New Career Mentoring Program Launched
By Joe Carroll, Chair, Career Services Committee
The IFMA-Atlanta chapter has officially launched a Career Mentoring Program. This program enables one person (the Mentor) to facilitate the development of another person (the Mentee) by sharing skills, expertise, perspectives, and guidance. This program can have a powerful and positive impact on chapter members in many ways. According to one survey, seventy-five percent of executives stated that mentoring played a key role in their careers. Giving your time and talent in helping fellow members move along in their professional development is a worthy endeavor. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” While we encourage members to volunteer as Mentors, we will also be actively recruiting potential Mentors based on the needs of the Mentees. Of course, there must be a good fit between the Mentor and the Mentee. Shown below is an outline of the program.
What is a Mentor?
A mentor is an experienced facilities management professional who can provide professional advice and guidance to students and less experienced facilities management professionals to help them attain professional certifications and advance their professional growth. Mentors must be a chapter member, have at least 5 years experience as a facilities management professional, and be willing to commit one year to the program.
There are several benefits to being a Mentor:
- Receive 10 CFM maintenance points per year.
- Re-energizes the mentor’s career.
- Satisfaction of mentoring another FM professional seeking advice, career guidance, credentialing status and enhancing their professional and career potential.
- Raising the distinction of the designation into the Atlanta Business Market.
- Recognition from the Atlanta Chapter as a Chapter Mentor.
What is a Mentee?
A Mentee is a facilities management professional seeking advice and guidance from an experienced, certified facilities management professional in order to advance his or her professional growth and/or to attain certification(s). Mentees must be a chapter member (professional) and be willing to commit one year to the program.
There are several benefits to being a Mentee:
- A mentor will help you to achieve certification.
- A mentor will help you in areas concerning your professional growth.
- Will improve your problem solving, listening skills, communications, interpersonal relationships, technical abilities and leadership skills.
- Meet colleagues with varied experiences, skills and contacts.
- Network with others in your field.
- Become a future mentor for other professionals.
How Does The Program Work?
- The Chair of the Career Services Committee serves as the Mentoring Program Manager (MPM).
- The MPM will receive requests for mentors and mentees and will seek to make appropriate matches.
- Prospective mentors and mentees must submit a registration form to the Chair of Career Services.
- The MPM will monitor the progress of the program on an on-going basis and will provide periodic reports to the Chair of the Professional Development Committee.
- The MPM will seek ways to promote the program throughout the chapter.
This program will only be as good as the people who support it. I would encourage you to get involved and heed the words of John Crosby who once said: “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” To get involved, please contact either Joe Carroll or Clara Smith. Their contact information is shown below.
For More Information Contact:
Joe Carroll 404-582-8859, joe@istmanagment.com
Clara Smith 678-438-1756, clara.smith@mindspring.com
