How do I decide which mentoring matches to accept?
Accepting everything feels generous. In practice it produces sessions where you are guessing, and a mentee who leaves with less than they came for.
- Read time
- 3 minutes
- Module
- Getting started
- Session length
- 30 minutes
What good looks like.
Read the mentee's note before the job title. The question tells you whether your working knowledge is close enough to be useful.
The test is simple: could you say something specific in the first five minutes that they could not find online? If not, decline and free the slot for someone who can.
Decline fast. A same-day decline lets the match go to another mentor while the mentee is still keen.
A sequence you can follow.
- 01
Read the question first
The stuck point matters more than the sector label.
- 02
Check the overlap
Have you done the thing they are asking about, or only heard about it?
- 03
Check your diary honestly
If the slot is tight, decline now rather than cancel later.
- 04
Decline in one line
No explanation needed beyond "not my area".
What to avoid.
Accepting out of guilt and then improvising
Sitting on a match for a week before answering
Judging the match on the mentee's confidence rather than their question
Extra tips
Small things that make the half hour better.
Read the note, not the title
The stuck point tells you whether you can help.
Answer the same day
A fast decline keeps the mentee's momentum.
Decline in one line
"Not my area" is a complete and kind answer.
Use the five-minute test
Could you say something specific they cannot search for?
Take this guide with you.
Download a printable version of this guide: the short answer, the steps, the extra tips, the mistakes to avoid and the questions mentors ask, to read before your next session.
The things people ask first.
Does declining count against me?
No. Declining well is part of mentoring responsibly.
What if the question is only half in my area?
Take it and say at the start which half you can answer.
Next: Setting up your camera and sound.
Five minutes of setup buys you thirty minutes people can actually follow.