2019 Career Development Program
The CDP is a tuition-free program that offers individual mentoring, professional development, and career counseling for high-performing Federal employees. Forty participants are selected each year (20 mentors and 20 mentees). The program runs April 2019 through October 2019. Training sessions are held in the Washington, DC metro area. The 2019 CDP will conclude at a graduation ceremony in November 2019 in Washington, DC.
The following awards will be presented during the CDP graduation in November 2019: Mentee of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Best Project, Recognition Award, Achievement Award, Diversity Award.Contact the 2019 Program Chair Cailine Kim with questions at mentoring@fapac.org.
General Information
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) is proud to host the Career Development Program (CDP) in support of Executive Order 13583 on establishing a coordinated government-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the Federal workforce.
The CDP is open to all Federal and DC government employees with permanent career status at all levels. CDP mentors and mentees must be able to participate in all program activities including: orientation, mutually scheduled one-on-one mentoring sessions, professional development workshops, a mid-term progress review, leadership projects, and graduation.
Mentoring objectives:
- Foster caring and supportive professional relationships.
- Encourage individuals to develop to their full potential.
- Provide resources to strengthen personal goals and career planning.
- Prepare participants for career advancement opportunities.
Who May Apply:
- Current Federal employees with permanent career status.
- Mentee candidates must be GS-13 or lower.
- Mentor candidates must be GS-14 or higher with 5+ years supervisory experience and 8+ years in federal service.
To be eligible as a mentor:
Mentors must be GS-14 or above and seek to guide high-performing employees toward professional/personal advancement. A good mentor must possess at least five years of supervisory experience, served a minimum of 8 years in government or military service, have good knowledge of the Federal hiring process, have experience in performance evaluation and counseling, and be able to provide resources to the mentee. A good mentor should be a role model, counselor, and adviser to the mentee.
To be eligible as a mentee:
Mentees must be a GS-13 or below and have permanent career status with the Federal or DC governments. Mentees should have a desire for professional/personal advancement, perform at a high level, and be teachable.
Questions? Contact the Program Chair at Mentoring@fapac.org.
Mentoring Activities Schedule
Participants are responsible for fulfilling all components of the Career Development Program for successful completion of the program. Both Mentors and Mentees should reserve a minimum of 12 hours of individual mentoring. Mentees should commit a minimum of 40 hours to the program during the six-month period.
I. Overall program schedule: Participants must be able to attend the following activities in-person.
April 12, 12-7 pm CDP Orientation (FAPAC Office, Fairfax, VA)
May 12-16, 2019 National Leadership Training Program (Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL)
June 21, 2019 Feedback Session 1 (conference call)
Aug 23, 2019 Feedback Session 2 (conference call)
Nov 8, 12-4 pm CDP Graduation (FAPAC Office, Fairfax, VA)
II. One-on-one mentoring (12 hours): Mentors and Mentees are responsible for coordinating meetings at least once a month. Meetings may be held in-person, over the phone, by video conference, or other communication methods. Mentors and Mentees may schedule meetings during or outside of normal business hours at their convenience.
Workshop activities are intended to equip Mentees with the necessary personal and professional tools to achieve success in their respective goals. Examples: FAPAC-sponsored seminars (i.e. National Leadership Training Program, one-day seminars) or agency-sponsored workshops related to personal or professional development.
III. Leadership projects (16 hours): Mentees will participate in leadership activities they can complete within the official CDP program period (April to October). The project must produce clear outcomes/deliverables, be outside of normal job responsibilities, engage communication or analytical skills, or involve senior officers. Examples: Participate in job shadowing or training opportunities, develop and submit project proposals, coordinate or present at high-level meeting/event.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you have to be of AAPI heritage to apply? No. FAPAC's programs are open to all government employees and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or other factors. See "Who May Apply" section above for program eligibility.
- Are there any fees for the CDP? No. There is no fee to participate in the Career Development Mentoring Program (CDP). If Mentees attend the National Leadership Training Program (NLTP), the $895 registration fee will be waived. Mentees must confirm their attendance with the Program Chair and register with the private code. FAPAC does not provide funds for travel/lodging for program participants.
- Who is responsible for travel/lodging costs? CDP Mentees and Mentors should request travel/lodging support from their agency in order to participate in the Career Development Program and all associated activities.
- Am I allowed to participate remotely? CDP participants must attend the orientation, NLTP, and graduation in person to fulfill the objectives of the program. Special exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Mentoring meeting may be held remotely as agreed upon by the Mentor and Mentee.