Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does my supervisor need to give permission in order for me to participate in the Mentoring Program?
Supervisory approval is required to apply for the 1-year guided program as your supervisor is responsible for approving mentoring meetings that occur during working hours as well as supporting you with the time travel to attend the partner training. Once you get supervisory approval to apply and if you are selected, you will get instruction at the partner training on keeping your supervisor in the loop while maintaining the confidentiality in your mentoring partnership. The Mentoring Program sends out initial communications to your supervisor about program activities and expectations.  We also request your supervisor’s approval in writing (via email) before we will match you.

2. How, or is, my supervisor involved in the Mentoring Program if I am participating?
We recommend having a discussion with your supervisor once you start your mentoring partnership regarding your goals, meeting schedules and anything else you are comfortable with. Some mentoring partners schedule a meeting which includes yourself, your mentor, and your supervisor. This reassures the supervisor that your mentor is not trying to take his/her place and lets the supervisor know that you will keep your supervisor up-to-date. We recommend mentors do not meet individually with your supervisor without your permission. You and your partner should agree, up front, on what is confidential and what is expected regarding your communications.

3. What can a mentor do for me?
There are many of advantages in having a USGS mentor. The top ten we keep on hearing about from other mentorees include: 1) A focus on professional development, 2) career guidance, 3) learning more about the USGS, 4) increasing your professional network, 5) developing a trusted counselor, 6) improving your awareness of your own or other disciplines, 7) improving your effectiveness on the job, 8) improving technical skills, 9) developing leadership skills, and 10) support in leaving your "comfort zone."

4. Will participation in the Mentoring Program guarantee me a promotion?
Participation in the Mentoring Program is no guarantee of a promotion. Hopefully, the relationship between you and your mentor will help you recognize what your particular strengths are and how to make the most of them. This self knowledge will help you in determining career direction. In addition, your mentor may help develop your network of contacts. It's no secret in any profession that the more people you know, the better your chances of learning about available opportunities.

5. Will my participation in the Mentoring Program cost my office or division any funds?
There is no class cost in participating in the Mentoring Program unless you choose (and are able) to travel for celebrations. The initial mentoring partner training is mandatory and if it is not local, you will need approval (travel authorization) from your cost center or district.  However, all travel and per diem costs for the 2-day shadowing training session are paid for by OED.

6. Am I required to attend any training in connection with the Mentoring Program?
Yes, there is an initial mentoring partner training where you will meet your mentor, have several structured meetings, and get a chance to familiarize yourself with the expectations and concepts of mentoring. There are also monthly mentoring exchanges, which offer information on various topics helpful for mentoring partners. You are expected to attend at least 3 of the 24 mentoring exchanges during your partnership.

7. Will mentoring require a large amount of time?
We recommend that mentoring partners meet initially on a weekly basis. Current partners report meeting from 2-4 hours a month initially. We hear a lot of creative tips from mentoring partners regarding fitting meetings into their busy schedules. Meeting for lunch, telephone meetings, using instant messaging are all possible depending on what you agree upon up front.

8. How will the Mentoring Program support my mentoring partnership?
After your initial partner training, you will be invited twice a month to attend one-hour mentoring exchanges. You may also contact the program managers at any time with questions or ideas. In the 1-year guided component of the Mentoring Program, there is a cyber meeting of all mentorees at 6 months and a formal celebration at the conclusion of your 12 month mentoring agreement.

9. How are mentors and mentorees matched in the 1-year guided program?
During the application open season mentors and mentorees from across the bureau apply for the Mentoring Program on-line via our website. The Mentoring Program Staff will work to match individuals based on the goals and qualifications listed on their application.  We match to the needs of the mentoree, finding the mentoree someone who has the background and interest to help them achieve their developmental goals. Of course a qualified mentor needs to be available in order to be matched.

10. Is the Mentoring Program voluntary? Yes. Mentoring takes commitment and time on the part of both the mentor and mentoree. It is very important that people choose to become mentoring partners in order to help the mentoree achieve their objectives for the partnership.

11. How do I decide which approach to Mentoring is right for me?
To initially qualify for a mentor in the 1-year guided program, you must be a permanent, term appointment, SCEP or STEP (student) with no more than 5 years USGS experience. Applicants are prioritized in that order. If you do not meet these criteria, you should contact Kim Miller or Stacey Clarke to discuss special circumstances, or consider instead attending a self-directed mentoring seminar open to all interested employees. At this interactive seminar you'll get a chance to clarify your objectives for the partnership, find out how to set up a productive mentoring relationship, learn how to find your own mentor.  Self directed cyber seminars are offered at various times throughout each fiscal year. All USGS employees are invited to attend.

12. Do you have to be in the same office, district, or even region as your mentor?
Co-location is not essential for a successful mentoring partnership. You don't have to be in the same cost center office or district to participate in the 1-Year Guided Mentoring Program.  Over the last few years, we have heard from non- collocated mentoring partners that they needed to talk on the phone more often than those who could have fact-to-face meetings. The majority of these partnerships were very successful.  It just took a commitment to schedule the telephone meetings.

13. I've heard the Mentoring Program is only as good as the mentor you get. What happens if it appears the mentorship match isn't working to either party's satisfaction?
Once you have given your partnership some time and effort, if either partner determines that the match is not workable we have a "no harm, no foul" walk away clause in your mentoring agreement. The program coordinators will help you do whatever you want to do next, find another mentoring partner or not. Fortunately this has occurred in less than 1% of all mentoring partnerships to date.

14. Does the existence of a 1-Year Guided Mentoring Program mean I can't just pursue a mentoring partnership on my own? Doesn't mentoring occur spontaneously in the USGS?