Creating Career Confidence Through Mentorship
Date Posted: June 23, 2022
Posted In: Discussion,
by Sumaiyah Sareshwala, Burns & McDonnell
International Women in Engineering Day, celebrated every year on June 23, offers an opportunity to highlight the vital role that women play in engineering. It also provides a chance to reflect on the challenges in the profession. One of the greatest roadblocks women experience who have the talent, ambition and skills to be top engineers is that they simply don’t believe they can be. According to EngineeringUK, only 60% of girls aged 11 to 14 think they could become an engineer if they wanted to, compared to 72% of boys. This drops to 53% in the 16 to 19 age range, where only a quarter of girls say they would ever consider a career in engineering.
There are similar issues for all underrepresented groups. Without the advice, support and role models needed to promote engineering as a profession, individuals are less likely to consider it a viable option. And while these are in part societal issues, there is more that can be done to make an engineering career accessible to all.
Mentoring is one of the most beneficial ways of educating others about the profession; sharing the passion for STEM is a powerful thing. While there are many different forms of mentoring, the experience is rewarding and enriching for both the mentor and mentee. The following are four reasons every engineer should get involved in mentorship.
There Are Opportunities for Everyone
Whether it’s a new engineer looking for support or a seasoned professional looking to give back, mentoring can and should take place throughout all stages of a career. The move to remote and hybrid forms of meeting has made mentoring more accessible and flexible than ever before and can easily be built around any schedule.
There are often plenty of opportunities, but if the right one isn’t available, engineers should take the initiative and create it. Whether that means contacting an old school or university or speaking to an employer, there’s a strong chance that if the right mentoring opportunity doesn’t already exist, the door will be open to create it.