career advice should feel useful, not vague. Ask clear questions. Get simple answers. Below are practical questions you can ask a mentor. Use them to learn faster and avoid guesswork.
🎯 Career advice: questions about your goals
- What one skill should I focus on this year?
- What job titles should I aim for next?
- Which tasks at my current job matter most for promotion?
- How did you set career goals early on?
- Do you see any gaps in my plan? If so, which ones?
🚀 Career advice: questions about growth and skills
- Which learning resources helped you most?
- What soft skills matter in my field?
- How do I get stretch projects without overpromising?
- Can you review one of my recent projects? What would you change?
- How should I ask for feedback from my manager?
🤝 Questions about networking and visibility
- Who else should I talk to inside or outside the company?
- How do I introduce myself to someone senior?
- What’s the best way to follow up after a short meeting?
- How do I make my wins visible without bragging?
⚖️ Questions about work-life balance and choices
- How did you decide between a stable job and a riskier move?
- What habits helped you avoid burnout?
- If you could do one thing differently early on, what would it be?
📄 Questions about interviews, CVs, and promotion
- What part of my CV stands out, and what weakens it?
- What interview mistakes should I avoid?
- How did you prepare for promotions or raises?
- What metrics or results do managers care about most here?
💡 How to ask these questions (quick tips)
- Pick 2–4 questions per meeting.
- Share one short background sentence before each question.
- Ask for examples, not just opinions.
- Take notes and act on one suggestion before your next meeting.
Keep your meetings short and focused. And always thank your mentor for specific help. If you use these questions, you’ll get clearer career advice and a better plan for what to do next.
