An interview with Tanaga Boozer and Joey Nelson, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Think back to that first “real” job you had. Try to relive the first day when you walked through the doors. Were you nervous? Was there a supervisor who greeted you? Did you feel like you dressed appropriately? Did someone show you where the restroom was?
It may be hard to remember all the details of the day, but I’m sure you can easily recall whether your boss began mentoring you from that moment you arrived. By welcoming you and creating a safe environment, you felt comfortable enough to keep coming back to work. And you built up confidence over the days and weeks in that first job because of the coworkers who either officially or unofficially mentored you. Those mentors were the key to your success and professional development.
Every day at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, mentors are working with local Alexandria youth to develop them professionally. This year, there are 25 T.C. Williams High School seniors in paid professional internships at the USPTO. Through a 10-month workplace-readiness program sponsored by the Urban Alliance and the USPTO’s Office of Education and Outreach, mentor Tanaga Boozer, a Program Advisor in the Office of Education and Outreach, met intern Joey Nelson (Urban Alliance and T.C. Williams alumni). In this interview, Tanaga and Joey dialogue about the importance of mentorship.
Tanaga: No matter where you are in your career — early, mid or late — everybody needs a good mentor. Mentors support, help, listen, direct and advise interns while providing safe space for discussions regarding their career and professional development.
Joey: Exactly, mentors aren’t like parents, they support you on a professional level and they want the best for you without being mothered. Mentors give you a different view.
Tanaga: Mentors at the USPTO offer their interns support by sharing their perspective on things based on years of experience without being judgmental or critical. Everyone needs an objective person in their life who will be honest with them.
Joey: I’ve seen how far people have come in their careers at the USPTO. It is clear that their career success has grown out of networking. There are so many mentors especially within this agency that are willing to help you connect and build that network. It is good to see that there are so many people who have been where I am and now want to pull others up in the agency.
Tanaga: That’s a great point. People at the USPTO are very supportive and aim to encourage the employees to seek career advancing opportunities — they want people to move up in the organization.
Joey: I would tell other mentees that I’ve learned a lot about networking, and how there are truly endless possibilities. The mentoring has helped me to see that there are always several different options and that something will work for you. Thanks to my mentor, I have learned about problem solving as well as the importance of working with others.
Tanaga: Wow! That’s huge because when you began working at the USPTO last year, you seemed more comfortable working alone. However, we had to encourage you to work with others to help you see the benefit of working in teams. Fortunately, it did not take long for you to notice that Office of Education and Outreach team accomplishes most of what it does by working in teams and that her skills were valued by our team.
Joey: I definitely learned about teamwork, and how more people working together can make the job easier. I didn’t realize that most people would be so willing to help.
Tanaga: It is great to hear that you’ve found a supportive environment at the PTO and that you’ve discovered on your own that people throughout the agency are genuinely interested in your professional development.
Joey: I’m much more outgoing with people now than I was last year.
Tanaga: I agree 100 percent with that statement. You are definitely more comfortable with talking to people, taking on new assignments and working the team. This new level of engagement is great because it provides an opportunity for us to share and connect with her on matters that will directly and indirectly advance her career goals.
Joey: That’s why I’d tell mentees to connect with their mentor and to take time to build those relationships. Explore opportunities together and take advantage of everything.
Tanaga: “All I have is what I give” and when I have an intern like you who is willing to learn, you feel great knowing that you are giving in a manner that will make a difference — now and in the future and that’s why mentoring matters.