What Can You Do With An Engineering Degree?
Turn Job Rejection into Career Strength
Start Building Leadership Skills
Five Group Project Personalities
Become a Successful Networker Front cover
Science & Engineering CAREER FAIR MAGAZINE
Contents 3 4
Upcoming Events How to Become a Successful Networker
5
Turning Job Rejection into Career Strength
6
What Can You Do With An Engineering Degree?
8
In An Entry-Level Position? Here’s How You Can Start Building Leadership Skills Today
11
The Five Group Project Personalities And How to Peacefully Manage Them
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Upcoming Events RESUME RESCUE PROS
September 26, 2016, 10am-1pm Have you resume reviewed by a professional! Don’t forget to bring a hard copy of your resume with you! Students will be met with on a first-come, first-serve basis.
INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE: INDIGENOUS September 26, 2016, 5:00-7:00pm
Connect with employers who are passionate about recruiting, empowering, and retaining indigenous employees. Event is open to all students. Reception to follow. Register on CareerLink to attend.
GRAD SCHOOL FAIR
October 4, 2016, 12:00-4:00pm Are you interested in earning a graduate or professional degree? Attend this fair to connect with institutions both locally and from around the world.
INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE: FAITH & SPIRITUALITY October 5, 2016, 5:00-7:00pm
Connect with employers who celebrate and empower employees of various faiths and belief systems. Event is open to all students. Reception to follow. Register on CareerLink to attend.
NETWORKING 101
October 12, 2016, 5:00-7:00pm Does the idea of having to network intimating you? If so, Networking 101 is the workshop for you! Learn about networking etiquette and networking techniques and then after, come and practice your skills and meet professionals working in your field at the exclusive Networking Gala, open only to students who have attended this workshop. Sign up through your CareerLink account.
CANADIAN EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVES ON HIRING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS October 20, 2016, 4:00-5:30pm
Learn how to be successful when applying for jobs in Canada. Learn about topics such as: what companies look for when hiring international students, possible barriers to hiring international students and how these companies help their international employees. Open to international students. Register on CareerLink to attend.
How to Become a Successful Networker Networking can sometimes feel intimidating or even daunting. We sat down with Kaisa Larson from Microsoft’s recruiting team to talk about networking and how to become a successful networker. HOW IS NETWORKING BENEFICIAL TO STUDENTS? Networking is beneficial to students because making a strong in-person impression coupled with a clean and well-designed resume are often more memorable than a resume alone. If a student is interested in working for a particular organization, what are some different approaches they can utilize to meet and interact with employers from that organization? Become familiar with events the organization will attending on-campus or at different events around town, and make yourself present and be engaged at these events. Become familiar with their website and introduce yourself to someone who is working for the company. Read a wide variety of their job descriptions to familiarize yourself with key words and include those words in your cover letter or resume. Common fears of networking are: fear of nothing to say, fear of being awkward,
fear of going in alone, fear of being too introverted. What are some tips to overcome these fears?
throughout the academic year to help introduce you to recruiters.
It’s okay to be nervous, especially if you’re talking to someone from a company that you’re very interested in. The best way to overcome these fears is through practice, the more you practice the more comfortable you will become with networking. Make a list of questions that you can ask every company, so that you become confident asking those questions.
YOU’VE MET SOMEONE ONCE, HOW CAN YOU BUILD AND MAINTAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP?
OTHER THAN CAREER FAIRS WHAT ARE OTHER GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES?
Visit Microsoft at the Science and Engineering Career Fair on September 27th 2016. They will also be on-campus September 26th and the 28th for a Tech Talk and Coding Competition. Visit CareerLink for more details.
Interact with your faculty members and the administration team from your department. Faculty members are a fantastic resource to connect you with industry, and the administration team often work very closely with employers. Your career services office works with employers on a daily basis and organizes engaging events
If you were able to get their contact information, send a thank you card or note to keep you front of mind. When applying for a position with the recruiter put together a clean and well-designed resume to send.
