I have come to think more and more of the importance of good mentors and the personal training and career advice they provide. A number of online resources exist on the subject, including:

— Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science and references there;

— Other Naturejobs articles: Mentors & Protégés (see also, The hands that guide); Mentoring mismatch

— Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors (see also, A better deal for postdocs and their mentors?);

— NPA's Mentoring Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars;

— MentorNet, an e-mentoring network.