When it comes to learning about your future career, there's nothing quite like talking to someone who's already made it.
This Friday, students from UBC Okanagan interested in future legal careers will have the chance to get some sound and entertaining advice from lawyers and a provincial court judge who graduated from UBC's Faculty of Law. It's the first event in the new Interior Savings Mentoring Luncheon Series, organized by UBC Okanagan's Alumni Relations and Career Services offices.
"These luncheons are a way to connect students and recent UBC Okanagan graduates with UBC alumni who have built successful careers in law, education, business and finance, engineering, health and community development, and public service," says Brenda Tournier, Manager of Alumni and Community Relations at UBC Okanagan.
More than 50 UBC Okanagan students, and 10 Central Okanagan high school students sponsored by School District 23, will attend Friday's mentoring luncheon. "It's a great community partnership between the school district, businesses in our region, and UBC Okanagan," says Tournier.
The Sept. 21 luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Kelowna's Royal Anne Hotel, will feature:
- Theresa Arsenault, partner with Pushor Mitchell in Kelowna
- Jane Cartwright, Provincial Court Judge
- Tony Edwards, partner with Benson Edwards in Kelowna
- Norm Yates, Crown Counsel in Kelowna
"Real-life perspectives of people practising in the field will give students insight into the profession," says Arsenault. "It's a chance to see whether this is something they’ll have an aptitude for and will enjoy."
At each luncheon, panels of four alumni speakers will relate in personal terms why they chose their career and how they got into it, what helped them along their career path, what they would do differently if they had the chance, and what advice they would give to someone starting out in the profession today. In addition, Tournier says students will be seated with professionals from within the career category, so conversations during lunch are sure to be both interesting and topical.
Along with the events themselves, students will be provided with career development resources including briefings on the profession, what employers are looking for, what questions they might ask in an interview, and networking training.
Bus transportation from the UBC Okanagan campus to the event will be available. For information about the series, contact Brenda Tournier at UBC Okanagan, 250-807-8167 or visit http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/alumnirelations/luncheonseries.html.
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