Conversation with a Mentor
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School
Indiana University, Bloomington *
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Course
T175
Subject
Communications
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by CommodoreQuetzalMaster897
Conversation with a Mentor
Purpose
As we approach the final weeks of the course, it’s time to begin
synthesizing what you’ve learned about yourself and to become more
aware of your professional development. You will engage in this
synthesis by thinking analytically about yourself and by soliciting input
from others. Learning Objectives
To engage in reflective self-analysis
To practice good networking skills by professionally “reach out” for constructive advice
Assignment Steps
Step 1:
Engage in a conversation (in person, phone call, skype, etc.) with someone whose opinion you respect and who has experience working in a professional environment (that doesn’t just mean a business! Any professional environment is okay). This person can be a parent, family member, friend of the family, older sibling, or mentor. 1)
Share with this person what you’ve learned thus far in Compass 1
—about yourself, about networking and communication, and about tools like elevator pitches, LinkedIn, etc. 2)
Seek advice and guidance.
How does this person think these concepts and insights will help
you in the professional world? What do they know about you that they could add to what you’ve learned about yourself or that you could add to your personal brand story? What advice do they have about figuring out your major, uncovering possibilities, developing your professionalism and your personal brand, etc.? 3)
Reflect on this conversation.
What did you learn from this conversation? What insights did you have? What came out of this conversation that you want to “hold on to” or keep in mind as you move forward in your college experience?
4)
Write 1 to 2 paragraphs outlining what you learned from this conversation.
Be specific and include concrete examples. There are two main things I learn from the conversation with my dad last week (who is also my
mentor)
1.
Decision-making and focus are two of the most important skills in any field of business. For example, from the beginning of an academic term, I should be clear about which courses to really focus on for deeply understanding key business concepts and developing practical skills, not just earning grades. During the semester, I should devote most of my time and effort towards diving into those course materials, asking thought-
provoking questions, and critical thinking analysis. While extracurricular activities have value, they should not overly distract me from academics, which require focused effort to yield lasting gains. Decision-making abilities are also vital - choosing where to focus my attention, what career paths to pursue, which people to build relationships with, and
who to approach as mentors.
2.
Personal branding is very important. My dad recognizes strengths like my innovative thinking, growth mindset, and natural communication abilities. He advises me to develop my personal brand across both real-life and online platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to highlight these distinctive attributes. Effective personal marketing can attract kindred spirits - those with shared goals and ambitions, as well as jobs and environments where I can thrive.
Step 2:
Now that you’ve had a chance to reflect on yourself and on what you’ve learned so far this semester, complete the following questions below (#1-#5).
To help you with each question, consider the following (you may or may not address these in your answers – they are simply provided to encourage your thought process):
The most important things you learned and why
Content/concepts that were most valuable to you and why
How what you’ve learned is relevant to your Personal Brand
How your understanding of content and concepts have changed from the beginning of the semester to now
What you can do that you couldn’t do before this class
What you know that you didn’t know before this class
1)
Write ~200 words about your key learnings in the Research & Development Phase (Values, Interests, Skills, and Personality)
After doing the MBTI test, I learned that as an ENFP personality type, I am often imaginative, energetic, and open-minded. I value having control and creative influence in an enterprise, as well as working towards positioning, power, and influence. My skills include creative thinking, decisiveness, flexibility, empathy, openness to criticism, and sociability. Given my personality and interests, entrepreneurship appeals to me greatly. Potential careers that would be a good match include working as an entrepreneur, in retail,
advertising, or venture capital. I thrive in collaborative company cultures that value consideration between colleagues. Workplaces where I can express my ideas, make an impact through innovation, take on leadership roles, and work closely with teams suit me best. My strengths lie in generating novel solutions, connecting well with others, adapting to changes, and spearheading new initiatives. Overall, I am looking for environments that give me freedom to create and lead while allowing me to develop interpersonal relationships and influence.
2)
Write ~200 words about your key learnings in the Branding Phase (Defining Your Brand, Personal Brand, Personal Brand Video, Netiquette).
