CALGARY –Up to 20 internationally-educated members of The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) will participate in an innovative seminar on Monday, August 16. The one-day workshop followed by six individual coaching sessions will help them prepare for success in finding work in Alberta. An initiative of APEGGA, the program was created by consultant Dr. Lionel Laroche. Staff from Bow Valley College are also involved.

The one-day workshop, led by Laroche, helps internationally-educated APEGGA members develop an effective job search strategy. It is based on a pilot session that was funded by the provincial government. Following the workshop, participants have the opportunity for an hour-long, one-on-one, coaching session with workshop leader Laroche. The four subsequent sessions will be held at Bow Valley College with staff trained at the APEGGA event by Laroche. They will be from an hour to one and a half hours in length over a period of approximately two months.

“This is a great opportunity for our internationally-educated members who may find our cultural diversity a challenge as they search for work in Alberta. The seminar should give them practical and valuable hands-on skills and knowledge while the one-on-one coaching can really make a difference in job search success,” says APEGGA President Kim Farwell, P.Eng., MBA.   

The seminar and coaching cover areas such as cultural complexities, resume writing, networking, interview preparation and an employment plan.

“To truly succeed in the workplace, internationally-educated APEGGA members need to learn some of the unwritten rules of the Canadian workplace, the differences between hierarchy here and elsewhere, the degree of supervision and modes of feedback, for example,” says Laroche.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2010, APEGGA is responsible for regulating the practices of engineering, geology and geophysics in the province of Alberta. The association’s almost 58,000 members play a significant role in every segment of the economy and their technical and management expertise ensure Alberta remains at the forefront of technological innovation.

Note to editors: Interviews with Dr. Laroche and photo opportunities with APEGGA members attending the event can be arranged in advance. Event takes place in the APEGGA offices located on the 22nd floor of Scotia Place, 700 2nd Street SW, Calgary