• Call your mentor and introduce yourself. Ask to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for a visit. Give your mentor at least two weeks notice for your request.
• Ask for directions and determine the appropriate attire for their business setting. Ask your mentor to send employer information or provide you with the company's URL to view their website to help you better prepare for your visit.
• Prepare a list of questions in advance. See the list of Sample Questions to Ask.
• Call your mentor the day before your scheduled visit to confirm details.
• After visiting your mentor, please send a Thank You Letter, commenting on those activities or discussions that were most meaningful to you.

Phone Contact

If you are making a phone contact only, please be sure to ask your mentor if you have contacted him/her at a convenient time to talk. If not, schedule a date and time to call again.

• Prepare an agenda and/or a list of questions in advance. See the list of Sample Questions to Ask.
• Be very professional, both in your tone and in the content of your discussion.
• At the end of your conversation, be sure to thank your mentor for his/her time and assistance.
• Remember to send a Thank You Letter commenting on the information or discussion that was most meaningful to you.

E-mail Contact

When using e-mail as your primary means of communicating with your mentor, please prepare a brief introduction of yourself to help your mentor become more familiar with you.

For example, you might say, "Hi, my name is Frank N. Stein and I am a sophomore at Rensselaer majoring in Computer Science. I am currently exploring the various places people with a computer science background might work. I read your Pathways profile and I am interested in learning more about the work you are currently doing at XYZ Co. To learn more about you and the career choices you have made, I would appreciate it if you would answer the questions listed below by return e-mail at your convenience. I look forward to corresponding with you. Thank you."

Next, prepare a very brief list of three to four well thought out questions. Refer to the list of Sample Questions to Ask. Be aware that it may take your mentor anywhere from a few days to a week or more to respond to your questions. Many professionals travel and participation in Pathways is a volunteer activity. Once you have heard back from your mentor, respond to him/her as soon as possible and include additional questions if you have any. This may help you to develop a relationship that would allow you to contact him/her again should you have more questions or other topics you would like to discuss. The key is to keep your requests to a minimum; make it as easy as possible for your mentor to respond to you. And remember, say thank you!

After meeting, talking or corresponding by e-mail with your Pathways mentor, determine the next step that's right for you:

Research your options further:

• Meet or talk with additional Pathways mentors or others in your field of interest.
• Schedule an appointment with a career counselor in the CDC to further discuss your career options and goals.