Original Date: 07/25/2005
Revision Date: 09/12/2006

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’ Navigator Program provides peer mentors who facilitate the transition of the New Graduate Professional Development Program participants into the company’s community.

Previously, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’ (NGES’) assigned new hires to senior-level managers as mentors, which resulted in mentors not being able to spend valuable time with new hires. The Navigator Program was created as an alternative to the traditional mentoring program and provided support to the New Graduate Profession Development Program (PDP) participants.

The Navigator Program provides peer mentors to welcome new hires and facilitate the transition of New Graduate PDP participants into the NGES community. During the first week of the four-month program, the mentor provides everyday task assistance and a PDP/Navigator Orientation briefing. For the first month, becoming familiar with NGES is the primary task. During the second month, mentors assist new hires in thinking about their PDP future. Monthly networking group meetings are held with team leads, and new hires have the option of attending various informal networking activities.

New mentors must express an interest in helping new employees and attend a Navigator Program orientation where they are informed of their responsibilities as a mentor and of their importance to the PDP Program. During the orientation, an introduction to the available documentation and resources are provided and brainstorming sessions are held that offer ways to become effective mentors.

NGES’ Navigator Program has eased the transition of new PDP hires, allowed PDPs to mentor their peers after only four months of employment, provided leadership positions for the Leadership Training Program participants as program leads and team leads, and assisted the PDP management by having mentors answer their daily questions for them.

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