Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. – This past January, a “Speed Mentoring” workshop was held for newly hired engineers, logisticians and contract specialists just starting their careers with the federal government at NAVAIR Lakehurst. The program was such a success that another expanded event was planned and hosted by the NAVAIR and NAWCAD Women’s Advisory Group (WAG) at Lakehurst in conjunction with a similar event being held for NAVAIR employees at Patuxent River, Md.

The concept of “Speed Mentoring” allows an employee the opportunity to sit face to face for a few minutes with numerous senior managers from throughout the organization to discuss anything and everything dealing with their jobs and careers. Questions are asked, advice is given and another perspective is offered by the next manager in line.

Under the coordination of WAG team member Robin McDermitt, 16 senior leaders (mentors), including Kathleen Donnelly, Senior Executive Service director of Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment at Lakehurst spent the afternoon on Oct. 22 with a large group of recent and long-time employees – mentees.

Questions varied from how do I balance my career and home life, to what do I need to do to progress in my career field, to what does the future look like for DoD employees? Mentors gave frank answers and personal advice from their years of experience, then the mentee was off to the next mentor to pick their brain.

According to McDermitt, “the event was very well received by the mentors and mentees. It allowed for a personal connection that might not normally occur in the day-to-day workplace. Mentees got to meet with leaders from other divisions and received frank advice and guidance on what to expect from a civilian career with the Navy.”

At the conclusion of the afternoon, McDermitt encouraged the mentees to go to the NAVAIR iMentoring website tool to search for a career mentor who could help guide them regularly as their career takes shape.