For Mentees

9 min read

Booking Your First Mentoring Session

Ready to start your mentorship journey? This guide walks you through finding the perfect mentor, understanding session types, and successfully booking your first session on The Mentoring Club platform.

Before You Book

Taking a few minutes to prepare before booking ensures you find the right mentor and get the most value from your sessions.

Define Your Goals

What do you want to achieve through mentorship? Career transition, skill development, leadership growth, or technical expertise? Clear goals help you find the right mentor.

Set Your Budget

Mentors set their own rates based on experience and expertise. Sessions typically range from $25-$200/hour. Decide how much you're comfortable investing in your growth.

Check Your Schedule

Look at your calendar and identify times when you can fully focus on a session without distractions. Most sessions are 30-90 minutes.

Prepare Questions

Start thinking about specific questions or topics you want to discuss. Having a few prepared questions helps you make the most of your first session.

Finding the Right Mentor

Search and Filter

Use our search tools to find mentors who match your needs:

By Expertise

Search by skills, technologies, industries, or roles. Use keywords like "React", "Product Management", "Career Transition", or "Leadership".

By Experience Level

Filter by years of experience or seniority. Junior mentors offer affordable rates and recent experience, while senior mentors bring deep expertise.

By Price Range

Set your budget filters to see mentors within your price range. Remember that investment in the right mentor pays dividends in your career.

By Availability

Check mentor calendars to find those with availability that matches your schedule. Some mentors offer weekend or evening slots.

Evaluate Mentor Profiles

When reviewing potential mentors, look for:

Relevant experience: Does their background align with your goals?
Reviews and ratings: What do other mentees say about working with them?
Communication style: Does their profile suggest they're a good match for how you like to learn?
Session types offered: Do they offer the format you're looking for (intro calls, deep dives, package deals)?

Pro Tip: Start with an Intro Session

Many mentors offer shorter, discounted "intro" or "discovery" sessions. These 15-30 minute calls let you meet the mentor, discuss your goals, and ensure you're a good fit before committing to a full session or package.

Understanding Session Types

Mentors typically offer several types of sessions. Choose based on your needs and budget:

Intro / Discovery

15-30 min

Quick call to meet, discuss goals, and ensure you're a good match. Often offered at a discount or even free.

Best for: First-time mentees or trying out a new mentor

Standard Session

45-60 min

Full mentoring session with time to dive deep into specific topics, review work, or work through challenges.

Best for: Regular mentorship, specific problems, skill development

Extended / Intensive

90-120 min

Deep-dive sessions for complex topics, portfolio reviews, mock interviews, or project planning.

Best for: Complex challenges, comprehensive reviews

Note: Package Deals

Some mentors offer package deals (e.g., 4 sessions at a discounted rate). These are great for ongoing mentorship but consider booking a single session first to ensure you're a good fit.

The Booking Process: Step-by-Step

Select a Mentor

Click on a mentor's profile to see their full details, reviews, session types, and availability.

Choose a Session Type

Select the session type that fits your needs. You'll see the duration and price for each option.

Check Availability

View the mentor's calendar to see available time slots. The calendar shows times in your local timezone.

Select a Time Slot

Click on an available slot that works for your schedule. You'll see a confirmation of the date, time, and duration.

Add Session Details

Provide a brief description of what you'd like to discuss or work on during the session. This helps your mentor prepare and ensures you get the most value.

Example: "I'm preparing for a product manager interview at a tech company. I'd like to practice PM case questions and get feedback on my approach to product strategy problems."

Complete Payment

Enter your payment information. We accept all major credit cards. Your payment is securely processed and held until after the session is completed.

Receive Confirmation

You'll get an immediate confirmation email with session details, video call link, and calendar invite. The session also appears in your dashboard.

Preparing for Your Session

Good preparation leads to productive sessions. Here's how to get ready:

Technical Prep

• Test your webcam and microphone
• Ensure stable internet connection
• Have video call link ready
• Use headphones for better audio
• Close unnecessary browser tabs

Content Prep

• Write down 3-5 specific questions
• Prepare any materials to share
• Review mentor's profile again
• Set clear goals for the session
• Have notebook ready for notes

Pro Tip: Message Your Mentor

After booking, use the platform's messaging feature to introduce yourself and share any specific topics or materials you'd like to cover. This helps your mentor prepare and ensures you maximize your session time.

Payment & Cancellation Policies

How Payment Works

Secure processing: All payments are processed through secure, PCI-compliant payment systems. Your financial information is never stored on our servers.

Payment hold: Your payment is authorized but not charged until after the session is completed. Funds are released to the mentor 24 hours after session completion.

No hidden fees: The price you see is the price you pay. No platform fees or surprise charges.

Cancellation Policy

Free Cancellation (24+ hours)

Cancel up to 24 hours before your scheduled session for a full refund, no questions asked.

Late Cancellation (Less than 24 hours)

Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may incur a 50% cancellation fee, as your mentor has already blocked off time for you.

No-Show Policy

If you don't show up for your scheduled session without prior cancellation, the full session fee will be charged.

Pro Tip: Need to Reschedule?

If you need to reschedule, message your mentor directly through the platform. Many mentors are happy to find a new time that works for both of you, especially if you give advance notice.

What to Expect During Your Session

Here's how a typical first mentoring session flows:

First 5-10 minutes: Introductions

Get to know each other, discuss your background and goals, and set expectations for the session.

Middle section: Deep Dive

Work through your questions, challenges, or topics. Your mentor will share insights, provide feedback, and offer guidance based on their experience.

Last 5-10 minutes: Wrap-up

Summarize key takeaways, discuss action items, and (if it went well) explore options for ongoing mentorship.

After Your Session

Leave a Review

Share your experience to help other mentees. Your honest feedback also helps mentors improve their services.

Implement What You Learned

Review your notes and take action on the advice and insights you received. The real value comes from applying what you learned.

Consider Ongoing Mentorship

If the session was valuable, consider booking regular sessions or a package deal. Consistent mentorship compounds over time.

Questions About Booking?

Our support team is here to help you navigate the booking process and find the right mentor.

Contact Support