January is National Mentoring Month
The modern world, enabled by microelectronics, is ever more connected. Those digital connections can help college students find jobs, explore new career paths, learn about a variety of business models, and much more. However, establishing the initial human connections needed to open opportunities in the industry they are eyeing can be daunting. Some students may be fortunate enough to have a ready-made network of neighbors, family members, or friends who work in their industry of interest. Others may not have that leg up and need to knock on many doors.
Networking is also a key tool for companies looking to diversify their talent pipelines and recruit from groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Meaningful, intentional mentoring structures are necessary to provide opportunities for students in underrepresented cohorts to break into professional circles they would not otherwise have access to. The diversity of mentors available to students is also critically important. While cross-gender, cross-employer, cross-generation mentorships are helpful, identifying with mentors or mentees who share common backgrounds can be especially powerful.
In order to further support the diversification and strengthening of the STEM pipeline that will, in turn, support the workforce needs of SEMI member companies, the SEMI Foundation is relaunching the SEMI Mentoring Program. The SEMI Foundation’s new flash mentoring program will scale SEMI Mentoring’s reach and drive authentic, organic connections between college students and professionals at SEMI member companies. The program will invite thousands of students to learn more about microelectronics industry careers from the diverse group of workers who enable it. Companies involved in the program benefit by increasing their visibility among a broader set of potential new hires entering the industry in coming years.
January is National Mentoring Month, making it the perfect time to get involved in this program and become a mentor.
The online, on-demand program gives students an opportunity to connect with industry pros they may not otherwise have a chance to meet. These industry connections can help college students navigate challenging situations and start to envision their future career path. To smooth the process for students, the SEMI Mentoring platform features a matching algorithm that connects students to mentors with the experiences or expertise they may be seeking.
Participating students can then request exploratory meetings with matching mentors but should first think about topics or questions they would like to ask to get the most out of the discussion. The SEMI Foundation also partners with career centers at higher education institutions to support mentees. Mentees can meet with multiple mentors as they do their research and later request a longer mentorship with a specific partner. Likewise, mentors can meet with several potential mentees and select to offer an extended mentorship.
The SEMI Mentoring Program leverages the ASA-SEMI Partnership, which connects SEMI to over 200 universities and community colleges. SEMI Mentoring is designed to augment ongoing outreach across campuses to help the semiconductor industry build its talent pipeline. For example, Purdue University, which serves over 27,000 STEM students, is launching a comprehensive semiconductor and microelectronics program, including a new degree, new courses, and a high-school exploration program. The SEMI Foundation will work with the Purdue team to promote the SEMI Mentoring Program to the school’s engineering students and vast alumni network.
SEMI encourages members to participate in the SEMI Foundation Mentoring Program in order to raise the visibility of their companies and the chip industry, develop the future workforce, and help college students explore careers. Join us today.
SEMI Mentoring At-a-Glance
What is SEMI Mentoring? SEMI Mentoring is a free online, on-demand flash mentoring program that connects students with chip industry professionals. Participating mentors are part of the largest global semiconductor industry association.
What is Flash Mentoring? One-time or flash mentoring allows mentors and mentees to schedule meetings to discuss specific topics. Students can meet with multiple mentors for up to 30 minutes each, enabling students to expand their professional network. Mentees and mentors complete matching questionnaires that connect users based on common interests and objectives. Scheduling and topics are driven by the mentee, ensuring the conversations always address student needs.
Want to learn more about the SEMI Mentoring Program? Interested in sponsoring this initiative? Contact us at semifoundation@semi.org.
About the Author
Berton Mahardja is senior manager of Global Education Initiatives at SEMI. Prior to joining SEMI, Mahardja served in various roles across K-12 education. He is passionate about programs that support equitable STEM learning for students and adults.