WORK AT
HUSKY As a co-op, internship or summer student, you will be given meaningful and challenging assignments to build your long term career. • Diverse and supportive work environment • Work with industry leading professionals • Be part of a vibrant student community Apply at jobs.huskyenergy.com
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Turning Job Rejection into Career Strength by Lauren Marinigh We’ve all been there before, interviewing for a job that we would love or feel perfect for, only to get that dreaded email back from the employer saying they decided to go with another candidate. When job hunting, there could be nothing worse than getting another rejection email, or worse, not even hearing back from the interviewer. Here are some steps to walk you through the rejection and move you closer to a successful interview.
REFLECT ON YOUR APPLICATION So you interviewed for the job and you didn’t get it. Now what? You can choose to do one of two things: be angry, upset, and give up, or take this as a learning opportunity and grow from it. Look back at your application, the job description, and your interview. Identify missing qualifications or experiences that would have helped your application and think of how you could’ve improved your interview. Doing this will allow you to improve your chances of getting a job instead of dwelling on the negative.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK It’s natural to feel offended and send that rejection email or voicemail straight to the trash. But you could also choose to respond positively. Be polite and ask the employer for feedback on how you could’ve improved. If the employer is willing to provide you with this, you’ll hopefully get an idea of what you were missing that the successful candidate may have had.
Not sure how to pen this email? Here’s a sample: Dear [NAME], Thank you so much for your time and consideration for the role of [INSERT ROLE] within [COMPANY]. I really enjoyed meeting with you and was hoping that you could provide me with some feedback or areas of improvement that could help me in applying for future roles. Thanks in advance. [SIGNATURE]
DON’T PUT YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET This may seem like a no-brainer, but we have all been guilty of finding that amazing opportunity online, applying for it, and waiting for an interview and job offer before we continue to apply for other roles. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes you can make when job hunting. Have alternatives and a back-up plan and don’t count solely on one opportunity. In my first job hunt after graduation, I must’ve applied to over 100 jobs before I landed a job offer. So put yourself out there and keep looking, even if you’re confident about the roles you’re applying or interviewing for.
KEEP IN MIND-IT’S NOT PERSONAL You have no idea what the competition was like and job hunting is competitive, so don’t take it personally! Take the feedback you receive to improve and move on. You can’t change what you don’t control—you can only control your response to it. Plus, just because you may not be the right fit for that one role in that one company, doesn’t mean you won’t be right for another position down the road at the same company, or a new one elsewhere!
FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT STEPS After being rejected, it’s time to figure out your game plan and next steps. Where should you go from here? Update Your Skills Make a list of the qualifications you currently lack and strategically search for volunteer positions and courses that can give them to you. Polish Your Resume and Cover Letter Consider visiting your campus career centre or having a respected friend look over your cover letter and resume to make it even better. Practice Interviewing Contact a former supervisor and ask them to hear you answering top interview questions. They might have key pointers on how you can become a stronger interviewee! Remember, not receiving a job offer isn’t the end of the world—it just means that one particular opportunity wasn’t right for you. The most important thing is to stay positive and keep moving forward! talentegg.ca/incubator/2016/09/02/ turning-job-rejection-career-strength/
2016 Science & Engineering 5
What Can You Do With An Engineering Degree? by Sarah Tarrant
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Like many areas of study, an engineering degree typically starts off broad with the industry basics. However, once you get those essential concepts under your belt, you can narrow your focus into the specific field that suits your interests. All engineers are first and foremost problem solvers. No matter the focus area, the main goal of an engineer is to find cost-effective solutions to difficult problems and improve people’s lives. However, each specific type of engineer does require a unique set of skills. This guide outlines four common types of engineers, what they do, and the skills necessary for each role. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
CHEMICAL ENGINEER
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
CIVIL ENGINEER
Chemical Engineers solve technical problems by using the principles of science, math, and chemistry. Their skills are utilized in a wide variety of industries, such as clothing, food and drink, and pharmaceuticals. They work toward improving food processing techniques, constructing synthetic fibres to make clothing more comfortable, and developing more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective techniques to process chemicals.
