eMentoring
As an eMentor, you are in a unique position to help guide young professionals and students to reach their career potential, find the right niche in the industry, and gain insight from your professional experiences. You will have the satisfaction of sharing your knowledge and better preparing the next generation of the industry.
About eMentoring
eMentoring is accessible to SPE members only and requires an email address. If you do not have an email address, your can request that SPE supply you with a free email account. Note that SPE adheres to US sanction requirements.
By mainly using electronic communication, you have the opportunity to mentor the next generation of the industry anywhere in the world. Once you join the program, you will be placed in our pool of mentors. We match you with a mentee based on the information you provide about yourself and the criteria selected by the mentee. While we encourage electronic communication, if you and your mentee agree, you are welcome to meet by phone or in person.
Meet the Mentees
The mentees in this program can be university students deciding if petroleum engineering is a fit for them, university students close to graduation wondering if a career in the industry is the right choice, young professionals in the first years of their career seeking guidance on navigating the workplace, or more experienced young professionals looking for advice on selecting the career path. Each mentoring experience is unique to the individual needs of the mentee and the effort made by both parties.
Become a mentor
Choosing to mentor a young professional or student is an important decision. You are committing 1-year of your time to helping a young person reach his or her potential. We ask that you provide information on your areas of expertise, your work experience, and your education. This helps mentees choose a potential mentor. We would also like to know why you want to be a mentor.
Please know that once you have registered as a mentor, you may not hear from SPE for some time. Once a mentee has selected criteria that matches your profile, SPE will contact you to discuss the potential relationship. Once matched, you are committed to the relationship for 1 year.
The matching process
Mentees initiate the matching process by searching for mentors. This search criteria is based on a mentor’s area of expertise, type of company he or she works for, gender, and country of residence.
This narrowed list of mentors will then provide the potential mentors’ company name, job title, years of industry experience, state/province of residence, and short biography. Mentees submit their top three choices for a mentor.
Once SPE has confirmed active membership, the matching process is usually completed in 2-3 weeks.
Once a match is made, SPE emails the name, email address, and country of residence for your mentor or mentee. Sharing any additional background information or exchanging information by phone or in person is your decision.
Your mentoring relationship lasts for 1 year. SPE will contact you at the end of your relationship to inquire if you would like to continue in the program. You may request a new mentor or mentee at any time.
Beginning your eMentoring relationship
As soon as you have been assigned a mentee, SPE will send you his or her contact information. SPE will also send your contact information to the mentee.
As the mentor, we ask you to initiate the relationship through an introductory email with information about your education, career path, and present role within the industry, as well as your expectations for the relationship. Some mentees might be uncomfortable initiating contact, not knowing where to begin.
In this initial communication, you should also ask your mentee to respond with information about his or her background, career goals, and expectations for the relationship. Spend some time in the first few weeks getting to know your mentee.
Your role as a mentor
You have made a 1-year commitment to your mentoring relationship. Mentors are encouraged to communicate with mentees on a regular basis. We feel that weekly or biweekly communication is best, as schedules permit. Make a plan with your mentee for a consistent schedule of when and how to communicate.
One of the most important attributes of a mentor is good listening skills. However, at times, you will need to initiate discussions. It is through frequent communication that you will foster a trusting relationship where your mentee feels that his or her questions are carefully considered. Good communication will help you both benefit from the mentoring experience.
Some of the questions you receive might be on the following topics:
- Career path
- Working through challenges with managers
- Career advancement
- Nontraditional careers
- Curriculum choices
- Interviewing techniques
- Training opportunities
- Transitioning to the working world
- Choosing a specialization
You are not expected or obligated to have an answer to every question. If you are not comfortable providing advice on certain subjects, be honest with your mentee.
If you choose to dissolve the relationship at anytime within the first year, be courteous and inform both your mentee and the SPE eMentoring Program Coordinator. SPE will update your availability match your mentee with a new mentor.
Questions or concerns
If at any time you have any questions or concerns regarding the program, contact ementor@spe.org immediately.
The SPE eMentoring Program follows the Guidelines for Online Communities.
