1. #JUSTSAYHI – IT’S THAT EASY
By Alison Chan, Chair YP Committee
ere we are again
at #WEAO2015.
If you had told me
three years ago
that I would be
finishing up the
2014-2015 term
as the Chair of the
Young Profession-
als Committee for WEAO, I would
have said “Yeah, right.” But here I am,
and I couldn’t have done it without the
relationships I have gained and nur-
tured over the past few years.
Three years ago I was on the hunt
for a career in the #OntarioWater
industry, and through a couple of
friends, I was introduced to WEAO.
I was slightly shyer, fairly reserved,
but anxious to jump back into things
after moving back home from a short
contract in California. Determined and
ambitious, I wondered how I would
find that dream job. I had a couple of
degrees, some international experience
– I was confident I would find some-
thing quickly. Everyone advised me
to build connections, so that is what I
tried to do.
Humble Beginnings
My first networking event was in Janu-
ary 2012. I was nervous. Sweaty palms.
Wavering voice. I hovered awkwardly
beside a couple of speakers after the
panel discussion, waiting for the perfect
opportunity to join in on the conversa-
tion. “Everybody else looked so natu-
ral,” I thought. “How do you just go up
to someone and say hello?” I wondered.
As it turns out, you do just go up to
someone and say hello. I promise it’s
that easy.
I quickly realized that people do
not attend a networking function if
they do not want to meet new people.
Easier said than done, but I encourage
you to go up to someone, turn that
fear into an enthusiastic “Hello! My
name is…” and I assure you that the
feedback will only be positive. I dare
you to approach me at #WEAO2015.
Do not forget to smile.
Staying Connected
At this same networking event, I
received some sage advice from Patrick
Coleman: “The people you meet today
may not help you today, next week, or
even next month. But 6, 12, 18 months
down the road, if you stay connected,
people will think of you when an open-
ing pops up.” This taught me to be
patient. Nobody is going to hand you
something you want without first get-
ting to know you. I stayed connected
through personal e-mails, LinkedIn,
and attending more and more events.
Before I knew it, I became someone
people started recognizing at events,
and I no longer had to awkwardly
hover around, waiting for the right
moment to jump into a conversation.
I realized that, at some point along
the line, I made friends. Whoever you
meet in life, whether professionally (or
personally), make an effort to stay con-
nected. After you’ve said hello to me at
#WEAO2015, I encourage you to reach
out via e-mail, LinkedIn, or a phone
call. I don’t bite.
Full Circle
Things really do come full circle.
Remember that first event I attended
three years ago? That’s also where I
first met Alvin Pilobello, Past Chair
of the YP Committee (2013-2014).
He spoke about his career search
in front of a large room of people
describing how he ended up trading
an iPod for a career. Little did I know
I would work so closely with him for
the past two years as the Vice Chair
and Chair of the YP Committee, and
gain one of my closest friends (cue
collective “D’aww!”).
It is also where I first met Patrick
Coleman, whose wise words could
not have rung more true than when
he joined the Black & Veatch offices
last year. This again emphasizes
how important it is to nurture the
connections that you develop into
YO U N G P R O F E S S I O N A L S & S T U D E N T S C O R N E R
26 Spring 2015INFLUENTS