| The APEGGA Mixer and the Career Fair
Surpass University
of Calgary Expectations
______________________
BY ALAN MARTIN
University of Calgary
Student Contributor
______________________ |
 |
When an engineering student looks at the spectrum of opportunities
available after graduation, it can be quite daunting. The
student may know next to nothing about what comes after finally
finishing the four or more years of school. Fortunately,
there are events designed to expose students to what lies
beyond university.
October was a month with two such events, run by the
University of Calgary’s Engineering Students’ Society. On
Oct. 6, the annual APEGGA Mixer was held in the dining centre
at the U of C. This event was sponsored by APEGGA and co-organized
by APEGGA and ESS. Professionals mingled with about 110 students for two hours.
It was a great opportunity for students to network with the
professionals, make contacts and find out what it’s
like outside of school.
 |
Seeing the Future
Students find out more about what their careers might
hold for them, during the Science and Engineering
Career Fair. |
In addition,
16 technical societies were represented at the mixer. Students
were able to learn about these societies
and were given the opportunity to become student members
of many. In more than one case student membership was available
free of charge at the mixer.
The APEGGA Mixer has been much more successful over the
last two years than previously. And it continues to improve.
Student
attendance this year and last year was estimated at 110
and
130, compared with fewer than 60 students in previous
years. In addition, the tech society count is up as well. All in all, the APEGGA Mixer continues to be a success thanks
to the support of APEGGA and ESS. Career Fair
The second event was the Science and Engineering Career Fair,
Oct. 14. It was organized through a group effort by ESS, the
Computer Science Undergraduate Society, and Career Services. Career Services is an organization at the University of
Calgary that assists all students in their job searches —
both while in school and after graduation. It does this both
by helping students find jobs, and also by giving workshops
and presentations that teach the job-seeker vital skills.
The career fair was a great success,
with the student turnout of 3,000 doubling the expectation.
Forty-two companies had
displays at the career fair, and while not all of them were
engineering companies (some were science companies), by far
the majority were.
The engineering companies present came from a range of
areas. There were many oil-and-gas companies, but also some
electrical
companies (such as ENMAX), computer/software companies such
as the fair’s major corporate sponsor, Symantec, and
many more. For the thousands of students attending the career fair,
there was no shortage of information. Students who will soon
be graduating were informed of many job postings available.
Those who aren’t graduating this year had a great opportunity
to learn about the many different jobs and fields in industry. ESS Comments
According to ESS Vice-President Academic Taryn Hill, the goal
of the two events is “to provide students with opportunities
to make industry contacts and find out what’s out there.”
This year was a particularly good one, especially with the
career fair. The career fair “exceeded all expectations”
and the APEGGA mixer was also successful, said Taryn. Both events are great opportunities for students to improve
their networking skills as well as learn about companies and
other organizations that make themselves available at the
events. They’re also a good opportunity for companies
and technical societies to make themselves known to students. Students are there because they want to learn more about
the people and organizations they’ll encounter after
graduation. Special thanks go out to APEGGA for all its help sponsoring
these events, and to Career Services for its work putting
together the career fair this year. And of course, thanks
to the professionals for donating their time to benefit students.
MORE INFO
Organizations interested in participating
in either the
APEGGA mixer or the career fair next year, or seeking
more information, send e-mails to
essvpac@ucalgary.ca
Note: This is the address
of the VP Academic of
the ESS and does not change, regardless of who holds the position.
|
