor
• Council of Graduate Schools : mentoring topics for each stage of training
• How to get the mentoring you want  (University of Michigan)
• How to obtain the mentoring you need : links to other resources and guides (University of Washington)
• Stanford T32 Institutional Awards for Postdocs
• Postdoc Benefits
• Open Postdoc Positions
• Diversity in Postdoctoral Scholar Training
• Postdoc Emergency Resources
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• Budgeting for Fellowships

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50 Essential Questions to Ask a Mentor

Mentors can be invaluable resources for advice and guidance in our lives, whether we need help navigating difficult professional situations or looking for direction in achieving our personal goals. Finding the right mentor can be a challenge, but once you've identified someone who fits your needs, it can be incredibly helpful to have an expert to turn to. To ensure that your mentorship is beneficial to both parties, this article will discuss 50 essential questions to ask your mentor!

Preparing for Your First Mentorship Meeting

Setting clear goals is the first step to having a successful mentorship relationship. While you may have a general idea of what you'd like to gain from the relationship, it helps to document your individual goals and expectations before meeting with your mentor.

After setting goals for your mentorship, you'll need to find a good mentor who can help you achieve them. It's important to find someone who is experienced, knowledgeable, and willing to offer advice and guidance in your areas of interest.

Below, we share some great tips to help you find your first mentor:

1. Look for people with similar interests

Seek out individuals with shared experiences or interests you can relate to.

2. Research potential mentors

Before meeting with someone, read up on their background and accomplishments so you'll be better prepared for the conversation.

3. Ask your network

Reach out to professionals in your circle of contacts to see if they would be willing to mentor you.

4. Attend relevant conferences and events

Networking is a great way to meet potential mentors in person.

Once you've found a mentor, you'll need to prepare some questions to ask them. In the sections below, we share some great first questions to ask your mentor.

Getting to Know Your Mentor

Establishing rapport is an important part of any mentorship relationship. Asking your mentor questions about their background and experience can help you get to know them better while also helping them understand how they can best support your goals. Here is a list of questions to ask your mentor:

1. What inspired you to enter this field?

This question will help your mentor discuss their passions and motivations, which can provide valuable insights into their approach to mentoring.

2. How did you get to where you are today?

Asking this question is a great way for your mentor to discuss how they achieved success in their field.

3. What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced?

Knowing the struggles and failures that your mentor has experienced can provide valuable lessons for you.

4. What do you enjoy most about your work?

Asking this question can help open up a more personal conversation with your mentor, which can help build trust between the two of you.

5. What professional skills have been the most helpful in your journey?

Knowing the skills that are essential for success in your mentor's field can help you understand what you need to do to succeed.

6. What advice would you give to someone starting out in this field?

This question is a great way for your mentor to share their best practices and wisdom with you.

Seeking Advice and Insights

As a mentee, you'll likely be looking to your mentor for advice and insights that will help you grow in your career and life. Here is a list of questions to ask your mentor about their experience and perspectives:

1. What advice would you give to someone facing a difficult professional situation?

Knowing how your mentor has handled challenging situations in the past can help provide valuable insights into your own.

2. How do you stay motivated and productive?

Asking this question will provide useful tips on staying focused and productive in your field.

3. What strategies have you used to build successful relationships?

Learning how to build successful professional relationships is a key skill for any mentor.

4. What have been the most important lessons you've learned from your mentors?

Mentors can learn just as much from their mentees, so this question can open up a dialogue about what they've learned in their own mentorship experiences.

5. What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?

This question can help your mentor reflect on what they wish they'd known when they began their career.

These are just some general questions you can ask regarding your mentor's experience and insights. Here are some more specific questions that you can ask to gain more targeted advice.

Business Strategy and Planning

Business strategy is just as important for small business owners as it is for big corporations. Asking your mentor about their strategies and plans can give you valuable insights into how to achieve success. Some great strategic questions to ask a mentor are:

1. What key factors should I consider when formulating a business plan?

As you move along your career path or entrepreneurial journey, having a solid business plan is essential. With a mentor, you can cut out a lot of guesswork and get their advice on key factors to consider.

2. How do you recommend identifying and evaluating potential business opportunities?

Knowing how to recognize and assess potential business opportunities can help you maximize your success.

3. What strategies do you suggest for effective goal setting and execution?

Setting and executing goals play a central role in the success of any business or individual. Asking your mentor this question will provide you with valuable advice on how to plan effectively and achieve success.

Marketing and Sales

In this highly competitive world, every professional should learn how to market themselves and their products or services. Asking your mentor about marketing and sales strategies can help you gain valuable insights into how to stand out from the crowd. Here are some specific questions to ask:

1. What do you think is the most efficient way to promote yourself or a product?

Knowing which methods work best for marketing and sales will give you an edge in this competitive world.

2. How do you approach market research and identifying target customers?

Market research and understanding your target customer base are essential components of any successful business. 

3. What marketing strategies have been successful for you in the past?

Asking your mentor this question will provide you with valuable insights into the strategies they have used to successfully market their product or service. 

4. Can you provide guidance on building a strong brand and effective sales strategies?

Developing a successful brand and creating effective sales strategies are essential for any business. 

Financial Management

Your finances are an important factor in achieving success, both personally and professionally. Discussing financial management with your mentor can help you understand how to maximize the success of your business. Here's a list of questions to ask:

1. How should I approach financial planning and budgeting for my business?

Most newcomers in an industry often find it challenging to plan and budget for their business. Asking this question can provide valuable insights for getting started on the right foot. 

2. What metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) should I focus on?

There are various metrics and KPIs that can help you measure the success of your business. Some of the ones you should ask more about include profit and revenue, customer lifetime value (CLV), and customer acquisition cost (CAC). 

3. What advice do you have for raising capital and securing funding for a startup?

If you've ever tried to raise funds for a venture before, you know how difficult it can be. This question can provide useful insights into what financial strategies you should pursue in order to secure the resources you need. 

4. How do you make sure that your spending is in line with your goals?

This question is key to understanding how to ensure your spending aligns with your business goals. With the help of your mentor, you can learn strategies for staying on budget and investing wisely. 

Overcoming Challenges and Obstacles

At the start of your entrepreneurial or career journey, you're definitely going to face some challenges and obstacles . Asking your mentor about how they have handled difficulties in the past can provide you with valuable perspectives on how to overcome any sort of hurdle. Here are some questions to ask:

Dealing with Failure and Setbacks

1. what have been the most valuable lessons you've learned from your mistakes.

Understanding what you learn from mistakes and setbacks is essential for growth. Your mentor can provide great insights into how they've grown from their own missteps.

2. What advice do you have for bouncing back from failure and staying motivated?

There are times when it can be difficult to stay motivated and keep going. Your mentor's advice on how they overcame such situations can help you get back in the saddle. 

3. What strategies have you used to stay flexible and nimble when dealing with unexpected circumstances?

Unexpected events are a part of life, so knowing how to handle them is essential for success. Asking your mentor this question can help you stay prepared for any eventuality.

4. Can you share a specific example of how you turned a challenging situation into an opportunity?

Knowing what specific challenges to expect in your industry can be incredibly helpful. With this, you can steer clear of potential pitfalls and capitalize on opportunities. 

Balancing Work and Personal Life

Let's face it: the lines between personal life and work can become blurred, especially when you're starting out in a new venture. Your mentor has probably faced this situation before and can give you valuable advice on how to manage work-life balance. Here are a few mentorship questions to ask:

1. How do you manage work-life balance as an entrepreneur?

This is a key question to ask your mentor, as they can provide invaluable advice on how to juggle work and personal life.

2. What strategies do you suggest for setting boundaries between work and home?

Setting boundaries between working time and leisure time can be difficult. Your mentor's advice on this matter will help you keep your sanity in check.

