WIRED FOR WIRELESS: "After I came back from the co-op work term, I chose all my courses in the wireless field," Bertie Chen said.
(EDMONTON) Through five years of schooling, paid co-op jobs in industry, and diverse extracurricular activities, Bertie Chen built a solid foundation, chiseled off unwanted experiences, and carved a career in wireless technologies.
"It's like carving a sculpture: you take out what you don't want. After I pivoted, I realized what I liked, took out what I didn't like, and started carving that statue," said Chen, a fifth-year electrical engineering student.
She wound up finding her true passion.
"For any student who is lost-I felt like that in the first three years-I'd say don't focus on trying to find one path, just try different things and your path will show up," said Chen.
Now, with a job in her pocket, Chen is leaving for Silicon Valley to fine-tune her professional skillset as a rotational program engineer with Keysight Technologies, a leader in electronic measurement technologies.
Chen began her journey as a U of A engineering student with an oil and gas industry career in mind. "I came to the U of A thinking, 'I'll be a chemical engineer,' because my parents are both in oil and gas," she said. "By the end of first year, I realized I've always been interested in technology."
At the recommendation of a friend, she took a class in wireless that piqued her interest. By the time she finished her co-op placement with TELUS Communications, chemical engineering was totally off the table and Chen had narrowed her focus to courses in communication technologies.
"I was working in Vancouver in wireless transmission of data or telecommunications. After I came back from the work term, I chose all my courses in the wireless field," Chen said. Her placement had unlocked her potential in wireless communications.
Just like her academic journey took a few winding detours before culminating in a dream job, Chen's extracurricular experiences were quite diverse. "I'm not one of those people who can focus on just one area," Chen said.
In her first year, she joined the First Year Engineering Club; by the second year, she was designing posters and doing photography for the student residence where she lived. In her third and fourth years, Chen was the vice-president and president of the Oilsands Student Delegation educating the university community about many aspects of the industry. And through it all she managed to improve her abilities as a musician, playing saxophone in a performance ensemble.
It might be this versatility and perseverance that give Chen the edge in a competitive job market. She acquired soft and technical skills in her engineering courses, in student clubs, and in co-op jobs with the Government of Canada, Enbridge and TELUS. She learned by wearing many different hats, and it built her character and fast-tracked her career.
"Even though the last five years might seem scattered, I've prepared myself for anything," said Chen.
Next on Chen's agenda is gaining more hands-on experience in Silicon Valley. Longer term, she is considering going back to school for an advanced degree, and launching her own business.
"After surviving engineering and all these activities, I think I can handle a lot more," Chen said. "Throughout my activities I realized I like doing things my way. Eventually, I want to start my own company."