Human Resources

Requirements and selection of mentors and mentees

Department directors will select mentors and mentees from among interested employees in numbers proportionate with the size of the department. Mentees should be eligible employees who show potential for future growth and advancement. Mentors should be knowledgeable and respected employees that possess superior strengths in strategic competencies.

Length of mentorship

Employees should expect to commit to the mentoring relationship for no less than one year, although it may continue beyond that period on an informal basis. Either party can terminate the mentor/mentee relationship at anytime. Participants should be willing to commit at least two hours -- and a maximum of  eight hours -- of pre-approved time each month.

Mentor benefits

In addition to fulfilling a department's obligation to provide mentors in numbers according to department size, mentor participation offers many benefits, including:

• Fulfilling a Management Performance Appraisal Process requirement under the "Employee Development/Recognition" category
• Promoting organizational goals
• Giving back to the organization
• Providing a mutual learning experience
• Supporting succession planning
• Identifying and developing talent

Mentee benefits

Participation as a mentee in a mentoring program is an important component in an employee's career development and the fulfillment of an employee's individual learning plan. Mentees will benefit by:

• Gaining first-hand knowledge from experienced professionals
• Learning the unwritten rules of the organization
• Gaining expert training and support, understanding the perspectives and thinking patterns of people in another discipline or at a different level
• Building relationships and affiliating with a wider group of people
• Learning methods for meeting challenges
• Obtaining experience in a new area
• Receiving professional coaching