November 2005 ISSUE
 |
Welcoming Crew |
STUDENT SHADOWS
YOUNG PROS
BY JEANNE KEASCHUK
Senior Outreach Coordinator
Thanks to the Young Professionals Group at Associated Engineering, Jason Motkoski
knows more about engineering and is convinced it’s the career for him.
Jason, a Grade 12 International Baccalaureate student at Edmonton’s Harry
Ainlay School, plans to take environmental engineering at the University of Alberta
in 2006.
“I spent some time with each of the engineers and learned a lot about the profession,” says Jason. “Some of the projects they are involved in are really cool. I also got neat tips on what to do now to get some contacts in the engineering profession and eventually some experience.”
Opportunities to find out what the workplace is really like and to talk to people about their work are important to students faced with making the big decision about a career. That is one reason why job shadows are still around.
Job shadows are an abbreviated form of ment-oring and provide another way for students to explore careers. Engineers and geoscientists can play a huge role in helping stud-ents make wise and informed decisions about the various career paths available in the fields of engineering, geology and geophysics.
Rod Karius, P.Eng., vice-president and general manager at Associated Engineering in Edmonton, agrees. He says more companies and industry should help with job shadows.
The APEGGA Outreach program contacted Associated Engineering to provide the job shadow for Jason Motkoski and Mr. Karius was quick to offer support. When it was explained that Outreach likes to provide students with the opportunity to talk to a variety of engineers with varying years of experience, Mr. Karius said: “We can and will help with the job shadow, and our young professionals are just the group to do it.”
The Young Professionals Group at Associated Engineering is dedicated to furthering the technical, professional, personal and social development of young employees through shared experience, net-working, education and peer mentoring. The young professionals each have less than 10 years of engineering or technical experience (post-grad).
MORE INFO
Volunteer for Job Shadows with APEGGA Outreach. Visit
our website here.
780-426-3990 in Edmonton
403-262-7714 in Calgary
1-800-661-7020 Toll-free
The group has goals and objectives, and it networks with Young Professional Groups in other Associated Engineering offices. Its vision is to become recognized as a model group for young professionals and broaden its networking to include other young professionals in the industry.
Juliana Tang, P.Eng., who organized the half-day job shadow for Associated Engineering, says that the Young Professionals Group can now add outreach to its resumé. “With six engineers involved in the shadow, it was easy for each of us to spend some time talking to Jason about our education, our career paths and our projects.
“Jason is interested in environmental engineering. During his time with us, he spoke to engineers involved in civil projects, road design, water and wastewater treatment, geo environmental engineering, and water resources. I think we helped to broaden his definition of engineering.”
Ms. Tang added that the shadow was a great experience for the Young Profes-sionals Group and one it will repeat. “It was a pleasure to talk to a young, ambitious and bright student like Jason.”
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, job shadows are important, enlightening and beneficial to students. Members, the professions, employers and industry all benefit from the energy, ideas, interest, skills and curiosity that students bring to the workplace.
Job shadows don’t take a lot of time, and nurturing the young professionals of the future is a wise investment of time.