The branding phase helped me define my personal brand and skills. Assessing my experiences showed my strengths in creative thinking, empathy, and communication. These transferable skills could help me thrive in marketing roles focused on innovation and storytelling. Drafting the STAR example highlighted how I have demonstrated strategic problem-solving, perseverance and teamwork in past leadership positions. This reflection reminded me that listening to different viewpoints leads to better ideas. Reviewing etiquette tips emphasized the importance of clear, respectful communication online to prevent misinterpretation. Overall, establishing my personal brand revealed how my core
values of creativity, understanding people, and driving progress can guide my career if balanced with business priorities. I’m excited to further develop my brand and make contributions within a creative, purpose-driven marketing team. The branding phase provided a valuable foundation for expressing my unique perspectives while ensuring my growth mindset supports organizational success.
3)
Write ~200 words about your key learnings in the Go to Market Phase (LinkedIn, Social Media Audit).
Creating a professional LinkedIn profile taught me how to nuancedly communicate my skills, experiences, and goals to expand my network. Outlining my background, capabilities and interests in a condensed format clarified my personal brand. Reviewing profiles of those in roles I may pursue showed me how to strategically highlight transferable competencies. This motivates me to regularly update my profile as I gain relevant skills. Completing the social media audit then revealed how to align my online presence with target positions. Evaluating sample accounts' content and engagement strategies demonstrated best practices for standing out positively. I learned the importance of showcasing authenticity, leadership, and differentiation across platforms. Maintaining consistent personal branding and messaging can enable me to build valuable connections in my field. Overall, these assignments illustrated that carefully crafting my digital footprint will be vital for future opportunities. I now better grasp how to intentionally shape my online presence to communicate my strengths while understanding priorities of employers.
Furthermore, thanks to these assignments, I had been able to connect with many aspiring leaders and upperclassmen and have valuable conversations with them about academic, career, and everything likewise.
4)
Write 100 – 200 words about the next steps / how you will leverage what you know moving forward. Having a deeper understanding of my values, interests, skills and personality will guide me in pursuing opportunities aligned with my strengths. I now recognize the importance of choosing work environments that allow me to apply my creative thinking and empathy to make an impact. Clearly establishing my personal brand revealed how I can uniquely contribute through innovative problem-solving and storytelling. This motivates me to further develop specialized skills tailored to my target roles in purpose-driven marketing. Assembling a professional digital presence taught me how to intentionally shape perceptions around my capabilities and mindset. I will continue optimizing my LinkedIn profile and social media to showcase my authentic personal brand. Staying dedicated to networking and informational interviews will uncover more wisdom from experts to incorporate. Overall, I am equipped to leverage self-discovery for career clarity and craft an
influential online footprint. My next steps are to keep gaining relevant experience to back up my brand promises and constantly gather others’ perspectives to strengthen my approach. With focus, determination, and compassion, I can access opportunities to positively challenge the status quo.
5)
In what ways did the rigor of the coursework in Compass 1 facilitate your learning? (Write 100 – 200 words)
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The intentionally structured Compass 1 coursework enabled me to strategically build career clarity and job skills. The many assessments provided multi-angled understandings of my interests, values, and strengths. Combining these objective results with my reflections showed surprising alignments and insights to guide my path. Connecting self-
discovery with industry research then tied my brand to real situations to assess fit. Also, the
layered assignments trained core abilities like active listening, communication between people, and persuasive writing. The increasing complexity continually pushed me to go deeper than surface-level talking points to convincingly show personal depth. At the same time, the specific examples mentioned in lectures, class debates, and thoughtful feedback during office hours promoted significant improvement. By taking in different viewpoints and balancing personal perspectives with business needs, Compass 1 built my emotional intelligence and strategic thinking. In the end, the program’s comprehensive, step-by-step, and supportive design empowered me to take charge of my career direction. I gained confidence in expressing my differentiated value while ensuring it connects with key contributors.