3. How do you handle stress and avoid burnout in your entrepreneurial journey?

Burnout is a terrible thing to experience and can have dire repercussions for your business. Asking your mentor how they manage stress and avoid burnout will help you stay energized. 

Career and Self Development

Continuous progression and self-development are essential for success. Below, we share some questions to ask your mentor about career development and success.

1. What books, courses, or other resources have been most useful in helping you develop as a professional?

Knowing what sources of knowledge to explore can be immensely helpful. Asking this question can provide some great ideas for self-development.

2. Do you think I am on the right track and making progress?

Routinely asking questions like this will help you stay on track and identify areas for improvement. 

3. Am I communicating enough with you?

If you feel like you're not getting enough guidance from your mentor, it's important to let them know and ask for more feedback. 

4. Do you have any advice on how I can best utilize my time and resources?

Knowing how to use your available time and resources most effectively is key to success.

5. Is there any other way you think we could communicate more effectively?

Effective communication is essential for a successful mentor-mentee relationship. Asking your mentor this question will help you ensure that you are both on the same page and making progress. 

6. How do I become better at negotiating?

Negotiation is a key skill required in any business. Some common questions to ask your mentor include: What tactics have you used for successful negotiations? What strategies do you use when faced with a difficult negotiation? And how do you ensure that both parties come away from the negotiation feeling satisfied? 

7. What do you think are the most important traits of a successful entrepreneur?

Asking this question can provide invaluable insights into how to develop yourself as an entrepreneur. Your mentor's answers will be very useful for your own growth and development.

As you progress in your career, you'll be given more responsibility and will have to make decisions that can affect your team. Here are some of the best questions to ask a mentor about how they handle leading a team:

1. What strategies do you use for creating an effective team culture?

A successful team needs strong leadership and a supportive environment. A mentor would have great insights into how to foster these qualities in a team.

2. What techniques do you employ for motivating and inspiring your team?

A motivated team is essential for success, so it's worth consulting your mentor on the best ways to motivate them.

3. How do you handle disagreements between members of your team?

Understanding how to deal with conflicts is an important skill for any aspiring leader. Asking your mentor about this can help you avoid potential issues in the future.

4. How do you ensure that everyone on your team is engaged and productive?

Keeping the whole team focused and productive is an important part of leading a successful venture. Consulting your mentor on how they handle such situations will be incredibly useful.

5. What qualities do you look for in a successful team member?

Knowing what traits to look for when building your team is essential. Your mentor's advice on this matter can help you pick the right people for the job.

6. How do you handle difficult conversations and give constructive feedback?

Being able to give constructive feedback is an important skill for any leader. Asking your mentor about how they handle such conversations can give you valuable insight into the best practices.

7. What was your worst leadership decision?

Leadership can be a tricky path to navigate, and mistakes are inevitable. However, learning from other people's errors can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Career Paths

1. what are the first steps to changing a career.

Sometimes, you may want to make a career switch. This may be due to a change in interests or simply because you are looking for new challenges. Consulting your mentor about their experience with career changes can provide valuable advice on how to make the switch as seamlessly as possible.

2. How can I combine my interests or passions at work?

Combining your passions with work can be incredibly fulfilling. Your mentor's advice on how to do this will help you make the most of the opportunities available to you.

3. How do I transition into a management role?

Moving into a management role is an exciting step for any entrepreneur, but it also requires a lot of skill and experience. So you should probably ask your mentor about their experience transitioning into a managerial role.

4. How do I develop my network and get the most out of it?

Having a strong network is essential for career progression, so asking questions about how to build and use that network can be extremely beneficial.

5. What do you think are the key qualities of successful leaders?

Knowing what qualities to possess in order to become a successful leader is invaluable advice, particularly for those aspiring to move up the ladder. Your mentor's experience and insights here will be immensely useful.

6. How can I become more proactive about my career path?

Proactivity is key to career progression. Asking your mentor about their own experiences in this regard can provide some great advice for you to follow.

7. How can I incorporate meaning into my career?

This is a good career path question to ask your mentor. Seeking out meaningful work is important for any professional. Consulting your mentor about their own experiences in this area can be hugely beneficial.

Having a mentor is an invaluable asset that can help you progress in your career. And so far, we've discussed 50 questions to ask a mentor. With these questions, you'll be well-prepared to make the most of your mentorship and gain valuable knowledge from your mentor. All that's left now is to ask away!

Remember to reflect on what your mentor tells you and use it to help guide you in your entrepreneurial journey. Also, make sure to thank them for taking time out of their day to help you grow as a professional. Your appreciation will go a long way! Plus, don't forget to keep up with your mentor by sending regular updates and maintaining open communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how to ask for mentorship.

Asking for mentorship can be intimidating, especially if you are new to the field. Remember to make your request as specific as possible and provide an overview of what you hope to gain from the relationship. If appropriate, offer something in exchange, such as help with their own work,

2. What Are The Benefits Of Having A Mentor?

Mentors provide invaluable advice and insights that can help you grow both professionally and personally. They can be a trusted source of support, encouragement, and guidance as you progress in your career. Additionally, having a mentor often gives you access to increased opportunities and resources.

3. How Often Should You Meet With Your Mentor?

This depends on the type of mentorship you have established, but generally, it is recommended to meet with your mentor at least once a month. It is also important to keep communication open between meetings, as this will help strengthen your relationship.

4. What Are Some Good Mentee Questions?

It is important to ask your mentee the right questions so that you can better understand their goals and how you can help them achieve them. Some good questions to ask are:

• What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

• What resources or tools do you need to get there?

• What key skills would benefit your professional growth?

• What do you want to learn most from this mentorship?

• How can I help you reach your goals?

Alex Quin is a full-stack marketing expert and global keynote speaker. Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of UADV Marketing - a member of the Forbes Agency Council.

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Build relationships with mentors

Suggestions for integrating into your group and working to develop a strong relationship with your PI and daily supervisor.

Developing strong positive relationships with your PI, other research supervisors, and members of the research group will help you thrive at NIH. At the outset, it is important to clarify three functions provided by your PI and other senior leaders in your research group:

Supervision - Making sure work gets done, setting assignments, and focusing on the needs of the group.

Mentorship - Supporting the scientific, personal, and professional needs of individuals. Mentorship functions are sometimes in conflict with the overall needs of the team or supervisor; appreciating the potential for tension in these two domains is critical.

Advocacy - Speaking up on behalf of an individual in the group to support their career advancement. Advocacy generally happens later in a relationship especially as it develops in healthy ways.

Your PI and other supervisors provide all three of these functions, especially when it comes to your development as a scientist. However, one person cannot meet all of your needs and it important to cultivate relationships with other mentors and advocates. To help you build positive relationships with your PI and others who can support you, we offer guidance in four areas:

Understand and establish expectations

Guidance on what you should expect, and what is expected of you.

Integrate into your research group

Tips for success and common issues during the transition to a new work environment.

Develop a network of mentors

Advice on how to expand your mentor support system.

Where to turn when issues arise

Resources and guidance for navigating workplace conflict.

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Sep. 11, 2023

Questions for a potential advisor and their research team, by: manuel carmona pichardo. manuel explores essential questions to pose to both the principal investigator (pi) and the students in the research group before deciding to join them..

Selecting the right advisor is crucial in one's academic and professional journey. An advisor can significantly impact your research trajectory, learning experience, and overall success. To make an informed choice, it's essential to ask pertinent questions when considering a prospective advisor. Therefore, this blog delves into the key questions you should ask the prospective advisor as well as the members of the research group. I must clarify the questions are not in any specific order, and the relevance of each question will vary depending on everyone’s situation.

What is the research focus of the group?

