You are currently working on your bachelor or master thesis. Ideally, you have a friendly supervisor to support you with your work. I hope that your supervisor encouraged you to ask questions and has an open door for you to come and talk about the problems you face.
But apart from the technical stuff, what are the questions you should ask your supervisor? Here are four questions I wished I had asked my supervisors, and recommend you to ask:
What are the criteria on which my thesis will be judged?
In my experience as a supervisor, barely any student asks this question. But why not? We all automatically assume that if the thesis is somehow good this reflects in a somehow good grade.
But did you know that other factors can influence your grade as well. Your conduct in the lab, the quality of your literature research, or how polished the first draft of your thesis is might all factor in.
Get transparency. Ask your supervisor.
How do I get a job after graduating?
Unless you know already how to bag you dream job after graduating, you should ask this question. Depending on the experience of your supervisor, you might get little help or you might get a lot.
In any case, this question is very well worth asking, as your thesis might conclude your education and the job hunt is soon on.
Read here why you should not feel guilty if you don’t follow in the footsteps of your supervisor.
Can you help me with my CV?
Ask your supervisor for feedback on your CV. Especially if you want to apply in a similar field as he or she is from, your supervisor might give you valuable input how to improve you CV.
Do not hesitate to ask this question because it is not related to your subject. Many supervisors still remember the struggles of a fresh graduate and are happy to help.
May I list you as a reference?
Be sure to ask this question before you part ways. If you are just about to finish your academic education, you might not be able to give too many references from previous employers. So, a reference form your supervisor might be all you have.
It is good form to ask your supervisor first before listing him or her as your reference in your applications.