EAGE NEWS
How EAGE can boost your early professional career Adapting to a constantly changing industry is a challenge that students and young professionals have to face when choosing their career paths. As an EAGE member, a multitude of resources are at your disposal to equip you with the necessary support to navigate every step: here are some pointers and success stories to get you inspired. There is no better way to understand what the industry is requiring from its professionals than combining the valuable insights of experienced geoscientists and engineers with the fresh perspectives of our younger members. This is the objective of the EAGE Mentoring Programme, a one-year career development initiative led jointly by the Young Professionals and the Women in Geoscience and Engineering Special Interest Communities. As a mentee, Richard Ayisi Mensah, a recent graduate from the University of Miskolc, has received guidance on how to upgrade his current skills to fulfill the industry’s needs. He explains that his mentor ‘has been remarkable advising about career choices and courses that could accelerate the attainment of my personal goals’. With this advice in mind, Richard accessed a job in a prestigious company and will showcase his research in an upcoming international conference. ‘My mentor showed me what accepting this job will look like in terms of development opportunities, career progression, and academia-industry transition. I ended up accepting the offer: the best thing I could have done for myself.’ Our mentors too have benefited from the innovative points of view they experience from motivated young professionals. Dragana Duric, associate professor, University of Belgrade, highlights that ‘the exchange of ideas and insights was intellectually stimulating and an opportunity for mutual learning’. Prof Duric, who lives in Serbia, was matched with a geoscience student based in Colombia. Having a ‘cross-continental collaboration’ has enriched her journey in unexpected ways. ‘Engaging in this type of mentoring was transformative for me personally. I embraced a fresh approach, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment 18
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rather than a purely instructional one. The experience opened my eyes to the immense value of mentorship in empowering students to achieve their goals and facilitating their personal and professional growth.’
as artificial intelligence, seismic acquisition, geochemistry, and many more. We have ten different technical communities you can choose from to explore the various paths you can take in your career.
Collaborative and knowledge exchange initiatives are key to our early careers professional development.
Within the trusted network of professional associations such as EAGE, lies a phenomenal capacity to collectively guide students and young professionals to unlock their full potential and excel in their fields, as in the case of Richard Mensah. So whether you are willing to boost your career or to share your valuable experience, the EAGE Mentoring Programme is a great place to start. Expanding your professional horizons Another way people in their early careers can enhance their understanding of the industry is joining Technical Communities. These specialised networks aim to bring forward the latest trends, best practices, and professional development opportunities in various disciplines, such
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For example, if you are curious about renewable energies, the Decarbonization and Energy Transition (DET) Community is, in words of Board member Carla Martín-Clavé, ‘the perfect place for any student, early career or senior professional looking for support to make a change in his/her career and to join the new low-carbon technologies energy sector’. Speaking of her own experience, Martín-Clavé stresses the importance of joining technical knowledge exchange initiatives: ‘When I first joined a community, I was still a student, and being part of the DET committee has helped me to learn from senior professionals driving and shaping the energy transition in geoscience’. Our Special Interest Communities also have a lot to offer. Take for example the
