NIH Mentoring Hub

NIH is dedicated to promoting continued learning through the vast wealth of knowledge available through mentoring. Mentoring is a learning relationship, generally focused on long-term career development. A more experienced person (mentor) shares knowledge, experience, and wisdom with another individual (mentee). The NIH Mentoring Hub encourages IC's to create a mentor program that is ideal for their workforce with creation of toolkits, best practices, and more. 

Establishing a Mentoring Program Benefits:

Organizational

  • Improved productivity
  • Well-rounded, skilled workforce
  • Ability to grow future leaders (promote from within)
  • Cross-organizational knowledge sharing
  • Breakdown of "silo" mentality
    • Broadens perspectives
    • Increases opportunities for cross-organizational partnerships

Mentor

  • Ability to create positive change by sharing your wisdom, expertise, institutional knowledge and political savvy
  • Gain new perspectives
  • Enhance your communication and leadership abilities
  • Achieve a sense of fulfillment by assisting another person fulfill their goals

Mentee

  • Career advice e.g. How do I grow as a professional?
  • Specific goals e.g. How do I best get from point A to point B?
  • Switching careers e.g. What knowledge, skills and abilities do I need to change my career path?
  • Knowledge capital e.g. Leveraging the experience, information, institutional knowledge, learning, and skills of the mentor to broaden your awareness of the organization /institute/ agency in which you work.

Helpful links

Useful resources to begin your mentoring journey