Understanding an advisor's research focus is fundamental. The research done in the lab can be focused on a direct application (e.g., new drugs, more efficient batteries, etc.) or trying to answer fundamental questions in the field. This leads into theory development, which may lead to an application in the future. Also, asking about their current projects and the areas they specialize in is important so you can ponder how your interests align with their expertise. Enquire about their recent publications or collaborations, as this can give you insights into their dedication to staying current in their field.

What’s the availability of the PI? And how easy is it to communicate with them?  

Effective communication with your advisor is essential for a productive working relationship. Ask about their preferred communication modes, whether in-person meetings, emails, or virtual calls. Additionally, inquire about their availability and expected response time, ensuring that their availability aligns with your needs and work style.

What are the expectations and the workload for graduate students in this group?

It is essential to notice that each advisor's expectations can differ; therefore, clearly understanding their expectations and anticipated workload is vital for managing your academic commitments. Also, ask about the frequency of meetings, progress updates, and the level of involvement they expect in your research. This will help you gauge the advisor's approach, expectations, and involvement to determine if it fits your preferred working style.

What is the average time students take to graduate in this group?

Enquiring about the average time it takes for students under the advisor's supervision to complete their degrees will give you a sense of their track record in supporting students toward graduation. Additionally, ask about their support regarding funding opportunities, resource access, and assistance publishing your research. Also, there are some cases where certain achievements, such as having a certain number of publications, are required for the advisor to approve or allow the student's graduation. 

What is the mentorship style of the advisor?

Understanding the advisor's mentorship style is crucial to ensure a productive and harmonious collaboration. Ask about their approach to guiding students – do they encourage independent thinking and problem-solving, or do they prefer a more hands-on approach? It also relates to the communication question (2): In case of a problem or when you are in doubt, should you talk with them immediately, or are you free to try different solutions and solve the problem yourself? This question will help you decide how well their mentoring style aligns with your learning and work preferences.

What have been the experiences of previous students?

Speak to current group members about former students who have worked with the prospective advisor. Ask about their experiences, both positive and challenging, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of what it's like to work with this advisor. This feedback can offer valuable insights that may not be readily apparent during initial interactions.

What is the funding situation of the research group?

The lab's funding situation can directly impact your research situation and the number of available spots in the group. You must inquire about funding availability for your research and different possibilities, such as conference attendance and other academic endeavors. Understanding the group’s financial situation and the advisor’s commitment to supporting your financial needs can give you a clear idea of your future in the group and what could be expected from you and the group’s possibilities.

What long-term career guidance does the advisor offer?

An advisor should guide you through your immediate research and offer guidance on your long-term career goals. It’s relevant to inquire about their approach to mentoring students beyond graduation and how they help students navigate post-graduate career paths.

What are the group policies regarding vacations and holidays?

Taking time off and resting is critical to maintaining focus and mental health through grad school. However, each group handles vacation periods differently. Some groups tend to be more flexible, allowing you to take breaks and vacations when required, and other groups follow strict calendars, and you must request vacations with a specified amount of notice. Therefore, knowing this information before joining a group is essential to see if it aligns with your needs and work style.

What are some of the lab traditions? This is arguably the least important of the questions. Nevertheless, all groups have different traditions and shared activities, and you will be expected to participate. Also, it increases your interest in joining a lab if you enjoy partaking in the group traditions.

I hope this insight into what I believe to be the key questions you should ask the prospective advisor and the research group members can help you make a more informed decision when joining a research group.  

70 questions to ask a mentor for a great mentorship experience

Did you know? We have over 3,000 mentors available right now!

Knowing how to ask good questions to a mentor is key to a successful mentoring relationship. At MentorCruise, our mentees often wonder how to ask the right questions that will lead to meaningful exchanges between the mentee and mentor.

Did you know? We have over 2,000 mentors available right now!

After all, there are so many questions but not enough time to ask them all during mentoring sessions. Whether they’re  on mentoring topics  related to  career paths , job search,  how to ace job interviews , leadership lessons and so on, asking the right questions to your mentor is more of a skill you can improve upon with the right tips.

As a  mentorship platform , we’ve hosted so many successful mentorships. Many of them partly attribute their success to asking the right questions. As such, we’ve decided to put all their key learnings on how to ask the right questions into a guide.

You’ll learn:

• Tips on how to ask good questions to your mentor
• Topics to discuss with your mentor
• Questions your mentor could ask you
• 70 good questions to ask a mentor

7 Tips on How to Ask the Right Questions to a Mentor

Before we dive into what questions to ask a mentor, read these seven tips to get the most out of your mentor-mentee relationship:

1. Ask clear, specific questions instead of vague ones

In your mentoring questions, good questions to ask your mentor are those that are clear and relevant to the mentor’s expertise. Normally, when people look for a mentor, they’re looking for guidance to solve a specific issue in their career.

Figure this out: You’ve decided to get a mentor so that you can learn how to become a better leader. You get into the topic of public speaking because it’s been a lingering issue of yours.

Here are two examples that roughly ask the same question, but one is more specific and the other a bit vaguer:

A: “How do I become better at public speaking?”

B: “What do you do to avoid nervousness when speaking in public?”

A is an example of a bad question to ask if you want meaningful advice precisely because it’s too vague. Why is it not appropriate for a short mentoring session? Because it’s a public speaking question that requires a resounding answer to be effective.

On the other end, B asks a more specific question about nervousness when speaking in public. The mentor can give more actionable advice on this because it’s more specific. You’ve defined the problem concerning public speaking that you need mentoring with.

2. Ask questions on these key topics to get the ball rolling

Coming up with questions to ask a career mentor can be tricky. To help you out, you can try asking common mentorship questions that lead to meaningful conversation and action. For example, you can ask questions on these mentoring session topics to get to know the mentor better and initiate a good conversation:

• Expertise, career development, self-improvement, and building skills. You can ask for specific advice on how to learn and develop a skill or for actionable tactics to help surmount a particular obstacle.
• Stories. Storytelling is a craft that humans naturally gravitate to as social creatures. Relationships develop through sharing stories that help us connect with one another. This principle also applies to your mentoring relationship.
• For example, if you have a  startup mentor, you can ask this story on risk-taking : “What was that one time you took a huge risk and it paid off?” This question can give important insights and will help the mentor become more open with their feelings by telling you their personal stories.
• Situational. Ask about more specific issues regarding your career or theirs. Here’s a sample question on leadership lessons: “My boss told me to take ownership of my managerial tasks. What does that mean?”
• Here’s a question that most experienced managers will know how to answer but may still initially confuse newer ones. If your mentor is much more senior than you and has been in a position of influence, they will know how to answer this.
• Accountability. From time to time, it’s important to circle back and ensure you’re correctly following your mentor’s advice. Ask questions on improving your rapport or if you’ve been making good progress throughout this mentorship.
• Career development and growth . Knowing the next steps in your career can help you plan ahead. Talk about your personal growth and industry factors to get a robust sense of upcoming milestones.
• Career path. No career path is linear. By asking a mentor about career path questions, you can find out if you’re in the right career and how you can incorporate other interests/passions into your work.
• Leadership . Leaders are made, not born. Ask your mentor about what’s important to be a good leader and how to resolve conflicts within your teams.  Entrepreneurship  and business. Finally, starting your own business or cultivating an innovative mindset can be vital to your work. ​ Talk about good entrepreneurial habits and advice about becoming a business owner.

Of course, questions for your mentor don’t have to fit into these categories. These are simply starter topics, but you can write up your own questions to ask a  career mentor , too.

3. Avoid asking rhetorical questions and keep small talk to a minimum

Don’t force a conversation. Your first session will always be the most awkward one. You and your mentor have just met each other for the first time, so you will still need to figure out how to go about this interaction.

Instead, ask the types of questions highlighted in the second tip and be very specific in the way that you’re asking them. More often than not, these tips improve the quality of your conversations and allow you to develop deeper mentoring bonds.

