Career Prep 2009 Summer Blog

Sam Nana-Sinkam (Bucknell University) says the best tip would be to approach said mentor and speak with her/im about you and how s/he sees your future unfolding. Doing so will allow the mentor to give his/er honest feelings and thoughts about you. With this information, you can judge how your relationship with this person can continue without completely ruining the situation prematurely.


Alex Felfle (Connecticut College) advises you to evaluate how you are acting with your mentor. Are you making enough of an effort to make a connection with your mentor? Have you taken the initiative to ask them questions and spend time with them? Seek different ways to make this relationship work. Ask them out to lunch sometimes. It’s good to step out of the office so they can get to know you better – there might be a personality connection. If this mentor is not providing you with what you need and is not interested after several attempts on your part, try to find another informal mentor for the summer. Alex Cain (Cornell University) recommend that you always be sincere. Don't always look for an incentive to network with your peers. If anything, you are trying to develop friendships. Don't only contact them when you need something, try to catch up and share experiences.