Frequently asked questions
We’ve answered the most common questions in our FAQ. Students, mentors, and partners can all find the information they need to get started with BobaTalks.
General Questions
What is BobaTalks?
We are a NPO that helps students navigate the ambiguities of early career development. Through mentorships, we help students access and get in touch with professionals in the tech industry.
Is BobaTalks Free?
We do not charge students or mentors for using our service and everyone who works with BobaTalks is doing so in a volunteer capacity.
Is this a networking or career interest group?
Our students join with an interest in specific careers, and networking is a benefit of being mentored by those in our program! But at our core, we are strictly a program that helps students find mentors.
Students
What kind of mentors do you have?
Our mentors come from both technical (Software Engineering, Product Design, Product Management, etc) and non-technical backgrounds (Marketing, Business Operations, Human Resources, etc)! They’ve joined BobaTalks in a volunteer capacity to help folks navigate their early career woes. We also have mentors who are available for non-career-related conversations as well.
I don’t know exactly what to ask if I schedule a call with a Mentor.
We encourage you to come prepared for the chat and we understand if you’re a bit hesitant. Here is a list of recommended questions, made by the BobaTalks community!
Can I network for referrals, internships, or jobs through BobaTalks?
To prevent the solicitation of mentors and to keep the conversations strictly productive, we discourage networking for the sake of referrals, internships, and jobs. For those types of opportunities, consider joining our Discord.
I’m not sure where to start.
That is totally okay. Sometimes the most challenging part is figuring out where to start! If you’re looking for a mentor for a mixed bag of topics, please consider mentors from General life advice or General career advice 🙂
Mentors
I'd love to mentor! How can I sign up?
We’d love the extra help! Please sign up to be a mentor.
What are the commitments of becoming a mentor? Is it paid?
Mentors are encouraged to meet with students for a few hours per week. Mentors have complete control over their schedules, cadence, and how often they meet. Our mentorship is done in a volunteer capacity.
I want to be able to talk about my own story, not what I'm told to.
Of course! We do not control the content that you share – if a student signs up with you, they will reach out to you personally. Please be your authentic self and help however you can!
Partners
What kind of partners are you looking for?
We would love to partner with boba stores, universities, and companies. Depending on the type of partnership, we can collaborate on branding, recruiting among the community, and marketing.
How can we get in touch?
Please contact partners@bobatalks.com for further inquiries and questions!