How to Use a Trial Session to Get Familiar With Your Mentor?

When you're starting out on a new journey, the right mentor can make all the difference.

Whether you're looking to start a new career, improve your skills, or gain knowledge in a new area, a career mentor can provide valuable guidance and support.

However, finding the right mentor can be a challenge.

That's where trial sessions come in. 

In this post, we'll explore how to use trial sessions to get familiar with your mentor and find the right fit at Preplaced.

5 Tips to Find the Right Mentor

✔️ Step 1: Identify Your Goals and Needs

Before you start looking for a mentor, it's important to identify your goals and needs.

What do you want to achieve?

What skills or knowledge do you need to acquire?

By clarifying your goals and needs, you can narrow down your search and find a mentor who can help you achieve your objectives.

✔️ Step 2: Research Potential Mentors

Once you've identified your goals and needs, it's time to start looking for potential mentors at Preplaced.

When researching potential mentors, look for individuals who have experience in your area of interest or expertise.

Check out their credentials, education, and professional background.

Look for testimonials or reviews from past mentees to get a sense of their effectiveness and style.

✔️ Step 3: Schedule Trial Sessions

Once you've identified potential mentors, see if there is an option to schedule trial sessions with them.

At Preplaced, the trial sessions are FREE and allow you to get to know the mentor and their mentoring style.

During the trial session, you can ask questions, discuss your goals and needs, and get a sense of whether the mentor is a good fit for you.

✔️ Step 4: Ask the Right Questions

During the trial session, it's important to ask the right questions to get a sense of the mentor's coaching style and approach.

Some questions to consider asking include: 👇

• What is your mentoring style?
• How do you approach working with mentees like me?
• What are your areas of expertise?
• How do you measure success?
• Can you provide testimonials or references from past mentees?

✔️ Step 5: Evaluate the Trial Session

After the trial session, take some time to evaluate your experience.

Ask yourself: 👇

• Did the mentor listen actively to my concerns and needs?
• Did the mentor provide valuable insights or advice?
• Did the mentor seem knowledgeable and experienced?
• Did the mentor have a mentoring style that resonated with me?

Based on your evaluation, decide whether you want to continue working with the mentor or look for someone else who might be a better fit.

Leveraging Preplaced’s Free Trial Session

Before you commit to Preplaced’s long-term mentorship program, a trial session lets you dip your toes in the water and see what mentor-led preparation looks like.

✅ Establish a strong foundation

This will be your first interaction with your chosen mentor which will set the foundation for your bond as a mentor-mentee.

You will gain insight into your mentor’s overall approach toward helping mentees like yourself.

Together you can map out the necessary steps required for long-term success. 🌟

✅Learn about your interview preparation/career needs

Everyone’s learning and preparation journey is unique.

That’s why it's important to understand what works best for YOU. ✨

And that is just what you discuss with your mentor in this trial session.

The purpose of the trial session is to help you understand the strategic and mentor-driven approach that we strongly believe in to help you with your goals.

Here’s how to book a trial session at Preplaced:

1. Go to Preplaced and type in the search bar to look for suitable mentors. You can also click on ‘Explore Mentors’ in the top left corner of your screen.

2. On the screen that appears, apply filters according to your preferences (experience of the mentor, domain, price, etc.)

3. Upon finding the mentor of your choice, click on 'View Profile'. To book a trial, click on the 'Try Free Trial Today' option on the right-hand side of the mentor's profile.

4. On the screen that appears, share your problems, expectations and timeline. Once you’ve done this, click on ‘Schedule.’

5. Now, choose the date and time that suits you to book your trial session. Confirm your selected date and timing and click on 'Reserve Slot'.

6. Voila! Your Trial Session is booked!

You'll receive a confirmation email with the meeting link.

Finally, check your calendar to confirm the event. 

During this session, here are some of the things you can discuss with your mentor: 

• Companies and job roles you are targeting
• Your current goals and expectations
• Difficulties you are currently facing in order to achieve those goals
• Your skill sets and knowledge base
• The time you require to become interview-ready
• Areas of improvement
• Next steps to follow

This will act as a stepping stone for your customised mentorship plan.

The duration of the trial session is 30 minutes and the structure can be like this:

📌 10 mins - Get to know your mentor and discuss background & goals

📌 10 mins - Discuss the problems you are facing

📌 10 mins - Discussion about the next steps in preparation, timeline and topics to cover

After the trial session, you will be in a better position to consider going for long-term mentorship with the mentor.

Moreover, even they will have a clearer idea about your objectives. ✔️

💡 Note: If you somehow didn't like your selected mentor, you can choose a different mentor and book a trial session with them.

Wrapping it Up

Trial sessions are a valuable tool for finding the right mentor for your needs. 

By identifying your goals and needs and asking the right questions, you can find a mentor who can provide valuable guidance and support on your journey. 💪

Get your FREE 1:1 Trial Session Today!

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a mail at [email protected] 🌟

More helpful guides that you can check:

How to Establish a Great Mentor-mentee Relationship?

Lifecycle of a Preplaced Mentee under Long-Term Mentorship

60 Questions to Ask a Mentor for Successful Mentorship