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# ODEP - Office of Disability Employment Policy

### Disability Employment Policy Resources by Topic

# Career-focused Mentoring for Youth: The What, Why, and How

When asked to describe an ideal employee, attributes such as being a hard worker, a team player, and a good communicator are frequently cited by employers as being even more important than technical expertise. According, however, to a recent survey of 461 employers conducted by the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resources many new entrants to the workforce lack these important skills. These business leaders reported that while the three "R's" are still fundamental to every employee's ability to do the job, knowledge of applied skills is even more important. (Are They Really Ready to Work? Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century U.S. Workforce (2006)). 

One remedy may be found in mentoring. Career-focused mentoring provides young people the opportunity to get a glimpse of the world of work that may not otherwise be available to them. It also allows them to gain and practice skills that are useful in professional and other settings, and to prepare for life as an adult. 

### What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a relationship where a mentor, through support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example, helps another person (usually a young person) reach his or her work and life goals. Although many people may equate mentoring with friendship, mentoring actually has its roots in the professional world. Mentoring principles and practices have perpetuated the continuity of art, craft and commerce dating back to ancient times where masters taught, coached and guided the skills development of apprentices. Mentoring is a relationship built on trust. It is not expensive, and the return on investment of a successful mentoring relationship can be profound and significant.

### Why is mentoring important? 

Mentoring relationships provide valuable support to young people. Mentors can help guide youth through the sometimes awkward developmental stages that accompany the transition into adulthood. Mentoring can offer not only academic and career guidance, but also role models for leadership, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. 

Many youth with disabilities, like other disadvantaged youth, have not had the same opportunities as their peers for exposure to career preparation options like mentoring. Even today, some youth with disabilities play at best a passive role in their own career-planning process. This may reflect low expectations that either they or others have, learned dependency, or the perceived need for protection and support. 

### What are the characteristics of a good mentoring relationship?

By and large, youth appreciate mentors who are supportive, caring, and willing to assist them with activities that support academic, career, social or personal goals. One common theme is that the longer the relationship continues, the more positive the outcome. Another is that youth are more likely to benefit from mentoring if their mentor maintains frequent contact with them and knows their families. As a general rule, youth who are disadvantaged or at-risk stand to gain the most from mentoring. Youth with disabilities are among these populations. 

### How does career-focused mentoring work?

Hardly any young person would disagree that his or her goal in life is to become a successful adult. But what does it take to successfully transition to adulthood? The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Y) and ODEP tackled this question and, based on research, created the *Guideposts for Success*. The *Guidepost*s provide a framework of what all youth, including youth with disabilities, need to transition to adulthood successfully. Similarly, Ferber, Pittman, & Marshall (2002) identified youth development competency areas that all youth need, which closely parallel the *Guideposts*. 

Based on this foundation, ODEP and NCWD/Y created the following table, which explains how mentoring activities can be used to support career preparation of all youth, including those with disabilities, by assisting them in meeting their transition-related and youth developmental needs. After describing each *Guidepost* and youth development competency as they relate to the needs of all youth and youth with disabilities, the table provides information on mentoring activities that can assist youth in the achievement of these developmental objectives.

Using this tool will help ensure that youth receive a positive career-based mentoring experience.

**Mentoring Activities that Support Youth in Meeting Developmental Objectives**

(Taken from *Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities*, http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/mentoring.html.) 

### References

Ferber, T., Pittman, K., & Marshall, T. (2002). Helping all youth to grow up fully prepared and fully engaged. Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment. 

Mason, M. K. "The Debate Over Coaching and Mentoring in Today's Workplace." http://www.moyak.com/researcher/resume/papers/var20mkm.html.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (January, 2005). Youth Development and Youth Leadership in Programs. InfoBrief. Issue 11*.*http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/information_Briefs/issue11.html.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (2005). Guideposts for success. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/guideposts/index.html.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (August, 2005). Cultivating leadership: Mentoring youth with disabilities. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/cultivate.htm.

Timmons, J., Mack, M., Sims, A., Hare, R. and Wills, J. (2006). Paving the way to work: A guide to career-focused mentoring for youth with disabilities. Washington, DC: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, Institute for Educational Leadership. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/mentoring.html.

 The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Society for Human Resource Management (2006). Are They Really Ready to 

**Work?**

 Employers' Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge And Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century Workforce. 

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