In the worst-case scenario, MentorCruise allows you a 7-day free trial for first-time mentorship sessions. You can end the relationship when you’re not feeling a connection between the mentor and yourself.

4. Be prepared

The worst thing that you do in your mentoring sessions is to come in unprepared, with no specific questions to ask your mentor. This mentorship experience has been built based on your desire for self-improvement. If you don’t want to achieve your goals, then there’s no point in continuing this mentorship.

Mentorship is an investment in time and energy. Being unprepared implies you’re not interested enough to make this mentorship work. And in return, your mentor might grow to care less about your progress. After all, a great mentoring relationship is partly predicated on a mentor who wants to see you succeed, so you have to put in the hard work.

5. Use a mentoring agenda template

A mentoring agenda template is an excellent way to support you in asking the right questions, and this type of preparation shows your mentor how keen you are to succeed. During mentoring sessions, it’s easy for several questions to come to mind, and an agenda can be used as a reference to help ask questions that stay on task and leverage your time together.

You could send your agenda to your mentor before the first meeting so you arrive on the same page. Furthermore, your mentor may want to bring a schedule. If so, there’s no harm in merging the two!

A mentoring agenda template is customizable. We’ll use the mentorship action plan below as an example of how you can prepare an agenda for your mentor meetings:

6. Goal setting

When setting goals and development priorities for your action plan and mentoring agenda template, you’ll likely follow the  most effective goal-setting method : SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). SMART goals help focus your efforts and make your mentor’s job of tracking and assessing your progress easier.

Here are some high-level “Individual” and “Corporate” goal examples that would be expanded on using a goal-setting technique:

• Individual goal (long term):  A personal goal  could be to lose 100 pounds in 12 months.
• Individual goal (short-term): To achieve the long-term goal, a micro-goal could be to lose 8-9 pounds each month.
• Corporate goal (long term): Improve customer service by the end of the year. Here,  the SMART goal method  would be good for clarifying what a customer service improvement is. Thus, knowing whether the goal has been achieved or not.
• Corporate goal (short term): One way to improve customer service could be faster ticket resolution by resolving problems at the first point of contact, where possible. A short-term goal could be to ensure a 10% reduction in incident tickets going to third-line teams.

Consider the actions/activities you can incorporate into your daily routine to achieve your goals, and perhaps these ideas can be added to a “notes” section.

7. Know the mentoring session topics your mentor might discuss

For productive and flowing sessions, be prepared for some of the topics your mentor may use to initiate conversations.

Mentors know the skills they can offer you. However, they’ll need to judge how best they can use their skills to help you. They’ll discover your objectives and challenges by asking you extraordinary questions.

When you’re familiar with the types of questions your mentor may ask you, you can lightly prepare your answers and think of follow-up questions to ask them. For example, they could ask you how you overcame a challenge at work. As a follow-up question, you could ask for tips on how you can improve your method or how else you could tackle the problem.

Here are some examples of topics your mentor may discuss:

Career journey

• Did you plan your career, or did it happen naturally?
• How would you describe your dream job, and do you feel you’ve achieved it?
• If you could turn back the clock, would you choose a different career?
• How can you adopt a mindset of continuous learning?

Long-and short-term goals

• What quantitative goals do you wish to achieve within the next 1 – 6 months?
• What interested you in working with a mentor?
• What other positions are you interested in within the company?

Company related

• How do you think your role and contribution benefit the company?
• How do you consider the business could be improved through your role?
• How would you describe your company’s culture, and do you feel it resonates with you?
• What methods do you use for effective communication?
• What leadership skills do you already have?
• What leadership skills do you need to develop?
• How would you describe your leadership style?
• How do you feel about your responsibilities? Do you have any uncertainties?

Strengths and weaknesses

• Do you think your current role allows you to leverage your strengths?
• What areas of your job do you consider your weaknesses impede you?
• How do you mitigate your weaknesses?

Getting to know you

• What inspires you?
• If you could learn another professional skill unrelated to your current role, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite superhero, and why?

8. Asking questions is just the start

Having great questions to ask a mentor is just the start of a successful relationship. Your questions should lead to meaningful exchanges and guide your next steps.

In this way, use questions as a sounding board for action. From your ongoing list of  questions and mentorship topics , identify ways to build your career together.

For example, after asking your mentor questions about entrepreneurship, you might come up with a plan to build your business mindset, including leaders to follow and books to read.

Or, as part of your mentorship relationship, you might troubleshoot a current team dilemma and talk about leadership traits to cultivate this next quarter.

Finally, questions you ask a mentor about career development may lead to  actionable mentoring goals  such as improving your networking or interviewing skills.

70 Strategic Questions to Ask a Mentor

Here are boilerplate questions to consider asking a mentor during your sessions. Don’t forget to create your own twist for each question.

Remember that mentorships thrive when mentees ask specific questions instead of vague ones. These are meant to be open-ended questions that you can turn into something more specific.

And one more thing: context is key. Contextualize your questions before or after asking. This helps the mentor figure out how to give meaningful answers.

Take a look at these mentorship topics to get a better idea of what you’re interested in. You can maximize your mentorship experience by asking questions about career development, growth, leadership, career path, entrepreneurship, and more!

Without further ado, here are 70 strategic questions to ask your mentor.

Expertise, self-improvement, and building skills

• Where do you think my strengths lie in?
• How can I develop the right discipline to achieve my goals in this industry?
• What are the  necessary skills  that I should develop to rapidly grow in my career?
• What are some things in your career that you regret not having done earlier?
• How do I effectively manage my time and prioritize accordingly?
• Do you even get impostor syndrome? How did you learn to get over it?
• Did you have a hard time starting out in this industry?
• What are some hard choices that you made to get where you are in your career?
• Did you experience some major setbacks in your  business/career path ? How did you bounce back?
• What are some instances that you would have done differently?

Situational

• How do I handle this situation better?
• Do you have some  tips for networking  online? This question is even more relevant today as more companies embrace working from home.
• I feel stuck. What are some ways that I can apply to solve this issue?
• My boss and colleagues are treating me unfairly. Based on your professional experience, do you think I should move elsewhere?
• I have a job interview coming up. What are some  interview questions  and other things that I need to know about to nail it?
• Do you have any tips on improving my resumé for my job search?
• How do I prepare myself for performance reviews?

Accountability

• What would you like to see me do every week to show that I’m improving throughout this mentoring program?
• Am I progressing in the right direction through this mentoring program?
• Am I correctly listening to your skills or career advice during each mentoring session?
• Are there any other topics you’d like for us to discuss?
• Do you have any feedback on how we can improve our mentoring rapport?
• Do you have any negative feedback or criticisms I can use to improve myself?

Career growth and development

• How can I refine key skills for my career?
• How can I stay competitive in my line of work or at this career stage?
• How can I apply my strengths in my daily work?
• Who should I connect with to improve my career prospects?
• How is my industry likely to change in the next 5 years? In the next 10?

Situational questions to ask a work mentor

• My boss always shuts me down in meetings. What’s the best way to respond when it happens?
• I’ve recently been promoted to a position I know my coworker wanted. I know they resent having to report to me now. What’s the best way to handle this situation?
• I feel my toxic work environment is beginning to affect my health. However, I’m scared to leave my job. What do you think I should do?
• I’ve taken over from a fantastic leader whom the team was very fond of and missed. Unfortunately, I feel like they resent me and want their old boss back. How can I cut through the team’s hostility and get them to at least respect me as their new boss?
• I feel as though my current role suffocates my creativity. How do you think I can make the situation better?
• I’m constantly having to complete or re-do my coworker’s work. What should I do?
• I’d like to apply for an opening in another department, but that department and my current department aren’t on the best working terms. I’m concerned about how the new department will receive me. Do you think I should still switch to that department?

