This checklist will help you make a good first impression, help you figure out what this mentoring thing is all about, and instil some spark in your mentoring relationship.

If you haven’t already:

• Peruse your mentee's digital professional profile.
  Check out their LinkedIn profile, and if they have it, their other social media accounts or blog.

• Send through a quick bio or intro via Mentorloop chat.
  Give them a bit of background on your career and some tidbits about yourself to break the ice.

• Ask them to introduce themselves

  If they haven't already, ask them to send you a short bio and tell you which areas they'd like your insight on.

• Consider your own experience and strengths

  Have a think about what you can bring into this relationship. Most of the time, we have more to offer than we initially think.

• Consider what you want to get out of this relationship

  Mentors can gain so many great things from being one - mentoring is always a two-way street.

During your first meeting:

• Set the parameters

  Get the housekeeping out of the way early. Talk about how often you're available to meet, how you prefer to communicate, etc.

• Introductions!

  Give your mentee a more in-depth overview of your experience and career highlights and ask them to do the same.

• Why are you here?

  Let your mentee know why you're offering your time and share how mentors have helped you along the way.

• Make sure you're getting it right

  Make sure you come away with a clear idea of what your mentee is looking for so you can start planning how you can best guide them.

After your first meeting:

• Review and reflect

  Consider what you discussed, review your mentee's meeting wrap-up and send some additional feedback if applicable.

• Share some resources

  Now that you have some idea of what your mentee wants and needs, share some relevant blogs or podcasts to get them started.

• Encourage your mentee to schedule your next catch up

  If your mentee hasn't tried to schedule your next meeting after a few days, they might be feeling a bit shy - reach out!

Who doesn't love a PDF checklist? Take a peek and click to download!