Maria Rincon
Project Management Fundamentals Certificate
When Maria Rincon moved to Canada to be with her husband, she didn't realize how challenging it would be to re-establish her career in the industrial engineering field.
"Finding work was not easy, so I decided I had to be proactive," says Maria, who chose to complete the Project Management Fundamentals certificate at University of Calgary Continuing Education as a first step towards earning a PMP (Project Management Professional) designation. "When I enrolled, I was hoping it would help me find a position."
As it turned out, it definitely helped. When a work experience program focused on engineering and technology training was offered through the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), Maria applied.
"There were only 15 spots and I got in. I know my certificate helped me as it showed my commitment and interest," says Maria. "Then, when it was time to apply for a practicum, my certificate helped again. The company that interviewed me was pleased to see I had a certificate from U of C among my credentials. And, after two weeks of practicum I received an offer letter to work on the construction/project management team.
"For me, the best thing about the certificate program was how things fell together afterwards. It helped me get a spot in the CCIS program, then the practicum, and finally a permanent position in my field."
"I enjoyed my program. Even though I was already familiar with much of the information, It helped me learn the language of the industry here."