AAPG’s network of Student membership continues growing worldwide. Student Chapters, Student Expo job fairs, the Imperial Barrel Award and Field Immersion programs all provide career development, support and encouragement to these young explorationists.
Student AAPG members comprise fully 21 percent of the total global membership, with Student membership in the international Regions exceeding Student members in U.S. Sections by 43 percent (4,860 to 2,768).
Having invested in themselves for the past eight to 10 years, the value to industry of these young professionals with fresh ideas and fresh approaches to finding oil and gas has increased significantly.
But once these Student members graduate from university, their whereabouts are frequently unknown. When no longer enrolled in college, AAPG Student membership is no longer a viable option – and without a forwarding e-mail address, AAPG cannot maintain the same level of intellectual and scientific support of university graduates in transition, who are seeking or have found professional geoscience employment.
Who Needs YPs?
This is where AAPG Young Professionals come in.
Now that you’ve landed that first job and are working hard to make your mark and demonstrate your worth, where do you go to find an existing network of peers with whom you can share experiences and compare ideas?
Join AAPG and join the Young Professionals committee.
AAPG membership is a prerequisite – and YPs say AAPG membership is invaluable to their careers.
YPs also quickly learn that through AAPG, lasting relationships are created along with career opportunities that otherwise might have been missed.
Besides networking and new friendships, AAPG YPs benefit from mentoring. With immediate access to some of the world’s best scientists, YPers find older AAPG members eager to answer questions and open career doors.
But YP also offers the chance to be a mentor, adopt a Student Chapter, help a recent graduate polish their job interviewing skills and navigate the job market.
AAPG YP groups are being formed worldwide, and each AAPG Section and Region is encouraged to host its own YP committee.
So think of YPs as one great on-ramp to your geoscience career. Connect with other YP subcommittees via the AAPG Young Professionals Web site, LinkedIn group or Facebook group.
Get involved today by contacting Natasha Rigg, chair of the Young Professionals Committee and find out what YPs are all about.