On-Demand Mentorship

On-Demand Mentorship: Immediate Support When You Need It

The On-Demand Mentorship program at Springboard provides urgent technical support outside of your regular mentor calls. It’s designed to help you tackle complex questions or issues that are blocking your progress, especially when your regular mentor is unavailable or the Slack community hasn't been able to help.

What Are On-Demand Mentor Calls?

On-Demand Mentor Calls are 30-minute, one-on-one sessions where you can get live support from an experienced mentor. These calls are primarily for resolving technical challenges that are too complex to handle through asynchronous support or quick chat responses.

When to Use On-Demand Mentor Calls:

You are blocked by a technical issue that you cannot resolve with TA or community help.
Your regular mentor is unavailable, and you need support urgently.
You have exhausted your own resources and need guided troubleshooting.
You need in-depth, live support that involves screen sharing and direct guidance.

When NOT to Use On-Demand Mentor Calls:

For career or job-seeking support (schedule with Career Coaches instead).
To discuss direction on capstone projects (these should be addressed with your regular mentor).
For straightforward questions that could be answered asynchronously by a TA.
For help with take-home assignments from active job applications.

If you violate these guidelines, your access to the on-demand mentor program may be revoked.

How to Book an On-Demand Mentor Call

Access the Booking Link: You can find the link in your Student Handbook. If you have trouble locating it, email advising@springboard.com.
Book One Call at a Time: You can only have one on-demand call scheduled at any given time.
Select a Time Slot: Pick a convenient slot from the available options.
Confirmation: Add the booking to your calendar to ensure you don’t miss it.

Frequency Limit

You can only schedule one On-Demand Mentor call per week. This frequency does not include your regular mentor calls.

How to Cancel or Reschedule

If you need to cancel or reschedule your call:

Use the Cancellation Link: Provided in your confirmation email or calendar invite.
Notify the Mentor: If it’s less than 24 hours before the call, also email the on-demand mentor directly to inform them.
Book a New Slot: Use the same booking link to find a new time.

If you encounter issues finding the confirmation email or calendar event, email programsupport@springboard.com for assistance.

What to Expect During Your On-Demand Mentor Call

On-Demand Mentor Calls are typically 30 minutes long and are designed to help you with complex, technical issues. You can use the time to:

Share your screen and demonstrate the problem.
Walk through difficult questions or project issues.
Get guidance on troubleshooting or debugging techniques.

Communication Best Practices

Be Prepared: Clearly outline your issue and what you have tried so far.
Share Your Screen: Make use of live screen sharing to demonstrate your problem.
Stay Focused: Use the time efficiently by sticking to the most pressing issues.

Differences Between On-Demand Mentors and TAs

On-Demand Mentor Calls	TA Support
Live, 30-minute sessions with screen sharing	Asynchronous support through Slack or email
Best for complex, multi-step troubleshooting	Best for quick, technical questions (5-10 mins)
Can address broad or theoretical concepts	Limited to specific, targeted questions

If your question is simple or can be answered asynchronously, reach out to a TA. For more in-depth guidance, book an On-Demand Mentor Call.

Troubleshooting On-Demand Mentor Calls

What If My Mentor Doesn’t Show Up?

If your mentor doesn’t attend the call:

Wait 10 minutes before assuming it’s a no-show.
Email the Advising Team at advising@springboard.com to report the issue.
Reschedule with the next available slot.

What If I’m Running Late?

Email your mentor immediately to let them know. Arriving more than 10 minutes late without notice will result in being marked as a no-show, which may impact your access to the program. Prioritizing mentor calls during your time in the course is critical to your learning success!

On-Demand Mentor vs. Regular Mentor

On-Demand Mentors: Urgent, technical support for complex problems; short-term guidance.
Regular Mentors: Long-term guidance on your projects and technical work.

On-demand calls are ideal for resolving immediate issues, while regular calls are better for building ongoing mentorship relationships.

Need More Support?

If you’re unsure whether your question is suited for an On-Demand Mentor or a TA, reach out to the Advising Team at advising@springboard.com for guidance. We’re here to help you make the most of your mentorship resources!