S
o, you ask, “What does membership in AIPG do for me? Why should I become involved? I’m very busy with classes and personal activities and have little or no time to spend on another organization...” These questions have been asked by numerous students ever since the stu- dent membership category was added to the bylaws.
The old adage, “You only get out of something what you put into it,” is as true today as it has ever been. If you signed up as a student member because your friends did, or because it seemed like a good idea at the time, but you never participate in any activities or otherwise take advantage of any of the benefits of membership, then all you get out of your member- ship is a line on your resume. That may or may not provide any tangible benefit to you in your future career – you be the judge of that.
If, on the other hand, you want to actively participate, but don’t know what that might entail, I offer some examples. Most AIPG Sections have events throughout the year, including field trips, meetings (often with technical presentations, social hour, and a meal) and other activities. Who doesn’t enjoy a field trip to an often spectacular location to learn about the rock formations or structures? Sometimes these are at a mine or quarry that you otherwise wouldn’t get a chance to enter, and may allow you an opportunity to collect a sample of the minerals or ore. How cool is that!?
The point is, during any of these events, you have the oppor- tunity to learn from, and get to know, professionals, many of whom are potential employers, colleagues, or regulators that you may be working with in the future. Yes, you say, but what good will that do me? None of these people are going to remember me or care that I was on a field trip with them.
You might be surprised to learn that these seemingly incon- sequential connections might be all that it takes to land you that first position. Or that better job you wanted. Don’t believe me? Then consider the following examples. The first situation was several years ago during a period when the market was depressed, and it wasn’t easy for new graduates to find a position in geology. As our Section’s Editor, I was working on our newsletter and was going to finalize it the following day. I was contacted by the faculty sponsor of one of our Section’s student chapters asking whether I knew of any firms that were currently hiring. One of their Department’s recent graduates (who was an AIPG student member) had been out of school for about six months hunting for a position, without success. I told him that I didn’t know of any that had open positions, but if the individual wanted to contact me and place a short “seeking employment” ad in our newsletter and could get it to me that day, I’d be happy to include it in the edition. Suffice it to say, that ad resulted in the former student being contacted by one of our members about a position they had just opened. He was interviewed and hired within two weeks of the release of that newsletter.
A second situation occurred during one of our Section meet- ings. We typically have between six and 30 students attend our meetings. It might be because of the technical presentation that follows dinner. Maybe it is because attendance (and the meal!) at our Section meetings is free to student members. Or it might be because we work hard to publicize our meetings to our students and encourage them to attend. In any event, we encourage the students to circulate and talk with mem- bers during the social hour before dinner. On this particular
www.aipg.org
evening, one of our students reported sitting with a fellow student who was seated next to “a well-dressed stranger.” The student’s friend and the stranger struck up a conversation over dinner about work and school, and after knowing each other for about 20 minutes, the stranger offered the student a paid internship.
During one of our first Section meetings several years ago, we had our first significant student member turnout – about 20 students from the local student chapter. We were expecting about 50 total members at that meeting. The students arrived as a group during the early part of the social hour. After reg- istering and getting their name tags, they split themselves up two or three to a table, grabbed their choice of tasty beverages, and engaged the handful of professionals in the room at that time in conversation. They weren’t prompted to do so by any of the members, but rather by their own motivation to network with potential employers. Afterwards, I heard from some of our longtime members about how impressed they were with these students, and how interested the students were to talk with them.
Another old adage also applies here; “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” You never know whether that person you talked with over dinner or at a summer field trip might remember you down the road when you are applying for a job with their company. I’ve been told that the best geologists are the ones that have seen the most rocks. Alternatively, the geologist with the most rocks wins. I’ll add that the student that has talked with the most professionals wins. So get out there and make yourself known!
Student Adam W. Heft, CPG-10265
Involvement in AIPG –
Is it worth it?
Jan.Feb.Mar 2021 • TPG 47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
