Yasmin Alawi, consultant, talent development, at EPCOR Utilities.Supplied
For young people, a job search isn’t just about making money but finding an employer that aligns with your values. Kirstine Hull, senior vice president of corporate services at EPCOR Utilities Inc., the Alberta utility company based in Edmonton, says that this has become even more important than when she started at the company 28 years ago.
“When I joined EPCOR, I wanted to know that my work mattered,” she says “We’re in such a time of flux and change that it’s pretty cool to join a utility now. When you think about water conservation, about grid transformation, about decarbonization – all of those key elements of our life – it’s pretty cool to be a part of that.”
When she was a recent graduate, Yasmin Alawi, a consultant in talent development at EPCOR, says she was still trying to figure out what kind of career she wanted. “If it wasn’t for a friend of mine who told me to apply for a service consultant role, I don’t know if I’d actually be here today.”
She remembers the mentorship program she joined after starting. “I ended up matching with someone in human resources, and she was really fantastic in helping me understand what I needed, what types of transferable skills I had coming into HR, and what I could do to help prepare.
“She helped me navigate interview questions, and how to connect with peers and others within EPCOR and understand what the role looked like. During our meetings she would invite others from HR to meet me and I’d ask questions about the role, the team, the culture and what that looked like, and it gave me a well-rounded view of what I could be.”
Hull says the company casts a wide net looking for employees, at universities, trade schools, community colleges and right out of high school.
“We hire a lot of people as field workers or drivers who end up getting apprenticeships and are supported as they go through trade school to power line ticket or water operator ticket. We will help you grow your career.”
Alawi says that she learned early on what her priority was at EPCOR: “People. That’s my No. 1 answer.
“Because if you’re not in the culture it can be difficult to understand, but consistently, throughout my various roles in EPCOR, the people have been fantastic. I’ve had really great relationships in my last seven years and I’ve continued to grow them. That’s the No. 1 thing that keeps me here – the people as well as the culture.”
For Hull, helping young employees find their place at the company has become crucial. “As we look to the future, it’s important to consider how we build up the teams we’ll leave behind,” she explains. “For me, it’s about keeping front of mind how I can contribute to development of the next generation of young people and growth of future leaders.
“This is a company I want my kids to work for.”
“When I talk to people I always say, ‘Take a chance on yourself,’” Alawi says. “When a company like EPCOR resonates with your values and what you’re looking for, if the company provides you that career progression and learning opportunity, go ahead and do it.”
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.