Film-style poster for the Keep in Touch presentation

A guide for mentees A guide for mentees

How to turn one good conversation into a contact who stays glad to help.

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What this guide covers

Contacts last

Old contacts still give good advice

People you have not spoken to for years give advice as useful as current contacts.

3+ years Out of touch, and dormant ties still gave advice as valuable as current ties Levin, Walter & Murnighan, Organization Science, 2011

A specific thank you

Thank them within two days

Writers underestimate how much a thank you means, especially a specific one.

Thank you. I will start with the two analyst calls you suggested. Names the advice you will use.
Thanks for your time! Polite, and soon forgotten.

Report back

Report back on what you did

Four to eight weeks later, tell them what you tried and how it went.

Within two days thanks, with the advice named
Four to eight weeks what you did, what happened
Every few months one line of news

A contact list

Keep a simple contact list

Name, advice, your promise and the next contact date are enough.

My contact listUpdated after every talk

AdviceMy promiseNext contact

David M.Talk to two policy analystsSend my notesIn 6 weeks

Susan W.Learn basic SQLReport on the courseAfter the exam

Laura H.Apply for the summer schoolShare the outcomeIn May

Acquaintances

Keep acquaintances, not only friends

People you see now and then hear of openings your close friends do not.

Close friends know what you know
Acquaintances bring new openings
Old contacts easy to wake up
Alumni a shared start

Doing it on Mentornity

Stay in touch on Mentornity

Messages, meeting history and events keep the thread alive.

Message your mentor

Each message also arrives by email.

Look back at meetings

Past meetings and their notes stay in one place.

Join alumni events

Register and the calendar invite follows.

Turn on browser push

New meetings and messages reach you at once.

Message your mentor

Each message also arrives by email.

Look back at meetings

Past meetings and their notes stay in one place.

Meetings

3 of 4 meetings done

3Mar Kick-off & expectations Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
10Mar Strengths & skills Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
12Mar Goal setting & career mapping Thu · 14:00 · 45 min Meeting scheduled Schedule a meeting Confirm and book
Networking plan Schedule a meeting

Goal setting & career mapping

Thu, Mar 12 · 14:00–14:45 Join video call

Mentor sees

Mentee sees

Ask about their top three goals and help them pick one for the next 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

What do you already know about their goals?

Post-meeting questions

Which next step did you agree on?

Bring your top three goals. You will leave with one to focus on for 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

Which goal do you want to focus on?

Post-meeting questions

How confident are you in your plan?

Join alumni events

Register and the calendar invite follows.

Turn on browser push

New meetings and messages reach you at once.

1Message your mentor

2Look back at meetings

Meetings

3 of 4 meetings done

3Mar Kick-off & expectations Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
10Mar Strengths & skills Tue · 14:00 · 45 min
12Mar Goal setting & career mapping Thu · 14:00 · 45 min Meeting scheduled Schedule a meeting Confirm and book
Networking plan Schedule a meeting

Goal setting & career mapping

Thu, Mar 12 · 14:00–14:45 Join video call

Mentor sees

Mentee sees

Ask about their top three goals and help them pick one for the next 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

What do you already know about their goals?

Post-meeting questions

Which next step did you agree on?

Bring your top three goals. You will leave with one to focus on for 90 days.

Pre-meeting questions

Which goal do you want to focus on?

Post-meeting questions

How confident are you in your plan?

3Join alumni events

4Turn on browser push

Write one report back today

Pick the advice you used most and tell that person what happened.

Sign in to Mentornity Read the guide