OUTREACH
it’s easier for APEGA staff to take the lead, just as it would be easier for the students to simply do what they were instructed to do. But that doesn’t utilize the students’ ingenuity and creativity to the best of their ability. Nor does it teach them valuable skills about leadership, project management, and more. We wanted to coach and empower students, not just have an extra set of hands. So instead, we gave students in our SLCs one goal: help ensure engineering and geoscience students can succeed and thrive after post-secondary. We didn’t tell them exactly how to accomplish it, or give them step-by-step instructions on how to execute the perfect initiative. We’re mentoring them, and planning a few early events alongside them, but the power to make a difference in engineering and geoscience students is in their hands; not ours. We recognize that we can have a minor impact on the lives and portfolios of students if we run a great event, but if we can teach them the right skills, and guide them through the process of developing their own initiatives, and finding creative solutions to whatever they’re challenged with, that could set them up for success not only in the short term, but throughout their careers.
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
As a part of our mentorship of the SLCs, APEGA Outreach teamed up with them to plan two events in both Edmonton and Calgary. Armed with the goal of helping ensure engineering and geoscience students can succeed and thrive after post- secondary, students developed a Rapid Resume Review in September. This event paired industry professionals and HR coordinators with undergrads interested in optimizing their resumes. Students at the event had their resumes reviewed by 10 professionals who offered personalized advice on how each student could get the most from their CV, given their unique work and volunteer experience. The second event, held in October both in Edmonton and Calgary, was a Speed Mock Interview. This had students simulate quick interviews with Professional Engineers, Professional Geoscientists, and HR reps, who would then offer advice on how to improve techniques and get the most out of any future interviews with potential employers. Students walked out of both events with improved confidence and the wisdom of experienced professionals in their brains, having received constructive feedback from those further along in their careers. For both events, scheduling, coordinating, developing the format, and marketing came from the students themselves. Having run similar events in the past, the APEGA Outreach team always looked for opportunities to provide wisdom and guidance and to mentor the students in their new role, but the responsibility for the events, as well as the pride that comes from running them, belonged to them.
As could be expected, students in the SLC have plenty to be proud of so far. Demand for the events was so high that all available spots were filled within days. The students who were fortunate enough to attend were unanimous in their appreciation, thanking APEGA, the SLCs, and volunteers for their dedication to improving students’ resumes and interview skills. After each event, the SLC debriefed and determined how to adjust future initiatives, based off of comprehensive feedback from each student at the event. With a desire to continuously improve, as well as the measures and structure in place to do so, SLCs can continue to grow the impact of their activities, and further improve engineering and geoscience students’ ability to succeed and thrive after post-secondary.
56 | PEG WINTER 2015
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