Revised October 2013 This Department of Veterans Affairs Training Series on Veteran Mentoring Programs is designed to help employers and Veteran employees understand the benefits to having Veteran mentoring programs in place and the practices that could be implemented to make these programs mor ID: 340971
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Slide1
Veteran Mentoring Programs
Revised
October, 2013Slide2
This Department of Veterans Affairs Training Series on Veteran Mentoring Programs is designed to help employers and Veteran employees understand the benefits to having Veteran mentoring programs in place and the practices that could be implemented to make these programs more successful.
Introduction
2Slide3
The suggestions in this presentation are being offered in an effort to improve Veteran retention in the workplace. It is understood that not all these practices can be implemented for every organization. Some variation may be required in order to comply with each organization’s policies and procedures.
Introduction
3Slide4
Veteran mentoring:
Forms a voluntary one-on-one relationship between a junior Veteran employee and a senior mentor (preferably someone with military experience)
Assists the Veteran employee with his or her personal and professional growth in an organization
Focuses on helping the Veteran employee adjust to the civilian workplace culture and reach his or her full potential within the organization
What is Veteran Mentoring?
4Slide5
Veteran mentoring programs can:
Increase the morale of Veteran employees
Help new Veteran employees understand and adapt to the job and workplace culture
Lead to increased productivity
Lead to career development and increased employee retention
Promote diversity
Why Implement a Veteran Mentoring Program?
5Slide6
Through serving as a mentor, an individual can:
Enhance leadership and coaching skills
Gain a better awareness and understanding of employees at the lower levels of the organization
Demonstrate expertise and share knowledge
Expand career network and exposure in the organization
Make a difference in a fellow Veteran’s career
Benefits to the Mentor
6Slide7
Through mentorship, a Veteran mentee can:
Make a smoother transition to the civilian workplace
Gain career development opportunities
Demonstrate strengths and explore potential
Expand career network and exposure in the organization
Build camaraderie with a fellow
Veteran
Benefits to the Veteran Mentee
7Slide8
A Veteran mentoring program is built on trust and can start in several ways:
A program can be built by Veterans for Veterans, although anyone with the desire can help create the program
Veteran middle management employees can garner support for the program from upper management
Upper management can tap Veterans within the organization with the skills to make it happen
Such a program is voluntary, bringing Veterans together in a trusted and comfortable environment
Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program
8Slide9
Decide on the goals and objectives
Developing leaders
Assisting junior employees
Increasing employee retention
Develop a business case for why the organization should dedicate the time and resources to the program
Employee growth and engagement
Increased retention/decreased turnover
Change management/guidance & training
Succession planning/leadership development
Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program
9Slide10
Get support and commitment from top management
Assign a program manager to administer the program
Create a committee to set the goals and objectives of the program
Develop a communications strategy for providing information and updates to mentors and mentees
Website page describing the program & announcing updates
Social media group for sharing news and ideas
Email distribution
Developing a Veteran Mentoring Program
10Slide11
Develop a marketing and recruiting strategy
Let employees know about the program
Match mentors selectively with mentees based on compatibility of goals, interests, or preferences
Consider using web-based mentoring tools for matching and tracking
Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program
11Slide12
Train program participants
Conduct orientation for mentors and mentees
Inform mentors on resources available to Veterans with health or mental health challenges
Develop instruction guides for mentors and mentees that include roles, expectations, topics, and commitments
Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program
12Slide13
Support the mentoring relationships
Provide developmental activities such as seminars, networking events, guest speakers
Evaluate when goals have been met and bring closure to mentorships
Broadcast successes that demonstrate the value of the program and give recognition to participants
Implementing a Veteran Mentoring Program
13Slide14
Both mentor and mentee should:
Communicate and respect each other’s time
Share responsibility for the relationship
Keep an open mind, be flexible, and exchange information
Have sensitivity to differences in race, gender, backgrounds, and experiences
Mentee must take ownership of his or her own career
Foundation for a Successful Mentoring Program
14Slide15
Mentoring Handbook
. Rep. American Corporate Partners,
n.d.
Web. <http://acp-usa.org/sites/default/files/ACPMentoringHandbookWinter2013.pdf>.How to Build a Mentoring Program: A Mentoring Program Toolkit. Rep. OPM/USPTO Leadership Development Program, 18 Mar. 2010. Web. <http://www.opm.gov/Wiki/uploads/docs/Wiki/OPM/training/Mentoring%20Toolkit%203-18-10.pdf>.
10 Tips for Starting a Successful Mentoring Program
. Rep. Chronus.com,
n.d.
Web. <http://chronus.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/10-Tips-for-Starting-a-Successful-Mentoring-Program.pdf>.
Best Practices: Mentoring
. Rep. United States Office of Personnel Management, Sept. 2008. Web. <http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/training-and-development/career-development/bestpractices-mentoring.pdf>.
Travis,
Eryn
. "What Benefit Does a Company Gain With Mentoring Programs?"
Small Business
. Demand Media,
n.d.
Web. <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefit-company-gain-mentoring-programs-20665.html>.
Sources
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