Tips for Mentoring at the 2025 Queens Borough President Office Career & Tech Expo
Understand the Audience:
Anticipate diverse backgrounds, skill levels, and interests.
Prepare advice for beginners as well as advanced individuals in your field.
Prepare an Elevator Pitch About Yourself:
Share your professional journey in 1-2 minutes.
Highlight your expertise and areas where you can provide the most value.
Be Open-Ended in Your Approach:
Start each session by asking, "What do you hope to get out of this conversation?"
Adjust your advice based on their specific goals or challenges.
Bring Resources:
Compile a list of resources, tools, or articles for various topics, such as tech bootcamps, resume templates, or networking platforms.
Be ready to share actionable links or references they can explore afterward.
Be Time-Conscious:
Keep track of the session time (e.g., 20 minutes) to ensure both parties feel productive without being rushed.
Tips on Topics We’ll Cover
1. Career Advice
How to Prepare:
Reflect on key lessons from your career journey.
Be ready to discuss career trajectories and how to navigate entry-level roles, mid-career pivots, or leadership transitions.
What to Share:
Industry insights: What’s trending, what’s declining.
Practical steps to break into specific fields.
Stories of how you overcame challenges or made pivotal decisions.
2. College and Grad School Advice
How to Prepare:
Recall your own experiences with higher education.
Research the latest trends in admissions, such as program specializations, funding, and ROI.
What to Share:
Advice on selecting programs that align with their goals.
Tips for strengthening applications, such as crafting a standout personal statement or choosing recommenders.
Discuss alternatives like certifications, online programs, or short courses.
3. Current Opportunities in Tech
How to Prepare:
Stay updated on current job openings, in-demand skills, and certifications.
Familiarize yourself with emerging technologies and trends like AI, blockchain, or cloud computing.
What to Share:
Recommended bootcamps, online learning platforms, or tech communities.
Contacts or organizations offering internships, apprenticeships, or fellowships.
Strategies for staying competitive, like building a portfolio or contributing to open-source projects.
4. Career Networking
How to Prepare:
Revisit your own networking strategies and tools, such as LinkedIn and professional groups.
Prepare templates for outreach messages or follow-ups.
What to Share:
Tips for making authentic connections at events and online.
The importance of maintaining relationships and how to follow up effectively.
Strategies for building a professional brand, like thought leadership or social media engagement.
5. Mentorship
How to Prepare:
Think about your own mentorship experiences—both as a mentor and mentee.
Reflect on what worked (and didn’t) in building those relationships.
What to Share:
Steps to find and approach potential mentors.
How to establish clear goals and expectations in a mentorship relationship.
The value of mutual respect and reciprocity in mentorship.
6. Interview Prep
How to Prepare:
Review common interview formats (behavioral, technical, panel, etc.).
Compile a list of typical questions in your industry and examples of great responses.
What to Share:
The STAR method for answering behavioral questions.
Tips for presenting oneself confidently, even when nervous.
Virtual interview strategies, including tech checks and setting up a professional background.
7. Resume Reviews
How to Prepare:
Review examples of well-crafted resumes in your industry.
Understand what recruiters or hiring managers typically look for.
What to Share:
How to tailor a resume to specific roles.
The importance of quantifying accomplishments (e.g., "Increased sales by 20%").
Formatting tips to make resumes ATS-friendly and visually appealing
8. Self-Confidence and Mindset
How to Prepare:
Reflect on your strategies for building confidence and overcoming challenges.
Gather stories of resilience or motivation to share.
What to Share:
Techniques for combating imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
The value of celebrating small wins and practicing gratitude.
How to maintain focus and motivation during difficult times.
9. Technical Questions
How to Prepare:
Brush up on technical concepts or emerging trends in your area of expertise.
Prepare to explain complex topics in simple terms.
What to Share:
Practical examples or challenges to help mentees strengthen technical skills.
Emerging technologies to watch and resources for learning them.
Tools, coding platforms, or software to practice technical skills.
10. Other Topics
How to Prepare:
Be ready to think on your feet and adapt to unanticipated questions.
What to Share:
If unsure about a topic, direct mentees to resources or offer to follow up with additional information.
Encourage them to stay curious and explore options they hadn’t considered.
Final Tips for Conference Day:
Arrive with a friendly, welcoming attitude.
Keep conversations mentee-focused—this is about their goals, not your agenda.
Summarize key points at the end of each session and provide clear next steps or resources.
Thank the mentee for their time and encourage them to reach out for further support via LinkedIn, email, or the mentorship app.
By being prepared and adaptable, you’ll inspire and empower mentees, leaving a lasting impact on their personal and professional growth!
