PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
APEGA Helps Students Develop Job-Hunting Skills
Resume reviews, mock interviews, networking events — these are just some of the activities APEGA student liaison committees hold to help engineering and geoscience students get ahead in a tough job market. It’s all part of APEGA’s emphasis on enriching the Member experience — which actually begins before potential engineers and geoscientists are licensed with the organization as full professionals
APEGA University Student Member in the APEGA Student Advantage Program (ASAP Member) and also the President of the Engineering Students’ Society at U of A. “Those without previous industry work experience are at a large disadvantage. Even those with diverse and versatile experience are finding it difficult to apply their past work to what is available,” she says. “The competition is steep, and some students are finding that it doesn't all come down to grade point average. It’s a mix of school, experience, volunteerism, and professional development.”
When Sarah Elder completes her electrical engineering degree this spring, the Univer- sity of Alberta Faculty of Engineering student will be among the fortunate graduates: she’s secured a job in Calgary to become an Engi- neer-in-Training in the systems operations department of AltaLink. Many of her classmates haven’t been as successful in their job searches. Sliding oil prices have led to a tough job market in engineering and geoscience, and it’s hitting new grads particularly hard as they attempt to gain a foothold. “The challenges faced by my peers and friends are clear,” says Ms. Elder, an
Many students — Ms. Elder included — struggle to leverage the networks they’ve built through their time as undergraduates. “This is an area many students could use help exploring.” APEGA’s University Outreach program is doing just that — and much more — to help students like Ms. Elder prepare for their careers, and also give them the tools they need to succeed now and into the future. We’ve enlisted our talented and enthusiastic Student Liaison Committees at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary to take a lead role in organizing on-campus events to help their fellow engineering and geoscience students improve their portfolios and strengthen their soft skills. Committee members are motivated to improve their skills in communication, teamwork, project management, leadership, and decision-making — and to help their classmates do the same. In recent months, liaison teams have held rapid resume reviews and speed mock interviews at U of A, U of C, and Mount Royal University. Industry professionals and human resources coordinators worked with undergrads to help them improve their resumes and to advise them on how to suc- ceed during job interviews. Student demand for the events was so high that spots filled up within days.
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