Find a Mentor
Explore our directory and pick a mentor who seems like a good fit. You’ll have the opportunity to book a 30-minute call with them. These sessions are free, as all of our mentors are volunteers. The topics to be discussed during the call are left up to you. Afterwards, you can decide whether to keep the call as a one-time coaching session, or continue to develop a mentoring relationship.
Do’s & Don’ts for Mentees
Do Plan Ahead
Half an hour is not that much time, which is why being prepared for the session is crucial! Identify the issues you want to discuss with your mentor and prep some questions beforehand. Though you might be tempted to chat about everything, we recommend keeping it to two or three topics.
Don’t Make It a Venting Session
Work (and life!) can be very frustrating. If you’re upset when you call your mentor, that’s understandable. We’ve all been there! But make sure not to monopolize the session by only venting. Use your call to talk through the challenges you’re facing and strategize ways to solve them.
Do Remember the Mentor vs. Sponsor Difference
Mentors will give you advice on your career and help you develop the skills you need. But they can’t necessarily advocate for you to get the internship or promotion you want. That’s what sponsors are for. They can be a bosses or recruiters, and mentors can put you in touch with them.
Don’t Ghost Our Mentors
Sometimes you’re unable to make your session. We get it, life happens! But please be respectful of our mentors’ time. Give them a heads up as far in advance as possible. If you can’t do that and miss the call due to unforeseen circumstances, consider sending them a note afterwards to let them know what happened.
Do Follow Up On Their Feedback
You and your mentor will likely develop a list of specific, achievable goals. While you don’t have to do all the things they suggested, remember their advice is meant to help you. Follow up on their feedback! And if you schedule another call with them, update them on your progress.
Don’t Overload Yourself
While it might be tempting to book calls with multiple mentors in one-sitting, please refrain from doing so. Finding the right mentor for you is a marathon, not a sprint! Many other women will be also trying to connect with mentors, and we want as many people as possible to have access to this resource. We encourage you to book calls with different mentors later on.
Do Focus On the Conversation
You did your homework and came to the session prepared with a plan. But make sure that you’re able to chat with your mentor without any distractions! Mute your notifications, find a quiet space to talk—just make sure you’ll be 100% focused in the conversation. Your mentor will be doing the same.
Don’t Force a Relationship
Finding the right mentor can be a long process. If after your call you realize the person is not a right fit, that’s okay! Thank them for their time, and make sure to keep in touch anyway. They’ll make a strong addition to your network, even if they are not the mentor for you.
Do Leave a Testimonial
If you benefitted from the help of our mentors, please let us know! Share your experience here. And if you have any thoughts on how to improve this program, we’d also love to hear from you.