10 ProTips
Designed to help Professionals on CareerVillage.org author top quality advice. Answers that meet at least 9 out of 10 ProTips will receive “Best of the Village” marks.
ProTip #1: Be direct
Address what the student needs right away to answer their question. If a student asks “What is the best thing about being an architect in…” start your advice with “The best thing about being an architect is…”
Read more about ProTip #1 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-one-fe1291c54cf6
ProTip #2: Be comprehensive
This pro tip is about providing students with complete, detailed answers to their questions. If a student asks “What are three great things about being a programmer and why?” be sure that you list at least three things and specify why you selected them.
Read more about ProTip #2 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-two-c4fa05288cea
ProTip #3: Use facts
Unless a student is asking for opinions, make sure the information you share with students is truthful. Tens of thousands of students will read answers attached your profile. The best answers will state accurate facts.
Read more about ProTip #3 here: https://medium.com/p/526adf925f1f/edit
ProTip #4: Tell a personal story
Your personal experience is your most valuable mentorship tool. Writing about your personal experiences can impact the choices students make, provide them with better perspective, and help prepare them for the future.
Read more about ProTip #4 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-four-9755ee684ebe
ProTip #5: Recommend next steps
Giving students tangible next step recommendations gives them a clear idea of what to do next. Oftentimes even the best advice can leave students feeling like they aren’t sure what exactly they should do if they aren’t explicitly told, so tell them!
Read more about ProTip #5 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-five-f13ce08ea300
ProTip #6: Cite your source
Show your credibility. Explain where you pull your advice from, and back up your opinions by citing your personal experiences. If you happen to share a link or reference a book, webpage or video, include the link with a description of what it is and why it is valuable.
Read more about ProTip #6 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-six-f888066c839e
ProTip #7: Strike the right tone
When writing to a student, it’s important to keep your tone positive. A great way to practice positive tone is by validating the student’s question and finishing with a simple “good luck” or “thank you.” Above all else, make sure that your advice lets the student know that they are not alone in what they are facing.
Read more about ProTip #7 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-seven-f1fdf6fdb5f7
ProTip #8: Use proper grammar, formatting, and structure
Making your answer easy to read allows students to quickly absorb your information and learn from it. It’s especially important for english language learners to be able to understand your answers.
Read more about ProTip #8 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-eight-13c01be48173
ProTip #9: Anticipate the student’s needs
Because students don’t always know what questions to ask next, the most educational advice anticipates what a student needs to learn next and often answers questions they didn’t know they would need to ask at all.
Read more about ProTip #9 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-nine-b10a19d70d6
ProTip #10: Be concise
Make sure your writing stays on topic, and avoid long tangents. Thousands of students want to read your valuable answers, and the more concise your advice is, the more students will read it.
Read more about ProTip #10 here: https://medium.com/@careervillage/protip-ten-b1b2964aef37
