Welcome aboard, and congrats on registering! Now, the real fun begins as you step into the world of mentorship or peer-to-peer connections. You've already put in effort to share about yourself, which is key to discovering the right match for your skill and goal development.
In this guide, we've neatly divided the content into four distinct sections, each tailored to different aspects of the mentorship experience. Whether you're a mentee, a mentor, or looking to just connect with some colleagues there's a section just for you. Feel free to jump directly to the part that aligns with your current needs. We're here to make your journey as smooth and fulfilling as possible!
Pro-tip for Mentors: Your program might offer Reverse Mentorship, allowing you to initiate matches with mentees. If this is the case, you can skip ahead to the Matching Directory section. However, if this feature isn't available, you'll need to wait for mentees to reach out to you.
Pro-tip for Colleagues: For those in a Colleague Connect program, you have a unique chance to engage in informal matches. This setup removes the traditional mentor-mentee hierarchy, fostering a more collaborative environment where you can exchange knowledge and support with peers, enhancing your mentorship experience. To find a Colleague to connect with, skip to the Matching Directory section.
Notifications You'll Receive
Depending on the type of program your organization is running, you could one of a few different types of notifications:
a. You're Waiting to be Matched ⏳
Based on your program, you might be waiting for a match. In this case, you'll need to keep an eye on your inbox for a "Match Started" email from your admin team, which will introduce you to your new match. Once you receive the email, you will be considered as "matched" with this individual and can immediately begin scheduling sessions with them.
In the email it will include a "Book Session" button, allowing you to easily schedule your first session and kickstart your mentorship journey. The email you receive should look something like this:
b. You've Got Match Recommendations! ✨
Once matching for your program is turned on by your admin team, you'll receive an email alerting you to your top matches. Simply click "Approve Match" in the email, and you'll be directed to the "Your Top Matches" tab on the platform, where up to three recommended matches await your review. For more details, refer to the Match Recommendations section of this guide. The email you will receive will look something like this:
c. You Need to Create Your Shortlist ✅
After your admin team turns on matching, you'll get an email inviting you to start your mentor search! Click "Submit Mentor Preferences" in the email, log in, and you'll land on the Directory to rank a few mentors based on your preference. For details on creating a shortlist, check out the Creating a Shortlist section in this guide. The invite will look a little like this:
d. You Need to Find a Match using the Directory 🔍
Once your admin team turns on matching, an invitation will arrive in your inbox to kick off your journey to find a match. By clicking on the "Choose a Match" button in the email and logging into the platform, you'll land in the Directory, your gateway to finding the right match. Dive into the Matching Directory section of this guide for a deep dive into making the most of this exciting phase!
b. Match Recommendations
After you click the Approve Match button in the email you received and log in to the platform, you will be taken to the Your Top Matches tab to see up to 3 recommended matches. Here you can view key information such as their Bio, Goals, Skills, and more! Click on the Approve Match button to continue with one of your recommended matches:
- Note: If you would like to Browse All Mentors instead, you can head over to the Matching Directory section in this article to continue!
Now that you've selected your match, you can then decide on what kind of commitment you're hoping for with your match as well as the number of sessions you would like to begin with. Make sure to add a note to introduce yourself! Once everything has been filled out, click the Next button to continue:
On this page, you'll get the chance to book your first session! However, if you feel like you're not quite ready to do so, simply click the Next button to continue:
Finally, you'll have the opportunity to see a personalized agenda crafted for you. Rest assured, there's always room to customize it according to your preferences and needs.
Once you're done reviewing the agendas, click the Finish button to complete the match process!
That's all to it, you're now matched and off to a great start! Now that you're matched with your Mentor, you can begin scheduling immediately!
c. Creating A Shortlist
Once you click on the Submit Mentor Preferences button in the invite you received and log in to the platform, you will be taken to the Directory to begin searching for a mentor. At first, you will notice a list of some recommended matches for you based on the information you provided in your Registration Questionnaire.
