Mentorship Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Maricopa County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) 2015 Employee Engagement Survey indicated that improvement was needed in three areas: communication, recognition, and career development. Additionally, MCDOT identified that 20 percent of its employees are currently eligible for retirement and another 20 percent will be eligible in the next five years. With a total of 40 percent of its workforce potentially retiring in the near future, MCDOT realized that a plan to preserve institutional knowledge and develop its employees was needed. The MCDOT Mentorship Program increases career development opportunities, identifies emerging leaders and provides employees with a foundation to achieve their professional goals. After conducting an initial pilot program and receiving feedback, MCDOT developed a Mentorship Program that includes training in: • Goal setting • Resume review • Interview tips • Mock interviews with feedback sessions • Networking • “Soft Skills” (verbal and non-verbal communication, professionalism, decision making, team building, personality assessment and emotional intelligence) Now in its third year, Mentorship Program graduates have: • Received promotions • Participated on interview panels • Recruited for special work assignments • Gained confidence in public speaking • Learned how to network • Developed relationships with MCDOT leadership MCDOT has successfully created a program to empower its employees to become Maricopa County’s future leaders.