Career path

Questions to ask a mentor about career paths may vary according to your needs. For example, if you want to  change careers , you might have specific questions about the industry you’re interested in.

Here are some initial questions about building your career path to get you started:

• What are the first steps to changing a career?
• How can I combine my interests or passions at work?
• How can I become more proactive about my career direction?
• How can I incorporate meaning into my career?
• What good habits should help me focus on my career?

Questions to ask a cyber security mentor

• How did you get into cyber security? What sparked your interest?
• What were some hurdles you experienced in becoming competent and skilled in cyber security?
• What are the most helpful certifications or company resources to become a [cyber security role]?
• What has helped you to overcome the challenges in this industry?
• What do you enjoy the most about working in cyber security?
• How do you see the industry’s future changing over the next ten years?
• What is something you think most clients don’t understand about cyber security?

Questions to ask a project manager mentor

• What knowledge, skills, and abilities are required for project management competency?
• How do you get started with a new project and set it up for success?
• What is more important to a project’s success, the project manager’s soft or hard skills?
• How do I stand out from my peers? What qualities do you think I need to develop?
• How can I be a more strategic project manager?
• What strategies have you found successful in project management?
• What techniques do you recommend for managing stress?
• What leaders do you look up to for inspiration?
• What are some books you can recommend on leadership?
• How do you keep your team motivated?
• What qualities are lacking among today’s leaders?
• How do you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

You can think of questions to ask a career mentor related to their personal experiences as well. For example, you might want to ask about:

• What was your worst leadership decision?
• What was the worst conflict you had to resolve?
• What was the biggest leadership risk you took?
• What was your proudest moment as a leader?
• What are your current goals as a leader?

Entrepreneurship and business

• What do you enjoy most about entrepreneurship? What is hardest about it?
• What are some mistakes you wish you could have avoided?
• What advice would you give to newbie entrepreneurs?
• How do you brainstorm and finalize business ideas?
• What are the biggest mistakes first-time entrepreneurs can make?
• How do you plan on growing your business or entrepreneurial mindset?
• What was the toughest moment in your business journey? How did you overcome it?
• Is there any popular entrepreneurial advice that you agree/disagree with? Why?

If you’re considering starting your own business, you can also ask for specifics about the business name, entity, business plan, funding, publicity/marketing, scaling, and competition. And if that wasn’t enough, you can get  even more entrepreneurial questions to ask a mentor  here.

Insert your mentorship question here

Finally, you may still have questions to ask a mentor that doesn’t neatly fall into these categories. No problem! Come up with your own questions to ask a career mentor so that you can make the most of your mentorship relationship.

After all, the mentorship experience is all about your needs, so write up those questions that don’t fit into the topics above about career development, growth, leadership, career direction, entrepreneurship, etc.

Join MentorCruise to find the right mentor for your professional needs

In this guide, you’ve learned how to ask the right types of questions in your mentoring sessions and questions to consider asking, helping you to achieve success in your mentoring efforts.

Remember that asking your prospective mentor the right questions is only one part of the equation. You also already need to learn how  to choose the right mentor  to help you achieve your goals and get the career advice that’s right for you.

The road to career success  is often a bumpy one, and career development may often seem confusing. But imagine how much easier it would be if you had an experienced industry leader available anytime to offer career advice and expert guidance. At  MentorCruise , you can pick through many experts and industry leaders to see the right mentor for your needs.

Find an expert mentor

Get the career advice you need to succeed. Find a mentor who can help you with your career goals, on the leading mentorship marketplace.

More From Forbes

40 questions to ask a mentor.

• Have conversations with your mentor gotten repetitive? Don’t write off the relationship too quickly, even if it seems like it may have run its course.
• Below are four types of questions to ask your mentor, along with 10 related examples for each type.
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Imagine you approached someone you admired, and boldly asked that person to mentor you. And the answer was “Yes!” But a year into the relationship, those monthly mentoring sessions might not invigorate you like they used to, and aren’t quite as energizing for the mentor, either.

Have conversations with your mentor gotten repetitive? Don’t write off the relationship too quickly, even if it seems like it may have run its course. Often, it’s not the relationship that’s stale–you just need some fresh material to discuss. To re-invigorate mentoring discussions, prepare a thoughtful, diverse slate of questions ahead of time.

Below are four types of questions to ask your mentor, along with 10 related examples for each type. Implement these at your next meeting to keep things interesting–and valuable–for you and your mentor.

4 Types Of Questions To Ask A Mentor

To break the ice, have your mentor tell a story from his or her own career. Hey, everybody likes to talk about themselves! For example, you could inquire: “How did you get to where you are today?” or “How did you land your current role?” But you could also ask more specific questions that address your career objectives and concerns. Some questions to consider:

• Was there a time you messed up and felt like you’d failed? How did you bounce back?

• How did you learn to embrace risk-taking?

• Tell me about a recent business setback. How did you recover?

• Think back to five years ago. Did you envision your career as it is today?

• Was there ever a role you applied for and landed, but weren't 100% qualified to do? How did you proceed?

• What do you wish you had known before taking your first management role?

• Which leadership skills were the most difficult to develop?

• Can you tell me about a time when you had a difficult boss? How did you handle the situation?

• What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned and how has it proven invaluable?

• How did you develop the skill of speaking so engagingly in front of groups?

2. Situations

Now that the conversation is flowing, get more granular in your requests and bring a specific situation to your mentor--one that you’d like help navigating. For example:

• I tried to delegate a task last week and it did not go well. Can we work through what to do differently next time?

• Who are the people I need to align with in this organization to achieve success?

• My boss said I need to be more strategic. What does that mean?

• How can I let my boss know that I don’t need to be micromanaged?

• How can I stay connected to key influencers who do not work in same office or geographical area?

• When trying to gain buy-in to implement a new program, what tactics have worked for you?

• My performance review is coming up. What type of preparation do you most appreciate seeing from your employees?

• I have two very different career path options available to me. Can you weigh in to help me make a final decision?

• I'm considering a career transition. What are some other areas of the business that might be a good fit for me?

• I’ve heard that taking a stretch assignment could help my career trajectory . What are the pros and cons?

3. Self-Awareness

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the gift of self-awareness, meaning the ability to see yourself as others view you. That way, if you like how you’re perceived, you can embrace it and take steps to strengthen that positive perception. If you don’t like how you are currently perceived, you can take steps to shift that perception to a more positive one that supports, rather than undermines, your career and leadership goals.

After starting with the obvious question: “How do you think others perceive me?” become more specific, so your mentor can assist by “holding up the mirror” and providing detailed feedback on how your actions and communication are impacting the way others see you. Ask questions such as:

• How am I viewed? In other words, what's my personal brand in our organization?

• Where do you see my strengths?

• What do you see as some of my blind spots and how can I improve?

• How I am viewed by leadership?

• What do people say about me when I’m not in the room?

• Could you offer feedback on ways to improve my executive presence?

• Do I come across as strategic or tactical in my day-to-day communication?

• Am I viewed as high-maintenance when I send my boss weekly status updates?

• How could I have communicated my idea more clearly?

• When I presented at the last meeting, how did I do? Did my communication style support the message I intended to deliver?

4. Skill-Building

Is there a skill you’re currently working to enhance, such as project management, long-term strategic planning, delegating, or public speaking? Use questions like these to ask your mentor for advice and resources to help you polish that skill:

• How can I become a more assertive negotiator?

• Can we role-play asking for a raise and a promotion?

• How can I become better at managing people who do not report to me?

• Do you have any quick tips for re-energizing an overworked team?

• Can you recommend a book or resource for dealing with difficult conversations?

• What practices can you recommend for dealing with nervousness when speaking to groups?

• I have been asked to facilitate a team-building activity at a staff retreat. What are some keys to success?

