Pre-Meeting Assignment

1. Why is this area important to me?
2. What do I want to accomplish in this area?
3. Brainstorm: what one action can I take that will improve my situation in this area?

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. What does “living a balanced life mean to you? What does an ideal work life balance look and feel like for you? Has that changed over time?
2. What would be some indicators that there is a lack of balance? How would that look and feel?
3. How have changes to the way we work brought new opportunities and challenges to balancing the various domains and roles of our lives?
4. What activities do you like doing, and give you a sense of peace, fulfillment, joy, and other “feel-good” feelings? Which ones are important for you to maintain in your life at this point?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. Option 1: Using the “wheel of life” model introduced in the article by Mindful Habits, map out the areas of your life following the steps outlined in the Mindful Habits article The Wheel of Life: A Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment Tool https://vereggen.com/wheel-of-life/
2. Option 2: Learn about mind-mapping as a technique for organizing aspects of your life. Search Google Images to find examples of how others have used mind mapping to visualize and analyze work life balance. Use your creative and analytical skills to begin drafting your personal work life balance mind map.

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. What techniques or tools do you find helpful for prioritizing responsibilities and tasks? For managing your time?
2. What are some key ways that the people, organizations, and communities in your life help you to achieve balance?
3. How do you boost your resilience at work? What self-awareness habits do you employ?
4. What boundaries or limits do you set to help you maintain balance? Have you ever declined a task or project in order to leave time for other activities or relationships?
5. How do you transition from work to home? Are there certain routines or family or friendship rituals that you’ve adopted that work for you, for instance?
6. Are there any daily routines you try to keep that promote self-care?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. Mindful Habits article The Wheel of Life: A Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment Tool: https://vereggen.com/wheel-of-life/
2. Mindful Habits article Feeling Overwhelmed? Use The 6 Areas of Focus To Get Back On Track: https://vereggen.com/six-areas-of-focus/
3. Lifehack How to Use a Mind Map to Organize Your Life: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-use-mind-map-organize-your-life.html
4. A sample mind map for showing the related work in general projects: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-sample-mind-map-for-showing-the-related-work-in-general-projects_fig1_268864501

Pre-Meeting Assignment

1. What more can you learn about the position and the company from the company’s website and other online sources?
2. What are some ways that your values, skills and interests match up?
3. What sorts of challenges might arise? What obstacles may you have to navigate in the position?
4. Identify 1-2 goals you aim to accomplish through this mentoring engagement.

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. What are some ways that your values, skills and interests match up with the job descriptions you’ve gathered?
2. What are some good strategies for responding to the question, “tell me about yourself” during an interview?
3. What’s the most surprising, difficult, or challenging situation you’ve experienced during a job interview? How did you handle it?
4. What are your top 5 Do’s and Don’ts for job interviewing?
5. How do you handle nervousness when interviewing for a job?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. Review the list of behavioral questions provided. While the phrasing of these questions may vary from interview to interview, the general intent of the question typically remains the same so it can be helpful to prepare your answers with that in mind.

1. Write down the various situations you’ve handled in your professional history that would display the sorts of strengths you’ll need to succeed in the role and that address some of the most common behavioral interview questions. Prepare each example using the STAR framework.
2. Practice talking through your answers out loud to make sure each story is as concise and coherent as possible. This will also help you feel more confident and natural when delivering the answers in an interview.
3. Be prepared to talk through these situations with your mentor at your next meeting.

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. Describe a time when you were under a lot of pressure at work or school. How did you react?
2. Talk about a time when you set and achieved a specific highly challenging goal.
3. Can you describe a time you worked with a team to complete a project?
4. Share an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision. What did you do?

1. What are some suggestions for improving my executive presence?
2. How could I have communicated my idea more clearly?
3. Does my communication style support the message I intended to deliver?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. What you value/appreciate about and learned from the mentoring experience.
2. Your next steps for preparing for job interviews.
3. Two strategies you plan to adopt to hone your interviewing skills.

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. Check out the resources on interviewing available SUNY Potsdam Career Center https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/career-services/resources
2. Indeed: How to Prepare for an Interview https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview
3. Indeed article on How to Use the STAR Interview Response Technique https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-use-the-star-interview-response-technique
4. Top Resume What is Your Body Language Saying About You https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/what-is-your-body-language-saying-about-you-during-an-interview
5. Indeed Thank you Letter to Mentor https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/thank-you-letter-to-mentor

Pre-Meeting Assignment

1. What kind of information and resources are available through your college’s Career Center to learn more about majors and careers?
2. Who on your campus can answer your questions about careers and how they relate to academic majors? Internships?
3. Where’s a great place to start exploring majors and careers?

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. What are you passionate about? What makes you enthusiastic?
2. Thinking about your student or professional roles, what skills and activities do you enjoy the most, and why?
3. What factors are important to you when considering a career path at this point in your life? Has that changed over time?
4. Brainstorm: What kind of information would be helpful to better understand this major/career and if it’s a path you want to pursue?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. Browse, search, and review online resources to gather facts and information about a major, field, and/or occupation of your interest. Resources are provided. What kind of information is available? Which information is relevant and important for you to know?
2. Create a “Profile” of the major, field, and/or occupation in written format, highlighting the type of information you have gathered your key findings from the exercise. Use the Career Profiling Worksheet and any formats (diagram or chart, list, narrative, etc.) you find helpful to communicate the information.

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. Reflecting on the profile, how does this information relate to your own interests, passions, values?
2. What questions remain about this or other majors or careers?
3. What kinds of hands-on, real-world experience would you like to gain more insight into the career or field?
4. Are there opportunities for levering or building social connections to learn more?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. What you value/appreciate about and learned from the mentoring experience.
2. Your ideas for next steps to learn more, including through real-world experience.

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. US News & World Report 10 Things to Know About Selecting a College Major https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-things-to-know-about-selecting-a-college-major
2. Princeton Review Guide to Choosing College Majors
3. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/choosing-college-majors
4. https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/fastest-declining-occupations.htm
5. The College Post, How to Choose Your College Major: A Complete Guide
6. https://thecollegepost.com/choose-college-major/
7. OneStop Explore Careers https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/explore-careers.aspx
8. OneStop Occupation Profile https://www.careeronestop.org/GetMyFuture/Toolkit/Occupation-Profile.aspx
9. SUNY Potsdam Career Information and Resources https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/career-services/explore-your-path/career-information-and-resources
10. Browse O*Net Career Clusters https://www.onetonline.org/find/career
11. Check out these resources available SUNY Potsdam Career Center:
12. Interest Assessment https://www.careeronestop.org/GetMyFuture/Toolkit/interest-assessment.aspx
13. Work Values Matcher https://www.careeronestop.org/GetMyFuture/ExploreCareers/what-are-your-work-values.aspx
14. Indeed Thank you Letter to Mentor https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/thank-you-letter-to-mentor

Pre-Meeting Assignment

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. What technologies do you use in your everyday work roles? How do they help you do your work?
2. What’s a good methodology or tool for managing team-based work projects and commitments?
3. What are your preferred methods or techniques for evaluating the pros and cons of a strategy or course of action?
4. How do you learn to use new tools and technologies? What are some tips for getting comfortable using new tools?
5. What tools and techniques are emerging? What are the “must haves” in the toolkits of those entering the field?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. What does your mind map reveal about the tools and technologies in the industry?
2. What questions do you have based upon the mind map you’ve created?
3. What kinds of hands-on, real-world experiences (internships, field observations) would likely provide good opportunities to learn more about these tools/techniques?
4. What one or two techniques or tools would you like to gain proficiency, and why?
5. What are some suggested next steps for doing so?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. Top 25 Lean Tools & Techniques [for Manufacturing] https://www.leanproduction.com/top-25-lean-tools/
2. Positive Psychology 13 Social Work Methods & Interventions for Helping Others https://positivepsychology.com/social-work-methods/
3. Indeed Guide To Understanding Marketing Tools https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/marketing-tools

1. MindMapping: What is a Mind Map? https://www.mindmapping.com/mind-map
2. Piktochart https://piktochart.com/
3. MS Office https://templates.office.com/en-us/posters
4. Canva https://www.canva.com/pricing/

Pre-Meeting Assignment

1. What does it mean to “make the most of your college experience”? What would a student who is “making the most” of it actually do?
2. Imagine you are an “outsider” to the college seeking to learn about the institution and opportunities for students to make the most of their college experience. What would you want to know? Where would you look to find out? Who or what would you consult?
3. What are 1-2 goals you have for this mentoring experience?

