For Mentors
- Let the students make the contacts
- Clearly state your expectations and preferences
- Keep the interaction professional
- During the initial contact, start the conversation by giving a brief history about your career, job responsibilities, and educational background
- Talk about current and future trends in your field
- Suggest ways to make him/her more marketable in the job market and ways for him/her to gain additional experience
- If appropriate, give him/her a tour of your company and share materials
- Suggest professional organizations and publications
For Users
- Before the initial contact, research the alum’s company so you don’t ask questions that are easily available from his/her company’s web site
- When making the initial contact by phone, ask if it is a good time to talk, make an appointment, or send an introductory note via e-mail
- Be enthusiastic and polite. Remember you are representing Purdue Calumet.
- Identify yourself as a participant of the PAAC Alumni Career Network and provide brief background information about yourself such as major, career goals, involvement in student and/or professional organizations
- Be respectful of the mentor’s time and limit your interaction to 15 minutes
- Keep the interaction professional
- Plan open-ended questions
- Focus on the alum’s views, suggestions, and feelings rather than hard data so that the interview is more rewarding
- Don’t ask about the alum’s salary or help in getting a job. If the alum is interested in providing this, he/she will be forthcoming
- Respect the alum’s preferences for further contacts and communication methods
- Remember to thank the alum at the end of your contact and follow up with a thank you note
Additonal resource
Guidelines for informational interviews
Report any problems or changes in your employment to the Office of Career Services by calling (219) 989-2600 or emailing careerservices@purduecal.edu.
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