GENERAL
What is Guide Matching?
Guide Matching is the latest addition to an expanding line-up of our services to support members’ professional development needs. It is an online tool – including a searchable database – that facilitates the establishment of guiding relationships. It is user-driven, allowing registered Guidees to search among registered Mentors using specified criteria to find individuals whose experience and expertise match areas in which they wish to be guided. Likewise, registered Guides can search for and identify potential Guidees.
Is there a fee associated with using Guide Matching?
Guide Matching is a benefit of membership and is available only to members. There is no extra charge to use this resource.
How are Guides and Guidees matched?
Members must first enroll as a Guide, Guidee or both. During the enrollment process, members will select preferences for various demographics (including Guiding Venue and Guiding Topics) to establish their personal criteria.
A registered Guidee will visit the “Find a Guide” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Guides. The Guidee will click the names of the potential Guides to view their profiles. Once the Guidee has decided on a Guide, they will click on the Guide badge (seen below the registered Guide's profile picture) to request that person as their Guide. An e-mail will be sent to the Guide alerting them that they have been requested to be a Guide. The Guide will be able to accept or decline the request.
A registered Guide will visit the “Find a Guidee” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible Guidees. The Guide will click the names of the potential Guidees to view their profiles. Once the Guide has decided on a Guidee, they will click on the Guidee badge (seen below the registered Guidee's profile picture) to request that person as their Guidee. An e-mail will be sent to the Guidee alerting them that they have been requested to be a Guidee. TheGuidee will be able to accept or decline the request.
FOR GUIDES
How do I become a Guide?
If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Guide. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Who are the Guidees?
Guidees are other members who need you to help support their careers.
Can I have more than one Guidee?
While there is no limit to the number of guiding relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only Guidees who are most suited to learn from your expertise and experience. You can limit the number of Guidee requests you are willing to accept on the Guiding enrollment page.
How do I find Guidees?
Once you have enrolled as a Guide, go the "Find a Guidee" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Guidee search. Click on the Guidees'' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Guidee badge (seen below the Guidee's profile image) to send the Guidee an email request.
How will I know if a Guidee has selected me as their Guide?
You will receive an e-mail from the Guidee requesting you to be their Guide. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request.
Is it okay to reject a request?
Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to at least have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If a potential Guidee has misinterpreted information in your profile, you may find him/her to be an inappropriate match. If you want to decline a request, go to the "My Guiding Relationships" page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.
What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?
Go to the "Guide Enrollment" page, click the “Guide Status” link then click on the check-box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any Guidee requests at the moment, and your guiding profile will not be included in a Guidee’s search for a Guide. It is your responsibility to communicate your availability to your existing Guidees.
How do I end a guiding relationship?
If the guiding relationship is complete, go to the "My Guiding Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
If the guiding relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your Guidee. Go to the "My Guiding Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
What are the expectations for participating Guides?
We expect that you will fulfill your commitment to develop at least one mentoring relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from Guidees in a timely manner, and that you communicate with your Guidees as agreed upon by both you and your Guidees.
How much time will I need to invest as a Guide?
We recommend that you and your Guidees agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that guiding doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or e-mail exchanges with you can make a big difference to your Guidees. The annual meeting also offers a convenient venue for getting together with your Guidees over coffee or lunch.
What benefits do I receive from the organization if I participate as a Guide in the program?
All Guides are volunteers. As an active program participant, you will receive a ribbon identifying you as a Guide.
FOR GUIDEES
How do I become a Guidee?
If you are a member, click here to enroll as a Guidee. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Who are the Guides?
Guides are other members who have volunteered their time to support other members' careers.
Can I have more than one Guide?
While there is no limit to the number of guiding relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only Guides who are most suited to your guiding needs. Please keep in mind that Guides have limited time to offer and may have other Guiding relationships.
How do I find a Guide?
Once you have enrolled as a Guidee, go the the "Find a Guide" page and select the criteria you want to use for your Guide search. Click on the Guides' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Guide badge (seen below the Guide's profile image) to send the Guide an email request.
What should I do if I don’t hear from the Guide I requested?
If you don’t hear from the Guide within one or two weeks, feel free to contact them using the contact information found on their profile page.
What if the Guide isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?
Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, Guides and Guidees don’t always "fit." If this happens, we suggest that you discuss your decision honestly and kindly with your Guide; thank them for their time then start a new Guide search.
Where can I meet with my Guide?
It is up to you and your Guide to decide how, when and where you want to pursue your guiding relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or electronically. The annual meeting offers a great opportunity to meet in person.
How long does the guiding relationship last?
We recommend that you and your Guide agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship.