Are you a student or an early career researcher/professional who is seeking insight, advice, and guidance to navigate your graduate studies or your first years on the workforce in permafrost science?
Are you an academic or an industry professional specializing in permafrost science who wants to help the next generation of permafrost scientists to grow their skills, gain new perspectives, and make better decisions by sharing insights learned over your career?
If so, the Canadian Permafrost Association (CPA) mentorship program is for you!
The CPA mentorship program was created to give students, early career researchers, and young professionals opportunities to discuss in depth with more experienced mentors any subject they wish (e.g., school/career/work-life balance/finding a job/struggles with work) in a pressure-free environment and have honest and free exchanges with follow-ups.
Mentees are expected to:
Mentors are expected to:
1. What is my role as a mentee?
Your key role is to learn. Your goal should be to put your best foot forward, and an open hard working attitude will get you a long way. It is the mentee’s responsibility to make first contact with the mentor.
2. Is it my mentor’s responsibility to get me a job? Is it appropriate to ask my mentor for a job?
Is not your mentor’s responsibility to get you a job. It is not appropriate to ask your mentor for a job at any given point in time. However, it is encouraged to ask your mentor to look at your resume, provide feedback, and offer insight into how different companies hire. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on any level, but to optimize your mentors time, coming with questions prepared is ideal.
2. What are some activities that my mentor and I can do together?
If you can meet in person, great! You have the opportunity to get a drink, share a meal or participate in any activity you both like and feel comfortable doing together (e.g., attend public lectures, meet at conferences). You can also do similar activities online.
3. What year of school do I need to be in to sign up as a mentee?
All students and early career scientists are welcome as a CPA mentee, as long as you are an active CPA member. Third and fourth year students will be paired first, in the case that we do not have enough mentors to all students who applied. You will be paired with a mentor that has expertise in the field in which you applied.
4. What if I no longer have the time to be a mentee, or do not wish to continue in the program?
It would be ideal for you to contact your mentor and explain the situation. Please also inform the mentorship committee ([email protected]) so we can arrange for the mentor to be paired with another student.
5. How do I know what my mentor expects of me?
The best thing you can do is have a conversation about this the very first time you meet with your mentor. It is best to establish expectations around frequency of your meetings, what types of meetings you will have, and goals for the year. The mentorship committee can provide you with a goal setting document that you can use to help you prepare for and have this conversation with your mentor.
1. What is my key role as a mentor?
The key role of a mentor is to share openly about your experiences and act as a role model to the mentee. The degree in which you play a role is strictly up to you and your mentee. Offering your unique experiences can be an excellent way to give back and share some of your insights.
2. What are some topics my mentee and I can discuss?
Mentor/mentee discussions do not have to be strictly technical in nature, although both personal and technical discussions are encouraged. For additional ideas on topics for discussion please inquire at [email protected].
3. Is it my responsibility to find my mentee summer employment?
No, it is not your responsibility to find your mentee summer employment. If you feel there is a connection between the pairing, feel free to invite your mentee along for your time together, or introduce them to people in a recruitment position. This can expand the mentee’s network rapidly and facilitate job opportunities. Offering to help polish your mentee’s resume and discussing interview tips is also a great idea.
4. What if my mentee and I do not get along?
A great way to understand each other is to be knowledgeable in how they think. A fun personality test which could help you communicate together is the Personality Diversity Indicator (https://equilibria.com/pdi-home) or the 16 personalities test (https://www.16personalities.com/). Communication is your first line of defense. Otherwise, feel free to contact the committee at [email protected], and we can explore other options.
5. Can I have more than one mentee?
Yes! There are always more students than mentors available. When a mentor is willing to have more than one mentee, it is a fantastic opportunity to give back to others.
6. What are some activities that my mentee and I can do together?
If you can meet in person, great! You have the opportunity to get a drink, share a meal or participate in any activity you both like and feel comfortable doing together (e.g., attend public lectures, meet at conferences). You can also do similar activities online.
7. How much experience do I need to be a mentor?
If you feel you have something to share from your experiences, then you are welcome as a mentor. The amount of years you have in industry/academia will dictate what year of studies/career stage your mentee will be in. For example, a PhD student would likely be placed with a mentor with 10 or more years of experience. Whereas, a mentor with one year of experience will likely have a 1st or 2nd year student as their mentee.
8. What if I no longer have the time to be a mentor, or do not wish to continue in the program?
It would be ideal for you to contact your mentee and explain the situation. Please also inform the mentorship committee ([email protected]) so we can arrange a new mentor for the student.
9. Do I benefit by becoming a CPA mentor?
The biggest reward is witnessing how you directly impact your mentee in a positive way. Under the right circumstances, a mentee’s professional and personal life can drastically change. Other than giving back, becoming a mentor through the CPA is a valuable way to gain mentorship experience outside of the office. This can further advance your career.
10. How do I manage my mentee’s expectations?
The best thing you can do is have a conversation around this the very first time you meet with your mentee. It is best to establish expectations around frequency of your meetings, what types of meetings you will have, and goals for the year. The mentorship committee can provide you with a very valuable goal setting document that you can use to help you prepare for and have this conversation with your mentee.
11. What resources are available to me as a mentor?
Other than online resources, feel free to contact the mentorship program, we can assist you to find new resources and talk to people with experience.
This form was developed with the help of the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG) Mentorship Program.
JOIN NOW