PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TEAMWORK APEGA’s University of Alberta Student Liaison Committee takes a minute to celebrate another successful event, a rapid resume review for engineering and geo- science students. On the committee, from left, are Christopher Hao, Annamalai Chockalingam, Ericka James, Parambir Singh, Brandon Nguyen, and Jingwen Cui. -photo courtesy APEGA University of Alberta Student Liaison Committee
thinking on her feet, and getting some advice on the anecdotes and experiences of her life to draw upon. She accomplished that — and more. “What I didn't expect to get from the experience was learning to read my interviewers and to answer questions with differing styles, depending on what I thought they were looking for. It was a challenging and interesting experience,” she says. “Learning to read and work with different people is definitely something I will take with me into my career.” That’s exactly the kind of feedback Mariam Awara, President of APEGA’s University of Calgary Student Liaison Committee, likes to hear. The liaison committees work hard to plan events that are a good for fit students and help create a community of learning and collaboration. “The events address huge needs in the student population, and so there is a huge demand for the opportunities we bring to students,” notes Ms. Awara, an ASAP Member. “The most rewarding aspect is definitely the feedback we get from students who have mentioned how much our events helped them.”
“I think the events were very popular because of the value they add to students looking for jobs, especially in the current job market and business environment,” says Annamalai Chockalingam, a second-year electrical engineering student who helped run the event for APEGA’s University of Alberta Student Liaison Committee. He participated, too. “They’ve been of great aid to all students, including me. I’ve been able to build a better resume and cover letter, and have also been able to make connections with students and industry professionals. I believe I am well prepared for future job searches,” says Mr. Chockalingam, an ASAP Member. More resume reviews and mock interviews are coming up this spring, and the U of A and U of C committees plan to add additional activities to the calendar, like networking mixers, LinkedIn profile reviews, and panel discussions. “We’re looking to offer events that will add significant value to our peers in their transition from academia to industry,” Mr. Chockalingam says. Ms. Elder attended speed mock interviews at the U of A. She expected to improve her interview skills by hearing new questions,
SPRING 2016 PEG | 37
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker