Youth Building the Future: Jose Luis’ Journey at Penspen

Energy projects are often defined by their technical complexity, scale and long-term impact. Yet their success depends on something more fundamental: people. The skills we build, the culture we shape, and the opportunities we create ultimately determine how effectively we deliver for the clients and communities we support.

In Mexico, the human dimension comes into sharp focus for Penspen. Since 2019, Penspen has focused on providing young people with a route into industry through the Youth Building the Future (Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro) programme.

Organised by the Mexican government, the programme aims to help young people aged between 18 and 29 gain practical job experience and improve their chances of long-term employment by connecting applicants with the private sector for a one-year placement.

Since its inception, the Youth Building the Future programme has supported over two million young people. One of these people is Jose Luis Montiel Almeida, whose interest in human resources and the people at the centre of a company goes beyond recruitment and policies. In his role as Human Resources Assistant at Penspen, Jose Luis is helping to strengthen our capability, support our employees’ professional growth, and ensure our teams are equipped to meet the demands of a fast-evolving energy landscape.

The Science of People

“I grew up in a city called Cunduacán in the Tabasco region, and studied Psychology at the University of the Valley of Mexico, where I was first introduced to organisational psychology.

“As part of my studies, I completed an internship at a government institution dedicated to promoting sport. I conducted interviews to identify the job training needs of operational staff and management, and found it fascinating.  Having direct contact with the employees and getting the opportunity to listen to and analyse their feedback was an enriching experience.

“Despite this, when I graduated, I still wasn’t entirely sure what career path I wanted to pursue with my degree. Human resources seemed to tie together all of my interests but I wasn’t sure how to get my foot in the door with no experience.”

Youth Building the Future

“While exploring my options, I came across the Youth Building the Future programme. The scheme provides young people like me, who have not been able to enter the job market, with the opportunity to gain professional experience. I initially assumed I wouldn’t be a candidate as I thought the program was aimed solely at young people who hadn’t had the opportunity to go into further education. Also most of the available vacancies near my home were at small businesses or family businesses, or didn’t have any opportunities in human resources.

“I was fortunate enough to find Penspen as an option in my search, which represented a valuable opportunity for my professional development. I was surprised that a company of this caliber was participating as, unfortunately, it is not common for top-tier companies to offer these types of opportunities. So, I sent my application immediately.”

The People of Energy

“While researching Penspen, I read about the energy sector, and although I had limited knowledge of this industry at the time, I was impressed by the scale and responsibility involved in working for a company dedicated to projects that directly impact the country’s development.

“Over the last year at Penspen, I have gained a deeper understanding of the energy sector’s relevance to economic growth, infrastructure, and the wellbeing of communities. Understanding this context has given greater meaning to my work and changed my perspective on the role human resources plays in an organisation.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to apply my degree directly, actively collaborating in the process of identifying, analysing, and preventing psychosocial risk factors at Penspen Mexico. During my year placement, I had exposure to various activities within the human resources department, including the recruitment and selection process, managing the human resources system, and assisting employees with visa procedures.

“I was fortunate to have a great mentor who has taught me the ins and outs of the industry and the importance of people-centered and values-driven management. I now understand the importance of promoting a sense of inclusion among all employees in our industry.”

“The Youth Building the Future experience at Penspen gave me a broader perspective on the purpose of our work in human resources: we work for all our employees. Keeping Penspen’s “Our People” value in mind has been essential to understanding how the team’s work strengthens our relationship with the organization.

“On a personal level, the experience helped me become more sociable and a better team player. I now feel more confident collaborating and interacting with others.

“I’m so pleased to have now started in a permanent position with Penspen, and I look forward to reinforcing my knowledge of organizational psychology in my day-to-day activities in human resources.”

Engineering a Future Career

Mariana Jimenez, HR Manager at Penspen (right), believes the programme provides a valuable link between industry and young talent.

“For Penspen, the Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro programme has been a successful experience, enabling us to train several young people and, in many cases, subsequently integrate them into our workforce. Those who do not remain with us nevertheless leave with solid and valuable experience that strengthens their professional profile.

“For many young people, this programme represents not only financial support and access to social security, but also the hope of receiving meaningful training that enhances their skills and opens new doors in the labour market. In many cases, it is a light at the end of the tunnel after a challenging and discouraging job search.

“Participants often do not have prior work experience and one of the programme’s requirements is to avoid rejecting applicants, so a key factor in the process is the young person’s attitude and motivation. At times, this may be diminished following an exhaustive search for employment opportunities that did not materialise. For this reason, our mentors also takes on the responsibility of developing applicants not only in a specific technical area, but also in strengthening qualities such as discipline, confidence and motivation.

“I am committed to ensuring that this generation is able to grow and strengthen itself in every respect.”

• Discover more about the Youth Building the Future programme here.