Baby Boomers are retiring at record rates, with 3.2 million more of them retiring in the third quarter of 2020 than in the same quarter during 2019 according to a 2020 Pew Research Center study. Not only does this create a monumental hiring challenge for businesses, government agencies, universities, non-profits and others, but it can also result in a significant loss of institutional knowledge as seasoned employees leave the workforce. Alternatively, this presents a tremendous opportunity for students and emerging professionals to pursue their professional goals. But how each organization manages the transfer of knowledge and how much they invest in mentoring can make all the difference between a successful transition and a not-so-successful transition.

This is particularly true for careers that require specialized knowledge and experience such as wetland science, wetland policy, and wetland regulatory programs, to name a few. To address this need, the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) have agreed to provide a joint membership opportunity for students in 2022. Any student who joins either organization in 2022 will receive a free, complimentary membership to the other organization. ASWM and SWS have also engaged in discussions regarding partnering on a student mentoring initiative. The details of the joint mentoring program are still being ironed out but will be finalized toward the end of 2022.

This webinar introduces the SWS-ASWM student mentorship initiative and will provide presentations by students themselves about what their career goals are, how they plan to achieve them, what their needs and challenges are, and what they think is needed to develop a successful mentorship program. The goal of this webinar is to hear directly from students about what they need to be successful and what they expect and/or need in a mentoring program. The intended audience for this webinar is broad but students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate.

Register for this event here: https://www.aswm.org/aswm/aswm-webinarscalls/8386-aswm-hot-topics-webinar-series#hottopics100621