If I ask a higher up at work for advice over coffee, who pays?

I invited a mentor for a coffee. She’s a senior executive, and I’m a recent graduate, so she earns a lot more than me. Who pays for this? Me or the executive?

Are we talking a Starbucks on Third Avenue or coffee at the Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side? Because one will set you back a few bucks, and the other will set you back a few paychecks. Regardless of your taste and financial capability, I think that given the circumstances — this is your invite, and you want something from the guest — you should pick up the tab. A simple way to avoid the awkwardness when the bill arrives is to arrive early and take care of the bill ahead of time. That way you can be gracious — it’s not a big deal, the bill is handled. Then thank them for their time and advice, and always offer to be of assistance to them if ever the occasion ever arises.

My internship ended a week ago, and my boss said that I should keep in touch if I’m interested in being considered for a job when I graduate next year. What’s the proper protocol for staying in touch to demonstrate my continued interest?

You ask a great and mature question, because too many interns just move on and don’t reach out again until closer to graduation. That’s a mistake, even if you don’t think that you’ll ever want to return to that company, because you still want them as a future reference, and you don’t want them to forget about you. Be creative by sending email updates monthly about how you’re doing — what’s going on with academics and extracurriculars, like a short, fun blog post that doesn’t require a response. Or you can send an update towards the end of the semester, as well as a greeting around the holidays. At some point before graduation, ask for a time to chat about potential opportunities to return.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Weds. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. E-mail: GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on
Twitter: @GregGiangrande