Oil price downturn has directly affected employability in our industry at a global scale since 2014, dropping the workforce to significantly low levels. In Colombia, many young professionals finished the undergrad with the intention of building a competitive industry and leverage the national economy through their knowledge; however, most of them have not even had the chance to get a first job as they are in a market that values the experience they do not have. Having said this, it makes evident the need of differentiation from candidates in selection processes and considering other alternatives for their life projects. As a social responsibility act, the SPE Colombian Section – in conjunction with volunteers working on technical and human resources areas - created a solid strategy based on real needs concluded from data collected at SPE Colombian Section events to boost up young professionals development path and provide guidance for decision making on their careers. "ENJOG" Encuentro de Jovenes de la Industria de Oil and Gas proved that to join efforts is the best way to break barriers and to solve problems. The results have shown a significant impact on those involved in the program created and the knowledge worth reproducing is documented in this paper. More than 500 young professionals have been participating in the strategy.
To contribute to the construction of young professionals with an integral profile in which the competitive spirit is promoted through the resolution of a technological challenge applied to the Oil & Gas industry, under a scenario that demands a high degree of commitment and with the accompaniment of professionals with great experience in the industry. In accordance with the data acquired and the program's target population, an appropriate methodology has been established for the development and strengthening of technical and soft skills. This methodology consists of four main phases: 1. Challenge construction 2. Best Teams selection 3. Challenge Resolution and 4. Results presentation. During the challenge resolution phase, participants have multiple technical and soft skills training sessions where experienced professionals share their knowledge and experiences related to the challenge theme in an environment of generational knowledge transfer. During the last 4 years, around 120 participants from different cities of the country have managed to potentiate their soft skills and strengthen their knowledge in areas of the Oil & Gas industry such as unconventional, enhanced recovery, heavy oil, huff & puff, combustion had tests, wettability, waterflooding, among others and materialize it with the construction of an innovative technological tool. The best of each version was rewarded with their first work experience in the Oil & Gas industry where they were able to put into practice what they had learned during the program. Likewise, the continuous acquisition of valuable information about variables at the end of the program such as the knowledge areas of greatest interest for students and young professionals, the level of knowledge related to oil engineering and programming, the handling of a second language, and the skills acquired during the university training stage, has allowed strengthening the methodology of the"SPE en Sinergia" program, adjusting it to the current needs of the industry and placing the participants outside their comfort zone. The development of the program and the results obtained are based on the identification of the strengths and weaknesses currently displayed by students in their final semesters and young professionals in careers related to petroleum engineering in Colombia and that in one way or another have become part of the reasons why their link to the professional world has become more difficult. This has enabled a way to identify opportunities for improvement and establish lines of action to promote the professional fast-track development of the new generations in a joint effort between industry and academia.
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