Mechanical Engineers are usually involved with the creation and distribution of energy and the design and construction of machines. Simply put: Mechanical Engineers solve problems to help improve our quality of life. Virtually every machine we use in day-to-day life, from the refrigerator to the aircraft, has been made possible by Mechanical Engineers. These professionals are also involved in research, manufacturing, marketing, and operations— which means they often work in teams to solve problems that affect everyone.
Civil Engineers are best known for building and maintaining infrastructure. From roads to sewage systems to the world’s largest opera houses, they are responsible for building these structures and ensuring they can keep up with population growth and climate changes. One of their biggest challenges are meeting infrastructure demands on a low budget.
Skills needed: analytical, teamwork, creativity.
Skills needed: creativity, teamwork, sees big picture.
By incorporating principles such as biology and soil science into their work, these types of engineers work to solve environmental problems. Their key areas of interest include recycling and waste disposal, air and water pollution, and public health. In many cases, Environmental Engineers also collaborate with other industry experts, such as scientists and lawyers, to address and solve environmental and sustainability problems. Skills needed: teamwork, interest in environment, versatility.
Skills needed: creativity, versatility, teamwork.
LESS COMMON TYPES OF ENGINEERING Nuclear Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
These engineers generally work for consulting firms or government agencies, and are in high demand because of the growing uses of nuclear energy.
This branch of engineering focuses on working with chemistry and genetics to study the mechanisms of living organisms.
This rapidly-growing branch of engineering involves the application of engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing.
2016 Science & Engineering 7
In An Entry-Level Position? Here’s How You Can Start Building Leadership Skills Today by Allison Tse If you’ve just graduated and are starting a new job, you’re probably pretty low on the career ladder right now.
However, it’s never too early to start demonstrating that you have what it takes to be a leader. When your organization assigns promotions or gives out a big assignment, you want your name to be a part of the conversation. Here’s how to get a head start from day one.
1. DECIDE WHAT KIND OF LEADER YOU WANT TO BE Look at leaders you admire in the workplace, at school, or in your community. Do they do certain things that you find effective? Maybe they give you a lot of freedom, which gives you a sense of ownership. Maybe they continuously follow up with you, making you feel supported. Whatever it is that they do, observe closely and take note.
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2. KNOW YOUR STUFF Become an expert in your role and the projects you manage. Leaders are put in charge because people trust them. If you don’t know something or if you make a mistake, be honest. For instance, saying, “There was an error in my Excel formula, but I fixed it” can go a long way in establishing credibility.
3. SHARE THE WEALTH Seek opportunities to coach and mentor others, like the summer intern that was just hired, or even someone at your level in another department. Good leaders develop other leaders. Also, working one-on-one with someone will allow you to gain the confidence and skills required to lead larger groups later on.
4. PUT UP YOUR HAND If you have the capacity, volunteer for a committee or a project that’s outside of your normal job. Pick one “extra” initiative and do it well. This will expose you to new people you don’t normally work with, and demonstrate that you’re proactive. Don’t worry if it’s not directly related to your job—pulling off the best holiday party of the year will show that you’re organized, detail-oriented, and creative.
5. KNOW YOURSELF Figure out your strengths and weaknesses if you don’t know them already. You can do this by regularly asking for feedback from your manager. Asking “How did I do in that conference call?” or “How can I handle that Q&A better next time?” will show that you’re always looking to improve. Then, play up your strengths and develop an action plan to attack your one or two top development areas. Most of all, remember that good leaders are genuine. Throughout all of this, develop your own leadership style and let your personality shine through. You’ll be the best leader possible if you stay true to yourself. talentegg.ca/incubator/2016/06/01/ entrylevel-position-heres-start-buildingleadership-skills-today/
Networking opportunities for graduates and international students. Open doors to great opportunity by growing your professional network. calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/connector CCP@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com
Become a Connectee Networking is identified as the #1 tool for finding a job. The Calgary Connector Program is a proven networking program that helps graduates grow their network by connecting them to local business and community leaders. Share your talent and get connected.
