ENGINEERS

Internationally trained Engineers comprise the Centre’s largest occupational group with over 300 members representing a wide range of engineering specialties, such as chemical, mechanical, petroleum, civil, structural, manufacturing, environmental, etc.

For Group’s schedule please access our CALENDAR.

General Meetings

Regular meetings for the Support Group take place weekly.  The members come together to exchange updates on their individual work search, share job leads and provide each other with advice and positive reinforcement.  The engineering Program Liaison (Bredin Institute’s staff who works with Engineers) facilitates the meetings and brings in updates about various networking events and trade shows, shares information about current opportunities and encourages the group to research the employers that may have unadvertised vacancies.  The group often meets for focused sessions addressing particular subjects, for example, approaching engineering employers through cold calling or dealing with the challenge of “no Canadian experience.”

The clients who have succeeded in securing professional employment often join the group to share their experiences with job search and integration into the Canadian workplace, make the group aware of current employment opportunities and provide encouragement and advice.

Additionally, the group members take turns in preparing and delivering brief presentations about particular areas of their engineering specialties.  These sessions provide the presenters with the opportunity to improve their public-speaking skills and increase confidence, while the audience benefits form learning about a wide range of engineering practices.

Information Sessions by the Professional Association

Representatives from the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) come to the Centre at least once a year to provide an overview of current licensure requirements and the necessary steps to meet them.  The presenters also clarify the criteria of particular relevance to internationally trained Engineers: proficiency in the English language and the length/content of prior engineering work experience overseas and in Canada.

Special sessions are offered to the Centre’s clients on APEGGA’s mentoring program for Engineers with little or no Canadian experience.  The program matches recent Canadian graduates and internationally trained Engineers with the professionals who have extensive experience of practicing engineering.  The purpose of the match is to help the less experienced Engineers improve their job-search and “soft” (non-technical, such as communication, teamwork and negotiation) skills through regular interaction with the “mentors.”

APEGGA Study Group

The Engineers who are preparing to sit the National Professional Practice Examination (required to obtain the license and right to practice engineering) gather for weekly study sessions to review relevant materials, practice multiple-choice tests and discuss options for appropriate answers.  The Centre provides the students with study kits and other pertinent materials.

Electronic List

The Centre ensures regular communication with its engineers through an electronic list.  The clients benefit from receiving updates about upcoming events at the Centre, industry news and information about a variety of training, volunteer and employment opportunities.