• What’s a good methodology or tool for project management and tracking team commitments?

• Do you have a template that you use for long-range visioning and strategic planning?

• What new skills do I need to move ahead?

With these four types of questions and their accompanying examples, you’ll never sit through another mentoring conversation wondering if the other person is finding the discussion useful. So rather than add another mentor to your network, here’s a different challenge: Revive an existing mentorship by preparing thoughtfully for each session with your mentor. And give this list to those whom you mentor, encouraging them to use it to maximize the value of the time you spend together.

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Finding a Mentor

Identifying a research mentor is an important first step to engage in research, some questions to ask yourself.

• What am I looking for in a mentor?
• Why do I want to research? Curious about a biomedical problem, need to build my skills and experiences for residency, other?
• What type of research team am I looking to join? Studies basic science/mechanisms of disease, clinical, translational, other
• How much time do I have for research?
• Am I interested in the MSSRP, Research year, or M3/M4 research blocks?
• Am I ready to contact faculty? I have read about their research, my CV is up to date and focused, cover email prepared

How to use BU Profiles to identify potential mentors

Many research projects at BUMC occur in specialized centers, basic science departments, and clinical departments. Do not limit your  search to specific departments as you will often miss many interesting opportunities.

• BU Profiles Search

BU profiles includes a search engine that can be used to identify potential mentors.

If you would like to start a self-guided mentor search, one strategy is below:

• BU Profiles search guide

We would also be happy to meet, discuss your research interests & goals, and help you identify potential mentors.

Tips for contacting potential mentors

• Tips for contacting faculty about research

14 Best Questions to Ask a Mentor

A mentor can provide valuable feedback and advice that you may not be able to get anywhere else. That’s why asking them important questions — even difficult ones about finances, failures and other tender topics — can be critical to your career development .

“The biggest opportunities for growth will usually be the ones that entail the most discomfort,” Greg Aponte, head of data science and investments at real-estate tech company Orchard , told Built In. “Rather than being discouraged by discomfort, view it as a sign that you’re doing it right.”

Top Questions to Ask a Mentor

• What do you still struggle with?
• How can I be a leader?
• How hard was it for you to grow your company and be successful?
• How and when should I reach out to you?

While you might think asking a mentor sensitive questions is disrespectful, embarrassing or downright cringey, the responses they elicit can be essential to professional growth, making them worth the initial discomfort. 

In this article, several seasoned mentors reveal the questions they’re eager to answer, and explain why more people should be asking them.

Questions About Career Development and Advancement

1. what soft skills should i develop.

Acquiring and improving soft skills — such as communicating credibly, having productive conflict and holding yourself and others accountable — takes work. Soft skills become more critical as a professional rises through the management ranks, and often do double duty as work and personal life tools, so it’s important to ask mentors about them.

That said, early career professionals might not know to ask mentors about soft skills. Most of Aponte’s mentees, for instance, focus on the hard skills they need to have a successful business , but this can be detrimental to overall career growth.

“[Hard skills are] only part of professional success,” Aponte said. “People would be much better served focusing on the behaviors and attitudes they need to demonstrate in order to be successful.”  

2. How Can I Be a Leader?

Talking about leadership with a mentor can help mentees prepare to take initiative.

“I really wish more mentees would ask me how to become a leader,” Ari Kryzek, co-founder and chief creative officer of Chykalophia , told Built In. Over five years, Krzyzek has mentored almost 50 people, many of them women aged 30 to 45 in the midst of a career change. Not once has she been asked about leadership.

She understands the hesitancy. “When I got my first mentor I wasn’t even thinking about leading,” she said. Her mentor encouraged her to get involved in groups and establish herself as a leader, but the prospect “almost felt like a burden,” Kryzek said. 

3. What Should I Not Do?

Mentees should be making thoughtful decisions about what not to do, said Andy Crestodina, mentor at startup lab 1871 and founder of web design and development agency Orbit Media Studios .

Successful people have the time to do what they need to do because they’ve abandoned low-value activity. They are focused because they’ve removed distractions. They capture opportunities because they choose their battles, Crestodina said. 

“Conversations with mentees typically focus on their desire to do the right things,” he told Built In. That’s good, he noted, but it’s equally important for young tech professionals to know what not to do. The question seems counterintuitive, he said, “because once you have an eye on the prize, you look for ways to get there.” 

If they’d ask this question, Crestodina would tell them that they should be honest about what they’ll never be great at, then design a life that does not include that task and lets them focus on the things they are great at.

4. How Can I Stand Out As a Remote/Hybrid Employee?

This question is key because sustaining innovation, collaboration and culture becomes increasingly difficult as companies implement remote and hybrid workplace policies, said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs .

It might not get asked because remote and hybrid work is, for some people, still unexplored territory, Weishaupt told Built In. Weishaupt mentors former employees and colleagues and also mentors through peer groups. He adds related questions to the main one: How to make the right impression and navigate a company as a remote-only hire, and how to encourage innovative ideas among teams that interact virtually. 

Questions About Their Professional Experience

5. what professional experiences led you to your current position .

If your mentor is currently in a position that you would also like to reach, it’s worth asking how exactly they got there. This question allows mentees to delve into the details of what roles, responsibilities and projects their mentor has taken on, and gives a wider view of a mentor’s career milestones. 

Knowing a mentor’s professional journey doesn’t mean it has to be identically followed, but it can provide some career guidance for mentees and help them chart what experiences would be best for them to take on to get to a similar place. 

6. What Is One Thing You Wish You Had Known When You Were in My Current Career Stage? 

Asking for what mentors wish they had been told in your position can help get mentees ahead of the curve in their current career stage. This information lets mentees tap into professional knowledge that may not be learned until much later, like specific tips that can be applied in the industry or resources that can help improve certain skills.

If your mentor is in a position that is several steps higher than your own, such as a manager, director or CEO, this question can also shed light on their perspective of what they expect from employees in your current position and what avenues would be best for advancement.

Additionally, even if a mentor doesn’t share the same career field, this question can still benefit mentees on a general, professional level if the answer is in regard to soft skills, networking or navigating a long-term career . 

7. What Career Accomplishments Are You Most Proud Of? 

This question gives mentors the opportunity to share the highlights of their professional career. A mentor’s accomplishments like significant projects, promotions or challenges that were overcome could be brought up by asking this, which can give mentees possible ideas for what to strive for in their own career. Plus, letting mentors take the spotlight can help mentees understand them better and strengthen the mentoring relationship.

Related Coaching and Mentoring: What’s the Difference?

Questions About Their Personal Experience 

8. what have you learned from failure.

Failure in life and business is a given. Focusing only on success can skew reality. If you’re curious about your mentor’s failures, first ask permission to ask about them, then ask. 

“Knowing how your mentor has navigated failures is valuable, for background and for mentees who will inevitably face challenges of their own,” Eric Tang, co-founder of Livepeer , told Built In.

9. What Do You Still Struggle With?

Asking about struggles invites a constructive conversation and helps mentees grow by realizing they’re not alone in mistakes, said John Matlosz, CEO and founder of Epic Software Development .

Matlosz suggests developing a strong rapport with a mentor, which will make it easier to broach the tough questions, including the one about struggles.

“It’s important to admit mistakes and tackle them as a team,” he told Built In. “I try to lead by example by offering up challenges I’ve had in the past and how I worked with my colleagues to overcome them.”

Related How Reverse Mentoring Achieves Employer Goals

10. Who Else Can I Talk To and Learn From?  

Mentoring also has a helpful model to follow: The more, the merrier. 

Kirsten Newbold-Knipp, CMO at FullStory , advises mentees to create their own personal boards of directors — a community of mentors who can help think through a variety of problems.

