Mentorship

Are you an undergraduate student passionate about the clean energy transition? If so, consider applying to be a Mentee for our mentorship cohort! Applications are now open on a rolling basis.

Who should apply to be a Mentee?

Current undergraduate students located in the NYC-area interested in:

  • learning about career opportunities in the clean energy industry;

  • receiving job and internship advice and application assistance;

  • gaining access to a wide network of dedicated NYC energy professionals; and

  • driving social, racial, and energy equity.

Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors.

What are the expectations for Mentees?

Mentees are expected to dedicate 4-5 hours per month for the duration of the program. Mentees will receive cohort-based educational and professional development opportunities, one-on-one mentorship, and individualized resume and cover letter support from YPE NYC Career Specialists. The 2024 Mentorship Program will bring together a new cohort of mentors and mentees.

Program-wide Development events:

Mentees in the 2024 cohort will attend four in-person program-wide Development Events between September 2024 and May 2025. These events provide an opportunity for program participants to form relationships with cohort members outside of their Mentor/Mentee pair.

One-on-one meetings:

In between each program-wide event, Mentor/Mentee pairs are expected to coordinate one 60-min or two 30-min one-on-one meetings. These sessions could include, for example, a conversation on career paths and how they may align with a mentee’s aspirations; a review of a mentee’s grad school opportunities; a discussion on a topic of choice; or a fun relationship-building activity.

Professional development:

Outside of scheduled events and meetings, Mentees will:

  • Sign up for at least two meetings with a YPE NYC Career Specialist throughout the program to strengthen your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters, and/or grad school application materials;

  • Work in groups to deliver a final presentation to the mentorship cohort on an energy topic of your choosing;

  • Attend at least one YPE NYC event outside of the mentorship program; and 

  • Optionally attend virtual tours, webinars, or lunch-and-learns.

Program development: 

Both Mentors and Mentees will be expected to thoughtfully complete short bi-monthly feedback surveys designed for the continual improvement of the program. They will also be invited to join the YPE NYC Mentorship Alumni group upon the conclusion of the program. Alums are invited to help promote future years of the program and to attend celebratory mentorship events uplifting a dynamic and inclusive NYC energy workforce.

When and where will the 2024 program take place?

The 2024 mentorship program runs nine months from September 2024 to May 2025. After the intial application, the YPE team will follow up with interviews.. Selections will be made by the beginning of September. Learn more about previous participants here.

The four Development Events will be conducted in-person to facilitate connection across the cohort. If they feel comfortable doing so, Mentor and Mentee pairs are encouraged to meet in person, particularly at the beginning of the program. However, they are not required to do so if both parties feel comfortable meeting virtually. Optional cohort-wide gatherings, including a kickoff picnic in the Summer, will be organized during the warmer months.

Mentorship Program Development Events:

The four Development Events will be held in-person, with a mix on weekdays and the weekends. Mentor/Mentee pairs will meet one-on-one for at least one hour per month. Dates for the in-person Development Events will be finalized prior to the program start.

  • Community Building Event - Get a chance to connect with your fellow mentees and other mentors! Start building your professional network and practice professional development skills.

  • Clean Energy Bootcamp - spend a day learning about various topics in clean energy from experts in the field, including: Clean Energy Justice and Advocacy, energy policy and regulations, clean technologies, project finance and energy data.

  • Leadership Training - work with industry professionals on developing leadership skills critical to your future careers.

  • Final Presentations and program-end celebration - Present your final project with your team and celebrate the end of the program!

How do I apply?

Mentee applications are now open on a rolling basis. Find the application Google Form here: https://forms.gle/cQEN5aAmANMvcSxJ9

In addition, sign up to become a member of YPE NYC and receive our newsletter. We’ll send reminders about upcoming deadlines as well as other great information about events throughout the year. Feel free to reach out to the YPE NYC Mentorship Team with any questions: mentorship@ypenyc.org.

You can also check out the bios of our 2021 Mentee cohort here and our 2022 Mentee cohort here.