IPWEAQ UPDATES
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY AS A STUDENT councils and consultancies to other students attending the conference.
Maddy Stahlhut
The first professional event I attended was the 2018 IPWEAQ Annual Conference at the Gold Coast. In my final year of studying engineering, connecting with industry wasn’t something I had placed great focus on up until my last year of study. It wasn’t until I attended IPWEAQ18 that I realised having a large and diverse network of professional contacts within the industry is extremely beneficial. Before attending IPWEAQ18, my network consisted of my university peers, lecturers and direct colleagues from my undergraduate position. In other words, it was very insular. Although daunting, the conference essentially forced me to broaden my network. I met professionals from across Queensland and other states, ranging from directors of
For most students, the goal is to find a job that you will enjoy and be successful. As a student, networking is so important; the broader your network, the more chance you have of reaching your goal. As a former student, I am happy to share some helpful hints on connecting with the industry. Find a mentor The reason everyone talks about mentoring is that it works – having a mentor as a student is invaluable. Someone you can bounce ideas off, get career advice (or life advice) from, and build your network. Mentors can be lecturers, peers a few years ahead of you, or professionals in your industry. All these people come with a network, including you. If you don’t have anyone you already know who you can approach to me a mentor, there are many formal programs where you are assigned a mentor. In some ways, this can be more beneficial as you are making a new connection – and always keep in mind that you can have more than one mentor. Join a professional body If you simply don’t know where to start then join a professional body such as IPWEAQ. Membership for full-time students through
IPWEAQ is complimentary. IPWEAQ has countless resources and an established network of professionals in your industry. Attend networking events Networking events are made for just that – networking! I used to find these events hard because I felt I had nothing ‘professional’ to talk about. Although when you’re a student, this generally isn’t the expectation. I believe that making new contacts is simply about having a genuine conversation with a new person. Try to determine if you have something in common. Starting a conversation can be as easy as asking someone about their current position, projects or professional background. As a student, don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you still aren’t sure, IPWEAQ has several resources that can help. A recent PW-TV presentation by Janine Garner - How to Create the Right Network - provided some great information on networking. As a student, it is extremely beneficial to connect with industry and start building your network and you never know where it will lead. A friend received a job offer after making a connection at a networking event. I also wouldn’t have the position I’m in now without forming my network while I was a student.
Career
CARDS 98
ENGINEERING FOR PUBLIC WORKS | MARCH 2021
INFORMS. CONNECTS. REPRESENTS. LEADS.
