Agree upon a schedule

These days, having a mentor from a different country and time zone isn’t a big issue. However, it’s important to discuss your schedule with your mentor. You both have lives and can’t always arrange a spontaneous Zoom chat. Also, you might be an early bird while your mentor prefers working late into the night.

Try to be flexible and adjust your schedule to meet online or offline once or twice a week, and spend that time productively. If you have an emergency and can't meet your mentor at the scheduled time, let them know as soon as possible. In case of a true last-minute emergency, send a brief message explaining the situation without oversharing personal details, apologize for the inconvenience, and suggest a few alternative times to reschedule. Most professionals understand that unexpected situations arise, but they'll appreciate your professionalism in handling the situation and your respect for their time.