The-Accountant-Jan-Feb-2018

INSPIRATION
a Mentor in a First Job Ginger C.
Meyette, MSW, LISW, Ph.D wrote (for
the new social worker) that a mentor in
your new job should be someone who is
experienced in the kind of work you will
be doing, as well as in the work of this
particular agency. This person should be
able to take you under his or her wing,
take you on home visits (if that is part
of the job), guide you in the fine points
of agency paperwork, and listen to you
as you talk about your hopes and fears
related to this new job. With a wise
mentor early on in your career, you will be
able to spread your own wings and work
independently much sooner than you will
if you have to navigate the responsibilities
of this new job all on your own. Meyette
says mentoring is important for many
reasons: Agencies often house many
different programs, sometimes in multiple
buildings. A mentor who has been in
the agency for at least a year can often
anticipate some of your questions before
you know enough about the agency to
ask them. This guided navigation through
the various parts of the agency can be
a lifesaver and contribute toward your
own stress reduction during your first
weeks at your new agency. A competent
mentor can introduce you to various staff,
accompany you to meetings, and pave the
way for your acceptance into the milieu.
Observing how your mentor interacts
with other staff members can help you to
see strategies that seem to work, so you
do not inadvertently blunder into social
and professional danger zones. Paper
work and documentation are different in
every social work job. A mentor can guide
you through the intricacies of this part
of your work, as well, helping you to see
the importance of the documentation in
“telling the story” of your work with each
client, so colleagues can work effectively
with you in providing services. Mayette
says her mentor embodied the knowledge,
skills, and values she has learned to value
in social work. She was able to weave a
safety net around her while, at the same
time, allowing and encouraging her to
spread her wings and fly. In seeking a
mentor, she suggests that, during the
first few weeks in your job, try to shadow
as many social workers as possible (if
there are multiple social workers in your
agency), so you can observe their different
styles of working. Ask one person whose
style you admire whether he or she would
be willing to serve as a mentor for you, at
least during your first year.
Who was/is your favorite mentor?
Cristiano Ronaldo
congratulated by
his old Manchester
United mentor Sir
Alex Ferguson
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 65