Mentee matching.

Write down your criteria first, then check every inquiry against them before you book a call. Useful criteria include the goal they want help with, how ready they are to act, the time they can give and whether your experience fits. A short form or a few questions by email can cover this. Screening early saves you both a call that was never going to work. Evensteer answers and screens every inquiry before it reaches you.

A good fit has a clear goal you’ve helped others reach, and is ready to do the work between sessions. They want advice from someone with your background, and their timing and budget match your offer. Be careful with people who want you to solve everything for them, or who can’t name what they want to change. Evensteer writes your criteria down and applies them to every match.

Yes. A poor fit takes time you could give to someone you can really help, and it rarely ends well for either of you. Say no kindly and quickly, and explain why it isn’t the right match. If you can, point them to another mentor or a resource that suits them better. A kind no still leaves a good impression, and it can lead to a referral later.

Good programs match on goals and fit, using written criteria, instead of on who already knows whom. Each mentee shares their goals, each mentor shares what they can help with and how they like to work, and matches are checked against both. Doing this by hand takes admin time for every pair, and it breaks down as the program grows. Evensteer matches mentees to you by goals and fit, using the criteria you’ve set.

Ask mentees about the goal they want help with, how ready they are to act, the time they can give and the kind of mentor they work best with. Ask mentors what they can help with and who they’ve helped before. Keep it short, so people actually finish it and send it back.