Do Young Engineers Need Better Mentoring Programs?

As a Marketing Manager for Knovel,  I recently reached out to young engineers for their unique insight about the knowledge gap between the retiring baby boomers and those just entering the workplace. In conversations I’ve had, Gen Y engineers say they aren’t receiving enough direction and mentoring within the corporate environment.

“New graduates are given higher levels of responsibility than I had when I first graduated,” says an engineer just four years into his career at one of Canada’s largest petroleum companies. “They tend to be thrown into the fire more. I had a little more mentoring and more gradual training as opposed to all of a sudden ‘this is my area, and I’m supposed to look after it and figure things out on my own.’ ”

So when it comes to the engineering knowledge gap, is lack of mentoring the main culprit?

While I can’t say for sure, many companies are struggling with limited resources, time pressures and economic constraints that put the pinch on mentoring programs.

James Finkel, Engineering Manager from Malvern, PA, and author of a recent article by Machine Design acknowledges the trend: “Few young engineers have someone to show them the ropes when the going gets tough.”

There are certainly ways young engineers can seek out mentoring and networking opportunities on their own, through organizations like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) or the SAE College Design Series (CDS), and many others. Knovel’s online resources also provide easily accessible reference information that helps young engineers navigate through projects.

For Part 2 of “Classroom to Career” I’ll continue to explore this topic and share perspectives from experienced engineers I’ve talked to recently. Please share with us your own opinions and experiences! We’d especially love to highlight successful knowledge transfer programs and initiatives.