“The idea of the mentor of old, the person who says ‘I’m going to take you under my wing and I’m going to bring you along with me in my career and you’re going to learn all of the 27 things that you need to know to be successful’ is outdated and limiting,” Newbold-Knipp told Built In. 

Still, it’s tough for a protege to ask a mentor for more mentoring sources because the implication is that the mentor isn’t helping adequately. “It’s getting both more important and easier as corporate America really starts to understand the value of a diversity of opinions and viewpoints,” Newbold-Knipp said.

11. How and When Should I Reach Out to You?

Mentors are more than happy to hear this question because it signals interest from the mentee and because it gives mentors something to look forward to.

If mentees don’t set the tone for consistent communication, “the relationship begins to fall apart because the mentor gets the impression that the mentee is not invested in the relationship or does not appreciate the connection,” Desa Burton, who has mentored throughout her career as a senior officer in the U.S. Navy, a law professor and executive director of Zip Code Wilmington , told Built In. 

Questions About Growing a Company

12. what would you need to see to invest in my company.

Julie Novack wants mentees to ask her what she thinks of their business model, or key metrics used to run a business, or how to tell if a business is working.

“If you don’t know the answers to those questions, you will not be able to raise funding,” Novack, who mentors through groups such as Women Tech Founders and Women’s Wisdom , told Built In.

She loves to look critically at the business and pressure test it, just as a potential investor would. It’s the best use of her time and expertise. She asks mentees if their addressable market is big enough, who the competition is, what the moat is, what the network effect is, and other topics likely to surface in a pitch meeting . “Those meaty business questions are the best questions to have,” Novack said. “And you don’t have to worry about looking bad in front of me because I’m not a potential investor.”

13. How Hard Was It For You to Grow Your Company and Be Successful?

Mentees should be aware of how hard success is, especially in the tech business, so they are ready for the journey and prepared to put in the work, said Yoni Mazor, chief growth officer and co-founder at Getida .

When mentees ask this question, mentors can share stories of overcoming challenges and hardships that entrepreneurs face, Mazor told Built In.

“Such a learning experience can be very useful to get people on the correct mindset and stamina for long-term success.”

14. How Do I Create a Sustainable Company?

With rapid growth, culture can erode unless leaders plan intentional steps to preserve the elements that drove success, explained Sasha Siddhartha, the co-founder and CTO of Thrive Market , and who has mentored engineers for nearly two decades. 

Seldom, if ever, do entrepreneurs ask about creating a healthy, sustainable company and technology culture. “As leaders, especially in technology,” Siddhartha told Built In, “we need to think ahead to handle scale and success.”

Great Companies Need Great People. That's Where We Come In.

3 Questions to Ask Your Mentor

Published: Jan 18, 2024

Once you've secured a mentor in your professional life, it's important that you are fully utilizing this valuable relationship. One way to do this is by asking the right questions. Watch this Vault video for examples of questions you can ask. 

Transcript: 

After going through the process of researching a potential mentor, reaching out to them, and securing their role in your career, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the most out of this relationship.

A mentor-mentee relationship is different from a network connection, as your mentor will be more invested in your goals and career growth. To help with this career growth, it’s important that you’re asking the right questions.

Of course, these questions will vary depending on your specific goals and career situation. And it’s important to cater your questions to the specific reason you chose this person as your mentor.

1. Short-term goals 

That said, one place you can start is by focusing on your short-term goals. Think about what you want to accomplish in the next 6 to 12 months, and craft your questions from there.

You could your mentor something like this:

“What are some steps I can take now to be ready for a promotion in 6 months?”

“What helped you grow your network early on in your career?”

2. Long-term goals

It’s also important to begin to think about your long-term goals, If you have a certain level that you want to reach within the next five years, you could also ask something like this:

“What steps do you think I should be taking now so can I expect to be where I want in five years?”

Or, getting more specific, you might ask:

“Are there any continuing education classes or degrees you think would be beneficial for me”

3. Personal branding

Mentors are great people to ask for feedback on personal branding and growing your network. A question about branding could sound like:

“What are some changes or improvements you would make to my LinkedIn profile?”

And a question about networking could be something along these lines:

“Are there any specific networking events you think I should be attending?”

Having a mentor during your career will help you reach your goals, and make you feel more confident while doing so. For more career advice, check out Vault.com.

37 Key Questions to Ask a Mentor to Transform Your Career

Have you found the perfect mentor, but are unsure of what steps to take next? What questions can you ask them to get the most out of the time you have together? What areas should you focus on to accelerate your growth?

Recently, we wrote a post on everything you need to know about where to find mentors , what qualities to look for in them, and how to approach them. It’s one of the most comprehensive mentorship starter kits you’ll find.

Today, we expand on our guide and share 37 questions you can ask your mentor to fully develop your relationship with them, and maximize your growth as a leader.

37 Questions to Ask a Mentor to Supercharge Your Career Development

If you need a reminder of what a mentor can do to boost your career, look no further.

Research has shown that people with a mentor exhibit greater confidence, earn promotions more quickly, and find jobs easier than their non-mentored colleagues. Wouldn’t we all like that? 

That’s why in our previous post on mentors , we covered topics including: 

• How you can find a mentor
• Three qualities to look for in a mentor
• How to approach them
• How to make the most of the relationship you have with them

With that in mind, it’s vital to know what to ask your mentor to make sure you’re putting the relatively limited time you have together to good use. We’ve compiled 37 questions you can ask about various topics to help you prepare.

1. Questions about improving your soft skills

"Success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person’s viewpoint." – Dale Carnegie

One of the biggest challenges of growing as a manager is finding ways to improve your soft skills. Unlike with an IC role, being a manager is much more of a people job and requires more soft skills as you progress through your career. 

In fact, research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center uncovered that 85% of job success comes from having well‐developed soft and people skills. In contrast, only 15% of job success comes from knowledge and technical skills.

Unfortunately, soft skills aren’t something you can learn from online courses or books alone. A big part of learning them is through experience. For many managers, mastering these skills is thus a very steep learning curve.

This is where the help of a mentor can be priceless. They can give you advice on exactly how to approach particular situations and share examples of how they’ve improve their vital soft skills.

There are many soft skills you need to learn to become a great manager, so make sure you get their input on the following topics:

• What are your favorite tips for having great 1:1 meetings?
• How can I get buy-in for my ideas? 
• When have you had buy-in go wrong and what did you learn from it?
• How do I become a better listener?
• What are the best ways to build rapport with my team?
• What can I do to become a more empathetic leader?
• What other soft skills do I need to master to be a great manager?

Your mentor will likely know all about the different subtleties of soft skills and connecting with your team on a more human level. They can share what’s worked for them, as well as key, hard-earned lessons from their own mistakes. Both can help you grow.

If you take advantage of that and ask them the right questions, you’ll be improving in areas that have been proven to separate great managers from average ones.

And to complement learning from their stories and example, here are resources you can check out to work on these areas on your own:

• The Ultimate One on One Meetings Template (+ Free Checklist)
• How to Get Buy in at Work: Making your projects more successful
• How Managers can be more Effective Listeners to Better Lead their Teams
• 82 Ways How to Build Rapport with Anyone at Work
• 3 Ways to Better Manage Up By Developing Empathy

2. Questions about working on your growth mindset

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Adopting a growth mindset should be one of your highest priorities if your aim is to keep getting promoted in your career. 

According to Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and her TED talk , if you believe that people (including yourself) can't change or improve, you’ll never be able to take the initiative for your own or your team’s growth.

Conversely, if you believe in continuous improvement, are willing to face challenges head-on, and persist in the face of setbacks and criticism, you’ll open up a sea of opportunities for yourself.

Here’s a great visual of how a growth mindset works compared to a fixed one:

As you can see, people with a growth mindset are always looking for new sources of inspiration to learn from.

