INNOVATION September-October 2014

Increasing the Value of the APEGBC Mentoring Program

As learning is a life-long process, APEGBC feels that a profes- sional can always benefit from the knowledge and insight of more experienced professionals. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that the APEGBC Mentoring Program now allows current professional engineers and professional geosci- entists the opportunity to be mentored as part of the program. In January 2013, APEGBC initiated a thorough review of its mentoring program to assess the program and identify possible areas of improvement. This review included internal and external reports, surveys of the general membership and feedback from various stakeholders. Several areas were identified where the value of the existing mentoring program can be increased for our members. As a result, several changes have been implemented, which include broadening the program’s scope to include profes- sional members, creating more resources for both mentors and mentees, and allocating more resources to the program. Traditionally, the APEGBC Mentoring Program focused on assisting members-in-training and those in the application process for professional membership. Although this will con- tinue to be a major focus for the APEGBC Mentoring Program, it will now give current and aspiring professional members the opportunity to gain excellent insight on career development, entrepreneurship, establishing a professional network, retire- ment and succession planning, and general mentorship. The program’s mission is to assist experienced licensed pro- fessionals in transferring their skill and knowledge to aspiring and current professional members. The program looks to con- nect members-in-training, applicants or professional members who are looking to grow professionally and personally through- out their career with experienced professionals. APEGBC will also be implementing training sessions for mentors throughout the year, which can be attended in person or viewed online. This will allow mentors to be prepared and ready to assist the mentees. The training session will describe the purpose and objective of our program, tips on best practices and resources that are available to participants. This training session will also include a detailed review of the competency framework as well as tips on how mentors can best assist men- tees in the P.Eng./P.Geo. application process. In addition to the training session, several new resources have been created to assist mentors and mentees get the most

out of the relationship. These resources can be found on the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca/mentoring. With the recent changes, we are expecting a significant increase in the number of mentees in the program. This means the demand for mentors is also much higher than ever before, so we encourage you to share your expertise and knowledge and become a mentor today. A mentor must be professional member who has been a P.Eng. or P.Geo. for a minimum of three years. You can take advantage of the unique opportunity to impact the career of a less experienced professional, while gaining profes- sional development hours. Being a mentor will not only enhance your leadership and coaching skills, but also enable you to help shape the profession for future generations. All you need to do is register and you will be contacted if there is a potential match. To learn more about the APEGBC Mentoring Program or to register, please visit apeg.bc.ca/mentoring. v Who can be a mentee? Members-in-training and applicants who are currently working full-time in an engineering or geoscience capacity. Professional members who are currently working full-time in an engineering or geoscience capacity and are looking for guidance on how to proceed throughout different stages of their career. Who can be a mentor? A mentor is a professional member in good standing who has been a professional engineer or professional geoscientist for a minimum of three years.

How to register? Visit apeg.bc.ca/mentoring

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