match
You are paired with a Calgary business or community leader - your Connector.
connect
You will meet your Connector for a one-hour meeting.
refer
Your Connector will refer you to others in their network.
calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/connector CCP@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com
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PARTNER
The Five Group Project Personalities
And How to Peacefully Manage Them by Jennifer Caven As another school year approaches, so do group assignments. Working with your peers can be a tall order, especially when a bunch of diverse (and sometimes conflicting) personalities are randomly selected to work together. That being said, here are five types of people you may encounter when doing a group assignment and how to work with them to create a stellar product.
THE FACILITATOR This individual likes to take charge, lead group meetings, and delegate tasks. They may also ask for contributions by specific deadlines throughout the course of the project so that they can compile everyone’s input into a cohesive format and edit it. At the same time, a “take charge” attitude can come off as bossy. Make sure to communicate with the facilitator and outline your own expectations for the project so that the final project is a win-win for everyone!
THE PROCRASTI\NATOR The procrastinator will submit their contribution at midnight on the agreed deadline or possibly even later. They are masters of coming up with excuses and struggle to do the necessary work for the assignment on time. That being said, the quality of their work might be truly excellent. To keep the procrastinator’s bad habits from affecting the project, set earlier deadlines and check in with them throughout the project. They’ll thank you later.
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA They’ve already finished the assignment before your first meeting. When other group members are starting their sections, they’ll roll their eyes as if trying to say, “Been there, done that.” While the know-it-all attitude of the encyclopedia can be downright annoying, don’t shut them out of the group project. They are likely to have spent a lot more time than anyone else and their contributions may be very valuable, bringing the whole collaboration up to a higher level. Offer an open ear and listen to their suggestions for the assignment. Then, give them a portion that you know they will appreciate more than anyone else.
THE COPY-AND-PASTER Whether they’re wrapped up in a budding side career or a million extracurricular activities, the copy-and-paster is usually a group member who means well but ends up taking the wrong shortcut (plagiarizing). You can often pick them out as the one student who always falls asleep every class and misses group meetings without notice. While it can be incredibly tempting to exclude them from the group assignment entirely, doing so is likely to lead to a complaint from your professor and more headaches down the road. So instead of launching the offensive, take the high road. Understand that they’re going to put in the least amount of effort and give them the easiest part of the assignment. If there isn’t an easy part, consider doing a collaborative sit down with them so that one way or another, there will be zero copy-and-pasting in your project.
THE PHANTOM This is the person whose name you just can’t put a face to. As the deadline approaches, you keep meaning to talk to them in class but they never come. You feel guilty and frustrated to submit the assignment without their work, but hey, what can you do right? The most important thing to remember about the phantom is that their lack of involvement is not your fault. If you’ve made a serious effort to look for them in class and contact them online (email, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest even!), let them go. It might be helpful to write an email to your professor explaining how you’ve tried to include their work but didn’t hear back from them. Ultimately, this is an issue that the phantom has to solve— not you!
YOUR FINAL, ALL-ROUND TRICK: COMMUNICATION The key to working with any of the aforementioned personality types is (drumroll, please!) communication! No matter what kind of group member you’re dealing with, everyone benefits from clear communication. When the whole team is on the same page about how the assignment should be done, what the deadlines are and how to submit everything to the professor, things come together much more smoothly. While group assignments can be pretty daunting, they’re actually great opportunities to build your soft skills. Now that you’re well aware of five personalities you may encounter, use the knowledge to your advantage. See the clash of conflicting personalities as an exercise in people management and hone your communication skills by leading group meetings and delegating tasks like a pro. They’re invaluable abilities that will help you get through sticky situations in the workplace and stay a step above your competition. talentegg.ca/incubator/2016/08/22/groupproject-personalities-peacefully-manage/
2016 Science & Engineering 11
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