30 questions to ask your mentor

Effective mentorship starts with a clear set of questions. The article argues that a prepared mentee who writes 3-5 focused queries extracts concrete advice, turning a brief conversation into a career-shaping session. It stresses that specificity and context let mentors share relevant experiences instead of vague guidance.

The piece walks through practical prep steps: define your goal, provide background for each question, research your mentor's expertise, set realistic expectations, seek multiple viewpoints, and follow up with updates. By treating the mentorship meeting like a structured interview, leaders can surface hidden insights and build a lasting relationship.

Finally, it supplies a curated list of 30 questions organized into job-search, career pivots, interviewing, skill-building, and career growth. Technical leaders can adapt these prompts to address résumé polish, negotiation tactics, skill gaps, presentation confidence, and networking strategies, making the resource a ready-to-use toolkit for any mentorship scenario.