- Note: matches are sorted by default in order of the highest match score. Your "Top overall matches based on preferences" will be at the top of the list.
- Note: shortlists are entirely independent for each role. Each role will be a different list and will have to be submitted separately (Mentor, Mentee, Colleague).
You can click on each user to review their profile on the side of the page:
If you want to narrow down your results further, we encourage you to make use of the Filter Tab along the top left-hand side:
- Filter by Questionnaire Response: you may also filter by an individual's response to specific questions that were asked in your Registration Questionnaire. To do so, simply click on one of the pre-populated filters or click the All Filters button for more options! This will automatically filter your list to display the most relevant results.
Once you have found a mentor you would like to match with, you can add them to your shortlist by clicking the Add to Shortlist button on their profile:
Now that you have added some mentors to your shortlist, you can go ahead and click the Next: Send Requests button to continue.
Pro-tip: Maximize your chances by fully utilizing the shortlist feature, where you can select up to 5 potential mentors based on your program's rules. While you might choose fewer, a full list increases your likelihood of finding the ideal mentor match.
Now that you have created your shortlist, the next step is to adjust the rank of your shortlisted preferences. On this page, you can re-order your shortlist based on which is your most preferred mentor. In other words, rank #1 is your highest preference or most preferred, and #5 is your last preference.
- Note: Once you submit your preferences, you will not be able to edit your shortlist. If you would like to make changes, you will need to withdraw your current pending match request that was sent to your first preference. For information on withdrawing a matching request, please refer to this article: How do I cancel a matching request?
After you submit your preferences, an email will be sent to your first preference requesting them as your match. You will be notified once you're matched with a mentor. Generally, it takes 1-3 days to confirm a matching, however, this can vary depending on how long your preferred mentors take to respond to your request.
If your first preference is not available to mentor you, Together will automatically send a request to your next preference until you are matched with a mentor. If none of your shortlisted mentors are available to mentor you, you will be notified to re-submit new mentor preferences.
d. Matching Directory
To get started, click on the Choose a Match button. Once you log in to the platform, you will be taken to the Directory to begin searching for a mentor. At first, you will notice a list of some recommended matches for you based on the information you provided in your Registration Questionnaire.
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Note: Depending on which roles you have registered for in the program. you will have the flexibility to switch between searching for Mentors, Mentees, or Colleagues using the match tab, conveniently located at the top left of the page. Plus, the platform smartly prioritizes your matches, placing those with the highest match scores right at the top based on your profile.
You can click on each user to review their profile on the side of the page:
If you want to narrow down your results further, we encourage you to make use of the Filter Button along the top left-hand side under the match tab:
- Filter by Questionnaire Response: You can refine your search by filtering according to specific questions from your Registration Questionnaire. Just click the All Filters button for more detailed options, which will help in displaying results that are most aligned with your preferences.
Once you have found a participant you would like to match with, you can click the Book Session button on their profile:
This will launch the matching process page where you will need to select the type of commitment you are looking for with your Match. We have three options for you to select from:
- An Introduction Session (i.e. start with only 1 session)
- Help with a Specific Topic Across a Few Sessions (i.e. more than 1 session but less than the maximum available)
- Long Term Mentorship (i.e. typically 6 sessions)
Choose the initial number of sessions that feels right for you, knowing you can always add more if you decide to extend the mentorship. It's a good idea to include a friendly note with your request, sharing your interests and reasons for wanting to connect. When you're set, click Next to arrange your first session.
Now, you will see a green banner that will confirm the match. Both you and your match receive an email notification letting you know who you have been matched with. Now, you can schedule your first session and click Next to access your Session Agenda.
On the Edit Agenda page, you can review and make any necessary changes to your session agenda. To finalize the matching process, simply click the Finish button.
Need More Help?
Questions or need assistance? Submit a request and our team will be more than happy to assist you.
Welcome to Together – your journey to meaningful connections and growth starts here!
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