Starting a conversation with a mentor is a great first step toward gaining valuable guidance and support. Whether you’re seeking advice on a specific topic, looking for general direction in your learning journey, or just have some questions to ask, crafting a clear and thoughtful message will help you make the most of the mentorship experience. This article will walk you through how to send a message to a mentor for the first time, including tips on what to include and how to keep the conversation going.
Send a mentor a message
When you start a new conversation with a mentor you will be asked to select a response from two dropdown boxes as shown in the screenshot below. This is to provide greater messaging context to the mentors so they can tailor their responses more to your personal experiences. For details on how to find a mentor, see our help article here.
📌 The responses for 'Subject' and 'About me' are customized per each Connectr platform. Additionally, some platforms may not have this feature switched on. In which case when you click to message a mentor you will be taken direct to the messaging inbox where you may free type your message and send.
The subject is meant to encapsulate the theme of the message. If you don't see a relevant subject theme appear in the drop-down options, you can choose 'other'.
The 'About Me' section will give you a list of predefined options that will give the mentor an idea of who you are. An example of these options could be 'beginner', 'intermediate' and 'advanced' which reflects your level of experience. Choose the option you feel best reflects you.
Once you have chosen a subject and option for 'About Me', you can write your message in the box. Please ensure you include as much information as possible to make it easier for the mentor to understand what you're needing help with. You will know if you've reached the recommended amount of text as a green dot will appear under the left-hand corner of the text box as shown in the screenshot above.
📌 For safeguarding reasons, users cannot share personal contact details on the platform or arrange to converse with mentors off the platform. These types of messages will be flagged and you will be notified once they're rejected.
After sending your message to a mentor, it will appear similarly to the screenshot below with the subject, about me and module progress (this is automatically pulled from your module activity) visible at the top and your message clearly displayed.
Continuing the conversation
To keep a conversation going with your mentor, start by showing appreciation for their insights and following up on any advice they’ve shared. Ask open-ended questions related to your goals, challenges, or topics you’re curious about. Share updates on your progress to keep them engaged and demonstrate that you value their guidance. Be respectful of their time, and try to keep messages clear and focused. A simple “What would you suggest I do next?” can go a long way in keeping the conversation active and meaningful.
💬 Do you have any questions? There are two ways to get in touch:
Via live chat, which should appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
Or send us an email.