EXPERIENCE-IN-THE-WORKPLACE PROGRAM NOW TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

INTRODUCTION

Engineering applied to the residential construction industry sector in Quebec and Canada is based mostly on wooden-frame housing while the commercial and industrial sector rather use steel and concrete. It is important to know how to use the design tools that allow to calculate and quickly design the columns and the wooden, steel and concrete beams without using complex and expensive software which SMEs do not have at their disposal. Moreover, one must learn how to use locally available materials in Quebec and Canada which requires to know well the local suppliers of construction materials and the required standards for these. The tasks of an engineer in an SME are generally not limited to engineering alone. The engineer must be able to play several roles at once, such as: being a representative, a designer, an estimator, a blueprint maker, a manager and an administrator of projects and staff. This program aims to expose future engineers from SMEs to the real working environment so that they become aware of the issues, customs and practical techniques and thus develop their talents in communication and human relations in the field of engineering and construction in Quebec, Canada.

THIS PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN A COMPANY WILL ALLOW TO:

• Know the calculation software for the renovation and construction of residential projects with wooden structure, as well as commercial steel and concrete construction in Quebec, Canada;
• Know and use standards of materials and units of measurement;
• Make 2D and 3D blueprints using software such as Autocad and SketchUp which are used in Quebec;
• Know Indesign software for editing reports and project presentations;
• Become familiar with the requests for residential renovation permits;
• Know how to use certain instruments and measurement systems, in practice, in the working environment of the construction industry in Quebec, Canada;
• Better understand the dynamics of human and professional exchanges in the Quebec workplace to improve one’s skills, attitudes and behavior;
• Develop and gain self-confidence as much by individual work as in a team in a company. This being used for interviews with concrete examples of local experience to tell future employers;
• Better understand the needs and challenges that face employers in Quebec and therefore know how to meet them to get a job;
• Recognize and perform varied general tasks practised by all, for the good functioning of an SME and a project: administration, maintaining the office in good order and clean, taking measurements at the work site, execution of plans, structural analysis, customer relations, project presentation, research and use of reference manuals for timber-frame construction, etc. ;
• Practise and improve one’s communication skills in English and French with customers, subcontractors and entrepreneurs in Quebec, Canada;
• Know how to better introduce oneself and communicate with the workers and professionals of the construction industry in Quebec;
• Meet business and construction professionals and increase one’s network of contacts.

Objectives :

• Provide more resources, credibility and efficiency to the job search by participating in real projects and practices within a business and by being supported and promoted by a company and professionals working in Quebec, Canada;
• Find a job by:
  • gaining practical experience in Quebec and Canada which is required by future employers;
  • obtaining a letter of appreciation and reference of a business executive when the candidate has performed well;
  • increasing one’s network of contacts by getting to know professionals, entrepreneurs and employers in the workplace and by participating in projects with them instead of just seeking externally;
• Know the reality of the practical work environment, the issues, methods and practices in order to guide one’s choice of career. Also to learn to know oneself better with one’s qualities to improve and defects to correct in relation to the workplace in Quebec, Canada;
• Know and learn to use certain work tools, measures and drawing, construction, architecture, engineering and other software;
• Practise French and English in the workplace.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Immigrants, students, graduates, people in a career change or future entrepreneurs and independent workers, such as: technicians, engineers, architects, project managers, trainees or people without experience in Quebec, Canada in search of business experience to get work, a job or starting their own business.

TRAINERS:

Daniel Dargis, Eng., general contractor and the supervising managers