MENTOR INTERVIEW
Rock Creek Senior Exit Project Interview
Rationale/Process/Questions
RATIONALE
Why do we have to do this?
• You meet your mentor to form a working relationship
• Your mentor understands his/her responsibilities
• You ensure you have chosen a qualified mentor
• You and your mentor review your proposal together
• You can obtain the necessary information and the required signatures
• You gain experience in a professional interview situation
• Proper attire, body language, etiquette, promptness, etc.
• Listening, questioning, and speaking skills
RATIONALE
PROCESS
How should we do this?
• Contact your mentor well in advance of the due date to
arrange a face-to-face meeting at their convenience
• Make the initial contact by phone
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Make the call in a quiet, private place where you cannot be interrupted
Make sure your cell phone (if using one) is charged and has a signal
Use proper grammar/language during the conversation
Do not interrupt the potential mentor
• Introduce yourself and explain your reason for calling
• Ask if there would be a good time to meet to discuss the mentor’s
duties and your proposal and to interview the mentor
• Verify the date, the time, and the place of the face-to-face meeting
• Get their address to send the mentor brochure or refer him/her to
the web site to review it before you meet
• Thank the potential mentor for agreeing to meet with you!
PROCESS: BEFORE
• Make arrangements to record your mentor interview
• Can use either audio or video recording devices, but be sure
that you can either save/send the file or turn in a tape
• Verify that your audio or video recording device works before
you meet with your mentor
• Have charged batteries in your device
• Have ample space on the device to record
• Test the device before you arrive at the interview
PROCESS: BEFORE
• Dress for success
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Bathe or shower before you meet your mentor… seriously
Use deodorant, but do not use cologne or perfumes
Brush your teeth and use mouthwash or mints
Remove any unusual piercings and cover tattoos
Select clothing that is appropriate and professional
PROCESS: BEFORE
• Gather your necessary materials
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Hand-written draft of your proposal form
Blank copy of your interview form
Mentor information brochure
Working blue pen(s)
Recording device
PROCESS: BEFORE
• Leave early
• Allow enough time to find the location and for any traffic
• Be on time for the meeting!
PROCESS: BEFORE
• Be professional from start to finish
• Shake the potential mentor’s hand
• Look the person in the eyes and smile at him/her
• Take the person’s hand in yours with a firm, comfortable grip
• Say something nice and use the person’s name
• Stay standing until you are invited to sit
• Stand again if you are introduced to someone else
• Maintain good posture
• Maintain natural eye contact
• Be attentive and speak intelligently
PROCESS: DURING
• Use your time effectively
• Remember that the potential mentor is giving up his/her time
for you, so stick to the task at hand
• But, be conversational, too…
• And, make sure to complete all the tasks necessary
PROCESS: DURING
• Start the conversation
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Break the ice by introducing yourself
State the reason for meeting (to find a mentor for your project)
Explain the Exit Project, as you give him/her the brochure
Allow him/her to ask questions about the project, if necessary
PROCESS: DURING
• Complete the mentor interview
• Ask the mentor if you can record the interview
• Do not interrupt or talk over your mentor while recording
• Ask questions exactly as they are written on the interview form
• Explain, though, any questions the mentor does not understand
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Allow ample time for the mentor to reply
Ask the mentor to repeat or explain any answers, if necessary
Appear interested and be conversational with your mentor
Write down notes unobtrusively and accurately in shorthand
Turn off the recording device at the end of the interview
PROCESS: DURING
• Discuss your proposal
• Talk your mentor through your drafted steps
• Ask your mentor to identify potential problems and to give
suggestions
• Have your mentor review your drafted estimates
• People involved, resources needed, time, expense, etc.
• Complete the “Mentor Confirmation” information
• Have your mentor sign the proposal and interview in blue ink
• Verify that all portions of both forms are complete
PROCESS: DURING
• THANK YOUR MENTOR!!!
• Stand up again
• Shake hands again
• Show your appreciation again
PROCESS: DURING
• Review your proposal
• Verify, again, that all sections are completed
• Make sure you and your parent/guardian sign it and date it
PROCESS: AFTER
• Transcribe your mentor interview
• Listen to your recorded interview and transcribe (type out) the
questions you asked and the answers you received verbatim
(word for word) in a Word document
• Do not erase the interview after you transcribe it
• Download/save the file or remove/save the tape
• Print out the transcribed interview and attach it to the proposal
and interview forms that your mentor signed
PROCESS: AFTER
• Meet the deadline!
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Signed, drafted proposal form
Signed, drafted interview notes form
Transcribed interview document
Interview file/tape
PROCESS: AFTER
QUESTIONS
What do we ask the mentors?
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What questions or concerns do you have so far about the Exit Project program?
• Allow him/her to ask about anything in the brochure or that you have said
What training or experience do you have in this field?
• Make sure he/she has at least two years of experience (preferably professional) in the field
How did you become interested in or discover this field or this activity?
• Use this information to determine if he/she is passionate and is interested in the field
Do you feel that you will have the time and the ability to mentor me through this process?
• Make sure he/she knows when you will need to meet and that he/she will need to attend
your presentation
What days and times, in general, work best to contact you or to meet with you?
• Use this as a way to know when you can contact and meet with him/her
What would be the best way to contact you? (Get address, e-mail, and phone)
• Use this as a way to know how he/she prefers to be contacted and to fill out the proposal
Do you see any problems with my proposal (steps and estimates), as written?
• Make sure he/she understands your project and gives advice on any potential problems
REQUIRED QUESTIONS
• If you plan to use the interview as a research paper
source, ask and record at least 10 additional questions
• Write open-ended questions before the interview
• Open-ended means they must be answered with more than a
“yes/no” or one-word response
• Open-ended usually start with “Why…” or “How…”
• Focus the questions around an aspect of your research paper
• Preferably, you would do this interview after you start research
• If you do this interview at the same time as the proposal
interview, make sure that you have your questions approved by
Mrs. Augustine-Stegman beforehand!
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS
1.
What training or education would you suggest for a beginner interested in this field or activity?
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How much time, on average, do you spend actively participating or working in this field or activity?
3.
What have you discovered to be the most rewarding aspect of the field or activity?
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What advice would you provide to a beginner in the field or activity?
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(Question developed by the student.)
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(Question developed by the student.)
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(Question developed by the student.)
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(Question developed by the student.)
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(Question developed by the student.)
10.
(Question developed by the student.)
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS
CONCERNS/COMMENTS?