And having a mentor is a great way to feed a hungry mind and find untapped opportunities to grow yourself and your team. You can ask your mentor the following questions to make the most of your growth mindset:

• What are the best leadership books you recommend?
• What are the best management courses/resources you think I would benefit from?
• How do I help my team improve their skills and grow when I’m not an expert?
• How do I grow my team when I can’t promote them?
• How can I become a better coach to my team?
• How do I recognize and develop potential future leaders on my team?

With answers to these questions, you’ll keep evolving as a leader and find new ways to help your team grow, too. 

And to get more ideas to complement what they tell you, check out these links below:

• The 10 Best Books For New Managers On Leadership And Self-Improvement
• How to grow your team when you can’t promote them
• Books for Managers: 3 Books Every Leader Should Read

3. Questions about productivity

“Time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to maximizing the time we have. ” - John C Maxwell, best-selling author, speaker, & consultant on Leadership.

As a manager, there is always more to be done than what fits in your schedule. And while you may be keeping your to-do list updated, how can you make sure you’re prioritizing the right things every day?

Well, for starters, if you waste a lot of hours doing administrative things like updating Google Docs and Sheets or other rudimentary tasks that can be outsourced, you're not making the most of your time. 

In that case, you’re also not being a multiplier for the rest of your team , which is a key component of growing as a leader.

How do you value your time?

Think of it this way - if you earn $100,000 per year and work 50 hours a week for 50 weeks a year, your time is worth $40 per hour.

That means even a few hours a week spent on administrative work and repetitive tasks can lead to thousands of wasted dollars on something an app or an assistant can do for a fraction of the cost.

As a manager, you should always think of ways to maximize your own time as well as make sure your team is as productive as possible.

Having a mentor can go a long way in helping you do this - their experience can help you tell if you’re micromanaging or getting too caught up on things you shouldn’t really be doing.

They’ve been in your shoes so they can probably share systems and ideas for prioritizing your work well. They can also help you think about ways to be more productive and be a multiplier for your team.

To find out more about how to do that, you can ask them the following questions:

• What are some techniques I can use to better manage my time?
• How do I become better at prioritizing my responsibilities?
• What habits should I adopt to be a more effective leader? Which ones should I avoid?
• How can I organize my time to become a multiplier for my team?
• What are key actions I should take to help my team get more done?
• How do I know if a meeting is worthwhile, or I should cancel it? 
• How do I have effective meetings?
• When would you recommend we use asynchronous communication?

If you’re interested in more ways for prioritizing your time and being a multiplier for your team, check out these links:

• Why Priority Management Trumps Time Management - Lighthouse Case Studies
• Why Work-Life Balance Beats the Hustle Hype for Great Teams
• Your Guide to Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Communication
• 10 tips for conducting effective meetings
• Tips for remote management from a veteran

4. Questions about your career development

As a leader, you need to take charge of your own career growth. That usually means asking the right questions in your 1 on 1s with your manager to help open up your career to develop in a variety of ways.

As great as that sounds, it sometimes involves facing some hard truths. You may not always love what your manager has to say about your skills.

Despite that, you need to be brave and show initiative and a willingness to work on your weaknesses. And there’s nothing better to prepare you for that than talking to a mentor.

Your mentor will be able to share an objective opinion about your skills that isn’t influenced by company politics or team dynamics.

They’ll be able to tell exactly what you need to learn to take your career and skills to the next level. This way, you’ll know what to expect when you talk to your manager about career development in your 1:1s. You’ll be better prepared for difficult conversations and show your manager you take your own development seriously.

Try asking your mentor some of these questions to gain a better understanding of the skills you need to take things to the next level:

• What are the most important areas I need to master to get promoted to the role I want?
• What skills gaps do you think I have? 
• What are key habits you feel make someone successful in [your new role/ the role you want next]?
• What do you think it would it take for my manager to feel I'm ready for [desired role/promotion]?
• What do you feel are my strengths? How could those help the team more and help me advance in my career?
• How can I start to make progress on the areas I need to work on? 

If you need more resources on driving your own career growth, check out these posts:

• How Employees Can Drive Their Own Career Growth
• The 8 Best Professional Development Goals for Managers
• Career Development Plans: What Managers Struggle with Most
• How to Evolve Your 1-on-1s Over Time for Maximum Value

5. Questions about networking

While most of what you hear from your mentor will be based on their own experience, there’s another huge benefit you can gain through your relationship with them - their network.

As you build trust with them and ask more questions, they may not have all the answers themselves. Or, they may want you to hear other perspectives. Either way, it presents an opportunity for them to open their network to you. 

They’ll be able to introduce you to more people who’ve had a career path similar to yours, share professional events you could attend, and guide you on how to engage people more effectively and what to ask them.

Connections make the difference

In his book, “The Glass Bead Game” , Nobel prize winner Hermann Hesse explains the best way to gain knowledge is to build connections between your experiences. He notes how the best painters are usually avid readers or musicians, always looking to soak up new ideas from worlds other than their own. 

He also adds that these multi-disciplinarians have historically spent time together in artist cliques that grew into movements like impressionism, cubism, and others.

Similarly, when you expand your network, you’re giving yourself new perspectives and ideas. However, to truly be successful, you need to find the right people to meet.

A mentor can help you with that, as they’ve likely built a lot of professional relationships to get to where they are today. Use the time you spend with them to ask them how you can expand your network to accelerate your growth. You can ask one of the following questions:

• What events/conferences/meet-ups do you recommend for expanding my network?
• Who in your network do you think could help me grow as a manager? How can I help you make an introduction?
• What are some of the best online sources to find peers and exchange ideas with them?
• What are some good networking questions to ask to spark interesting conversations?
• How do you decide if an event is worth your time? 

By relying on your mentor’s experience, you’ll be taking a shortcut to the many relevant circles, events, and networks that can shape your leadership style and give you new opportunities to learn.

6. Questions to help you learn from your mentor’s career

Your mentor’s experience is unique. Even if you cover all of the areas we’ve mentioned today, there are still so many other things you can uniquely learn from them if you just ask.

Use the time you have together to build a deeper bond with them and find out about some of their personal experiences that have influenced them the most.

Even if they’re not directly applicable to you, they’ll likely help you see the bigger picture and understand the process of becoming a better manager. You’ll also understand how the steps in their careers influenced who they are today.

Here are some questions you can ask that focus specifically on your mentor’s career:

• What are some of the most important habits that have turned you into the manager you are today?
• What are the biggest mistakes you’ve learned from?
• Is there anything you wish you’d have done differently in your career? What would you change?
• Who are some of the most important people who influenced you and your way of thinking? What did you learn from them? 
• What are some unique things you did that set you apart from the others in your career?

Touching on their career specifically will allow you to complement what you learn through other questions in this post. It will help you better get to know them, and reveal unique insights about their life that you may want to repeat, or do differently. 

That’s what having a mentor is all about: shortening the time you need to get to career-changing knowledge and experience.

Unless you both have lots of free time, you’ll probably be seeing your mentor once a month (or less). To make the most of your time with them, ask them some of the questions we’ve prepared in this post and act on what you learn from them.

That might mean working on a particular soft skill, reading a new book, adopting a new outlook and mindset, meeting new people, or simply putting into practice what you talked about.

Whatever the area you focus on, make sure you set clear action items for yourself and follow through on what you discuss with your mentor.

It’s the only way to make your relationship with your mentor meaningful and valuable. It also is the most important thing to keep them as your mentor, because mentors want to see that their efforts with you are paying off. 

Learn something today? Share it so your friends can, too:

Jason Evanish

As the founder and CEO of Get Lighthouse, Inc , Jason and the Lighthouse team have helped managers grow their leadership skills in dozens of countries around the world. They’ve worked with a variety of companies from non-profits to high growth startups, and government organizations to well known, publicly traded companies. Jason has also been featured in publications including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.

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