Introduction

Let's imagine you've found yourself a match on Mentorloop. Whether it has been assigned to you by your Program Coordinator, the Mentorloop smart matching algorithm or you've found the match yourself using the Self matching tools, what happens next is really important. In this module, we'll describe what happens once you've been matched and what to do to get your mentoring relationship off to a great start!

By the end of this module, you'll be able to:

• Confidently introduce yourself and arrange your first meeting using Mentorloop
• Use your Loop to help you be a great mentor or mentee 
• Easily find guidance and support during this exciting time 

What happens once I've been matched?

Tips for making a good first impression

At Mentorloop, we encourage mentees to make things as easy as possible for their mentors. But there are also things that mentors can do to help the mentoring relationships get off to a good start:

• Peruse your match's Mentorloop profile as well as their digital professional one, such as LinkedIn or a blog
• Mentees, send your new match a quick introduction, giving them a bit of background into you or your career, and how you're hoping they can help.
• Mentors, if you've not heard from your match, reach out to share more about yourself and how you can help. It's not uncommon to feel nervous about taking the first step. Now's your chance to make your mentee feel comfortable to do so.
• Mentees, think about your goals in advance.
• Mentors, think about what you can bring to the relationship by considering your strengths and how they might align with your mentee's goals.
• Prepare to set expectations during your first meeting - the who, what, when, where and how. 
• Demonstrate commitment to the process and respect for each other by responding in good time, being polite, saying thank you and welcoming two-way feedback.
• Document your mentoring journeys in your Loops, for example by scheduling meetings, setting meeting agendas, keeping your goals updated and sharing notes before/after each session. Mentees may take ownership of this process, but mentors should encourage their mentees to do so.

Where to find support

There's no shame in needing help during your mentoring experience. Here are some means of getting guidance and support:

Mentoring milestones

Consult your mentoring milestones from your dashboard to access guidance on next steps relevant to where you're at in those milestones. Hover over each one to see what needs to be done to complete it.

Nudges

You'll also receive timely email nudges that will prompt you through the milestones. They include relevant resources and how to take the next step. Here's an example Nudge:

Help Hub & Mentorloop Academy 

The home of our extensive range of support resources, organized in a way that is easy to navigate and find the answers you need as quickly as possible. 

Program Coordinator

If you have a question that is related to the particular management of your mentoring program, or are facing challenges in your match, it’s probably best suited to your Program Coordinator. You have direct access to your Program Coordinator(s) via your 1:1 loop, which you can access by clicking “Your Coordinator” from the left navigation bar of your dashboard.

Conclusion

What we've learned in this module is what to do once you've been matched to get your mentoring relationships off to a great start, maintain that great momentum throughout the program and where to find support. 

Reflection task

If you're already in a Loop, navigate to your mentor/mentee's profile and consider what skills or goals are compatible with your own and what you may want to get out of the relationship. 

If you're not yet in a Loop, navigate to preview your own profile and ensure it represents you, your skills and goals well. 

In the next module, you'll find a step by step guide on how to integrate Mentorloop into your day-to-day to help you manage your mentoring relationships more easily.