project management, professional communication, and other soft skills that students need beyond the skills specific to their discipline. At the co-op building, students can book appointments for resume critiques, career counseling, and mock interviews.

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2. What skills do you wish you learned during your education that would have helped you in the job market today?

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When I began working in engineering, I initially worried that I had not studied math and physics at great enough depth to be successful in the industry. However, I quickly found that my education’s focus on understanding processes and applying scientific principles to real-world problems made up for my lack of pure theoretical background in these subjects. While engineers generally specialize in technical design, complex projects like providing a sustainable water supply for a rapidly growing population require a lot more than just technical expertise. We must also consider the social, environmental and economic impacts of these critical projects. Geography taught me the multidisciplinary and holistic approach that is required to ensure these kinds of projects are beneficial to people and the environment for years to come.

3. Looking back, what would you have done differently?

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I would encourage myself to step out of my comfort zone earlier. I had so many opportunities to work in different places during the co-op program, but I did not do so until I moved to Vancouver and then Australia for my final two internships. There is value in gaining new perspectives and in seeing how differently people think about things and approach different tasks across the world. Working abroad provoked questions that allowed me to both reevaluate and reinforce my views; it allowed me to stand on firmer grounds with certain beliefs and to learn different ways of thinking about other beliefs that I held.

4. Do you have any advice for students wishing to attain a fulfilling career in geography?

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Get involved in different aspects of the field. Geography is such a wide-ranging field that it can be hard to know what you want to do without gaining first-hand experiences. Involvement can be as simple as doing volunteer GIS work for your local municipality, helping local not-for-profits with field work, or contributing to open-source projects. You can use these projects to build a professional network and to demonstrate your abilities and dedication to potential employers. Students are such valuable resources for public organizations and private firms – you bring new energy and ideas. Getting involved will be helpful to the community, the industry, as well as to your career development.