USDA Virtual University
USDA Mentoring Program
The USDA Mentoring Program is designed to facilitate the learning process and offer experiences that will assist mentees in understanding and fulfill their career potential. It is a voluntary program that benefits both the employee and USDA by fostering career relationships and exchange of career information between the mentor and mentee. The mentor can provide numerous benefits to employees including but not limited to:
- Helping employees develop as professionals by improving their skills in translating values and strategies into productive actions;
- Developing new and/or different perspectives;
- Obtaining assistance for new and innovative ideas,
- Demonstrating their strengths and exploring potential, and
- Increasing career networks and receiving greater exposure within the Agency/USDA.
Some training and development programs require a formal mentoring component by federal regulation (e.g., Presidential Management Fellows Program, Senior Executive Candidate Development Program). USDA includes mentoring is one of many leadership development activities along with individual development plan (IDP), details and rotational assignments, and formal study and/or training and developmental assignments.
Additonal Information