MENTORSHIP BASICS
This researcher identified career guidance and psychosocial support as the two functions of mentorship in 1985.
Who is Kram?
This is the typical length of an informational interview.
What is 20–30 minutes?
This is the recommended frequency for checking in with professional contacts to maintain relationships.
What is every 3–6 months?
This is the appropriate tone to use when sending a first message to a professional you want to connect with.
What is professional, warm, and specific (not generic)?
This is the term for a career relationship where a more experienced professional guides a less experienced person's development.
What is mentorship?
According to Allen et al. (2004), professionals with mentors are promoted this many times more often than those without.
What is 5 times?
This is the PRIMARY purpose of an informational interview (not a job interview).
What is gaining career insight and building professional connections?
This action — sharing a relevant industry article with a brief personal note — is an example of this networking principle.
What is offering value to your network?
When requesting an informational interview, this is how many scheduling options you should offer to make it easy for the professional to say yes.
What is 2–3 options?
NACE (2023) reports that this percentage of professionals say informational interviews helped them clarify their career path.
What is 70%?
These five groups are identified by NACE (2023) as the most accessible mentors for college students.
Who are professors, supervisors, alumni, industry professionals, and members of professional associations?
This element should always be included in the subject line of an informational interview request email.
What is your name, school, and major (or field of interest)?
This type of message, sent within 24 hours of a meeting or informational interview, is considered a professional best practice.
What is a thank-you email or message?
This is what you should do if a professional does not respond to your initial outreach message.
What is follow up once, politely, after 5–7 business days?
This concept describes a career approach where the professional regularly invests in relationships before needing anything from them.
What is proactive networking (or relationship-first career strategy)?
This is the first step a great mentee should take when entering a new mentoring relationship.
What is setting clear expectations and goals?
This is the single most powerful question to ask at the end of an informational interview to grow your network.
What is "Is there anyone else you would recommend I speak with?"
According to Allen et al. (2004), this is the recommended long-term approach to maintaining a mentoring relationship after it has been established.
What is regular check-ins, expressing gratitude, providing updates, and continuing to show initiative?
Name TWO things your informational interview request message must include to be effective.
What are: who you are, why you chose them specifically, what you are hoping to learn, and a specific time request? (any two)
According to NACE (2023), which three long-term networking behaviors are most associated with sustained career success?
What are regular check-ins, providing value, and expressing genuine gratitude?
Name THREE behaviors that distinguish an excellent mentee from a passive one.
What are showing initiative, following through on commitments, expressing gratitude, preparing questions, and offering value back to the mentor? (any three)
Name FOUR specific questions you should ask during an informational interview.
What are: How did you get started? What does a typical day look like? What skills are most important? What advice
Describe the THREE-PART framework for sustainable long-term professional relationship maintenance.
What are: staying consistent (regular check-ins), giving value (sharing insights, making introductions), and expressing gratitude (acknowledging time and support)?
You have just finished an informational interview that went extremely well. Describe FOUR specific follow-up steps you should take within the next 48 hours.
What are: send a thank-you email, reference a specific moment from the conversation, connect on LinkedIn with a personalized note, and ask for one referral or next step?
You are a student with a strong GPA, solid internship experience, and good communication skills — but zero professional network. Describe a comprehensive 6-month plan to build meaningful connections.
Answers will vary — look for: LinkedIn optimization, attending events, informational interview outreach, mentor identification, consistent follow-up schedule, and offering value at each touchpoint.