Statement Of Purpose:

The principle purpose of the Mentoring Program is to offer and to support a vehicle which promotes the expansion of professional knowledge, skills and abilities in all areas of career development and assists in the creation of opportunities for employees of the State of Delaware to achieve more.

Mentoring is a "Tool of Empowerment" that offers promising employees:

• Guidance in their pursuit of professional development,
• Encouragement in taking control of their own careers and
• Inspiration to aspire without limitations.

Definitions:

• Career Development

A long-term process dedicated to the development of professional knowledge and skills of employees benefiting both organization and the individual by allowing them to be more efficient, productive and successful.

• Mentoring

A relationship in which a person with greater experience, expertise and wisdom counsels, teaches, guides, and helps another person to develop both personally and professionally.

 Objectives Of Program 

• Fostering of positive and affirmative relationships between experienced state employees, who will act as mentors, and less experienced employees, the mentees, who want to advance their careers 
• Acting as an instrument through which the more accomplished employee will be able to pass along their knowledge, expertise, and relevant experiences to their mentee and to offer encouragement and assistance to the mentees in the attainment of the goals they have set for themselves 
• Providing career mobility to that segment of the workforce population that does not have a college education

Role Of The Office of Management and Budget

The role of the Office of Management and Budget in this program will be to act as an administrator and provide the necessary infrastructure and training support needed to initiate and maintain the program. This office will also have a role as a monitor of the mentoring relationships to ensure they remain positive and productive.

 Benefits

The benefits that can be obtained from this program are many. Mentoring programs offers advantages that benefit not only mentees but also mentors and employers alike. Some of the benefits that can be attained through mentoring are: 

• Cultivation of leadership talents 
• Development of professional knowledge, skills, and abilities 
• Lower turnover rates of promising new employees 
• Advancement of a sense of career satisfaction and employee commitment  
• Resource for developing long-term diversity  
• Cooperative interaction and mutual exchange of ideas between experienced employees and the future leaders of the workforce  
• Opportunity for empowerment by which state employees can discover their individual paths to success in their careers and receive the training and support necessary to achieve that success

 Selection

The selection of mentees in the program will be open to all permanent state employees at or below Pay Grade 10 and who meet the following criteria:

• At least one year of permanent service with the state
• A positive performance review
• Possession of a realistic career goal
• A sincere commitment to become a better employee
• A mature and positive attitude
• A demonstrated career development activity

Mentors will be recruited from long-term state employees. They will be offered training on mentoring and then matched to selected participants based on the mentees needs and interests and the knowledge and work related experiences they have to offer. Candidates for mentors should possess the following traits:

• A knowledgeable and experienced state employee
• Must be available and willing to commit personal time to help others
• A sincere desire to inspire, encourage and support those less experienced
• Good communication and listening skills

Length Of Program

Formal participation in the program for mentees is expected to be one year. During this time the process will be monitored by the Office of Management and Budget which will also provide any assistance, training and other support necessary. If, after that year, the mentor and mentee wish to continue the relationship then they may do so on an informal basis.