The Importance of Mentors

Throughout your career, regardless of private or public employment, it is important to think about your mentors. Who are your mentors? Do you have mentors? What role are they playing in your career?

Mentors play a vital role shaping and influencing their mentees’ careers. A mentor can help you decide if you are in the right job or position. These individuals can help you decide whether making a career change is the right choice for you. Mentors can make sure that you are making the most of the opportunities available to you in your current position.

Often people think that mentors must lie within their organization or company. This isn’t necessarily true. As a young employee, you should have a variety of mentors. I recommended that you have multiple mentors both within and outside of your organization to help guide you through your career. Here are some people that might be great mentors---

1. Your previous supervisors
2. A professor from your graduate program
3. A higher level employee within your organization that doesn’t directly supervise you
4. A person in your career field or your career field of interest
5. A relative who cares about your advancement
6. A close friend

As you can see, when talking about a mentor it is important not to limit your options. Your potential list of mentors is limitless; just make sure you have variety in your selections. Each person brings a different perspective; ideas about how to handle situations; and suggestions for opportunities that you should experience.

Take some time in the near future to assess your mentor network. If you don’t have at least one mentor, think of a person that could serve that role for you and ask them to serve as your mentor. Don’t be afraid to ask somebody you see as a role model or a coworker. You will never know what they will say until you ask!

Good luck picking a mentor in the next few months. These will truly prove to be an asset for the rest of your career.

Cara Spiro
Professional Development Co-Chair

“Around the Fed in 80 days...”

We all know the concept behind the movie or book "Around the World in 80 days". What if as a young Fed we could apply this concept to our career?

Gone are the old days when a Federal Employee spent their entire career in one agency. Previously, it was considered a sign of experience or loyalty. Today a young Fed can be seen equally as knowledgeable or experienced having done various stints at different agencies. In some cases, even be considered a subject matter expert after spending only 2 1\2 years at an agency. Gone are the days of appearing like a job hopper after spending as little as 2 to 5 years at an agency and then deciding to move to another.

With this in mind, I implore young Feds to take the chance and work at different agencies they have been dreaming about. It would be almost like traveling to different foreign countries you've always wanted to visit. There are hundreds of different agencies and sub-agencies. These agencies all have different missions, cultures and ways they serve the public.

Since leaving college in May of 2005, I have now spent almost three years in the Federal Government. I have worked for the Smithsonian Institution and I am currently working for the United States Coast Guard. I'm sure what I learned at the Smithsonian has helped me in my current position.

There are, however, many other exciting agencies: Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Comptroller of Currency, Peace Corps and the Department of State. I hope all young Feds take the time to prepare a list of dream agencies they would like to work for.

It is true spending an entire career in one agency is very safe. However, spicing it up and taking a risk of going "Around the Fed in 80 days" may be just the ticket to career advancement!

I.J Ezeonwuka,
YGL Chapter Liaison, 2007-2008