Frequently Asked Questions

Northern Lights Mentorship Program is tailored to provide guidance and support to women who are aspiring to enter the airline and aerospace industry and also to those who are already established in their careers, but want to further grow and develop. Both aspiring and experienced female professionals can register to be mentored through this program.

Matches between mentors and mentees are made based on both participants’ occupation and/or geographical location. We select a match for you based on the information about your profession that you have provided. If you’re not sure the match is appropriate, please notify us as soon as possible.

You’ll help develop our industry’s next generation of talent. You’ll build strong professional relationships, gain and share knowledge, and foster greater connections to colleagues. Best of all, you’ll be rewarded with a sense of achievement when you see your mentee grow and succeed.

You can become a mentor if:

• you have worked (or trained) in your field for at least a year;
• you can commit 24 hours of your time over six months; and
• you want to share your industry knowledge and contacts with others.

Mentors are expected to:

• Provide details on their professional or training background and information needed for program delivery and matching purposes;
• Attend an orientation session (approximately 60 minutes);
• Work with their mentee to determine objectives and set goals related to training objectives or pathways, job search, networking, professional development, etc.; and
• Upon completion of the six-month mentorship partnership, provide feedback on the program through a survey.

The time commitment is 24 hours over six months. This works out to approximately one hour per week. You and your mentee can set a schedule that suits your goals for the partnership and your availability.

Absolutely! However, NLAF Mentorship Program only matches mentors with one mentee at a time. Due to the high demand for the program, each mentee is permitted to participate in NLAF Mentorship Program only once, so it is important to make the most of their experience. We encourage you to mentor again after your (six month) partnership is finished.

Throughout the mentoring process, you should be speaking to your mentee about your shared progress in fulfilling the goals you set at the beginning of the relationship. If you find yourself in a situation where you would like guidance, please contact us for advice and support.

We recommend that you meet in person, especially for the first few meetings. However, there will be times when online or phone communication will be more convenient and/or effective for both of you.

You and your mentee should decide where to meet together. You could meet at your office, a coffee shop or somewhere else that’s convenient for both of you. All meetings should take place in a public place and not in a private home.

At the end of your mentoring relationship, you will be contacted and asked if you are able to mentor again. Even if you are not able to do this straight away, let us know a date when you expect to be able to do it, and we can get back in touch with you then.

You qualify for the program if:

• you identify as female;
• you are proficient in English or French;
• you are legally entitled to work in Canada; and
• you are considering a career in aviation or aerospace or enrolled in a training program that will enable you to work in your chosen aviation or aerospace profession in Canada or seeking employment in the field or are actively employed and working on your professional development.

As a mentee, you are responsible for your own job/training search and being an active participant in the mentoring relationship. This includes making sure you keep in touch regularly with both your mentor and coach throughout the program. You are expected to act on advice and connections provided by your mentor.

Open communication is the key to any good relationship. Throughout your time with your mentor, speak to them about whether or not you are fulfilling the goals you both set out at the beginning. You will also be asked by your mentoring coach to provide feedback on your progress and experience.

If you find yourself in a situation where conflict or another problem has developed, please contact us. We will work with you to resolve the issue.

Your mentor’s role is not to find you a job, but to offer you occupation-specific advice. Mentors can provide you with guidance on how to navigate through the various training pathways or how the hiring process works in different companies, and may be able to help you prepare for an interview. They can help you understand the airline and aviation industry culture and what you can expect when you enter the field.

We ask all participants to complete a survey about their partnership experience. Your insights and feedback will help us to review and improve our program to enhance the experience of future participants.

Mentoring is available to participants once per each stage of the program, including:

• imagining a career (you have not started training yet);
• training for a career; and
• developing your career (you are looking for work or looking to advance in your career).

If you have any questions that are not covered in this FAQ, please contact us at mentorship@northernlightsaerofoundation.com. We will get back to you within seven business days.