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. What does it mean to “make the most of your college experience”? What would a student do who is “making the most” of it?
2. How did you develop connections with your professors outside of the classroom?
3. What do you consider to be the most useful/valuable yet often overlooked or underutilized resource(s) for students at this school?
4. What types of student activities are available that can be helpful for developing your personal and professional interests and skills?
5. How do you learn about opportunities to get involved at this college? What channels do you use?
6. Are there interests you have and would like to pursue?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. Given the range of options to get involved, what meets your interests and needs? How do you decide which ones to pursue?
2. How did/does your needs and interest evolve as a college student over the course of your academic career?
3. How did/do you juggle academics, extracurricular and sports, friends, family, and a job?
4. Did/do you take advantage of opportunities to get involved in the broader community, such as through volunteerism, participation in local events or organizations, or work? How does this enhance the college experience?
5. What are your suggestions for “making the most” of the college experience? What are your recommended next steps?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. What you value/appreciate about and learned from the mentoring experience.
2. 2-3 ways you intend to increase engagement by building social connections and accessing resources to enhance your college experience.
3. Your concrete next steps.

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. Check out the resources available SUNY Potsdam Career Center https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/career-services/resources
2. SUNY Potsdam Academic Calendar https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/academic-calendar
3. SUNY Potsdam Academic Resources https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/resources
4. SUNY Potsdam Lougheed Center for Applied Learning https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/appliedlearning
5. SUNY Potsdam Campus Life: Get Involved https://getinvolved.potsdam.edu/organization/campuslife
6. SUNY Potsdam Health & Wellness https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/wellness
7. SUNY Potsdam Student Support https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/support
8. SUNY Potsdam Student Success Center https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/resources/student-success-center
9. SUNY Potsdam Veteran Support Services https://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/support/veteran-support-services
10. LinkedIn How to Maximize Your College Experience https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-maximize-your-college-experience-steven-sutherland/
11. Psychology Today 11 Ways to Get the Most Out of the College Experience https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culture-in-mind/201406/11-ways-get-the-most-out-the-college-experience

Pre-Meeting Assignment

1. Read the article by Indeed on 4 Different Ways to Communicate in the Workplace then take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Reflect upon the following for each of the 4 dimensions discussed in the article (verbal, non-verbal, visual, written) :
   1. What are your top interpersonal skills?
   2. What could you be doing better?
    

Meeting One - Conversation Starters

1. How have your interpersonal skills factored into your success? Can you think of a time or situation where your skills set you apart or allowed you to advance academically or professionally?
2. Are there particular resources, tools, or role models that you have used to guide your communication practices and helped you to develop your own communication style?
3. What’s one of the most challenging conversations you remember having?
4. What have you learned about being an effective communicator in a team or organization?
5. Focusing on one of the 4 ways of communication (verbal, non-verbal, visual, written), what do you consider as the top 5 Do’s and Don’ts?

Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

1. Complete the short communication skills self-assessment in Part 1 of the Boosting Your Professional Communication Skills Worksheet.
   1. What are your top interpersonal skills?
   2. What could you be doing better?
   3. Retain a copy of the skills assessment for your records.
    
2. Write (and upload) a professional-quality email/letter to your mentor in which you communicate the following (at minimum):
   1. Your top interpersonal skills;
   2. What you could be doing better;
   3. What skills you would like to focus on at your next meeting;
   4. Your appreciation for your mentor’s support.
    

Meeting Two - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can the mentor offer on your communication skills? What do they observe as your areas of strength? Areas to target for improvement?
2. What strengths are you wanting to build upon? What challenges are you wanting to overcome?
3. Where do you think you can make the most progress?
4. What suggestions do you have for asking for feedback from peers and supervisors? How do you integrate feedback into your work performance?
5. How do you assess the development of these skills over time to ensure efforts to improve are working?

Final Deliverable (Due at least 48-hours before next meeting):

Meeting Three - Conversation Starters

1. What feedback can you the Mentor offer on the Final Deliverable?
2. What questions do you the Mentee have for the Mentor?
3. What are the next steps in continuing to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies, etc. you’ve been working on?

Helpful Resources

1. College Info Geek: The Beginner’s Guide to Professional Communication https://collegeinfogeek.com/professional-communication-guide/
2. Indeed How to Write a Professional Email https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-professional-email?from=careeradvice-US
3. MasterClass Experts offer their advice on How To Improve Your Interpersonal Communication Skills https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-interpersonal-communication-skills#6-elements-of-interpersonal-communication
4. Harvard Business Review offers resources and guidance for Business Communication https://hbr.org/topic/business-communication and Business Writing https://hbr.org/topic/business-writing?ab=articlepage-topic ; if you are unable to access full text articles online, check your college library online databases or talk with a librarian.