Hey, I'm not sure this is the right thread for this, but since you asked - I'd recommend starting with some of the big names like Plato, Nietzsche, and Kant. Maybe read a few key works like "The Republic", "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", and "Critique of Pure Reason" to get a feel for their ideas.
"Hey OP, I'd be down to contribute some knowledge, but I gotta say my philo skills are a bit rusty. What kind of topics are you covering in this 'candidat's minim' you're referring to? Is it like a crash course for a degree or something?"