Finding a Path into Environmental Consulting
When Hailey Miller first joined North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc. as a summer student, she knew she was interested in environmental work, but she wasn’t sure exactly where that interest would take her. At the time, Hailey was completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta, majoring in Biology and minoring in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Environmental consulting seemed like a chance to use those interests in hands-on work and explore what a career in the field could look like.
Getting Hands-On Experience
Hailey started off helping field leads on the Oil Sands Exploration project, where she gained experience with vegetation management and DSAs. But her work that summer wasn’t limited to one area or one project. She also had opportunities to travel to British Columbia to assist with groundwater monitoring and gain experience hand-augering on Phase II projects.
Exposure to these different types of environmental work gave Hailey a chance to explore the industry while building a wide variety of practical field skills. As a student who hadn’t yet decided exactly where she wanted her career to take her, that variety helped her better understand the different types of work available in environmental consulting.
“When I was a summer student, they definitely let me go into a lot of different places on different projects, which was really cool to kind of get a grasp on all of those different things.”
But when it came to what made her want to return to North Shore, Hailey says something else stood out even more.
The People Who Made Her Want to Come Back
Working in the field often involved collaborating closely with other North Shore employees, sometimes one-on-one for extended periods. For Hailey, those experiences gave her the chance not only to learn from her coworkers, but also to get to know the people she worked with.
She found colleagues who were friendly, willing to answer her questions, and eager to help her learn. Rather than feeling uncomfortable asking questions as a new student, Hailey said she felt supported as she gained experience.
“Every single person that I worked with was super friendly, super helpful. They answered all my questions, and I would actually be excited to work with these people again. The job is really cool, but I think the people are kind of what brought me back.”
By the end of her time as a summer student, she wasn’t just interested in environmental consulting; she was excited to work with the same people again.
From Learning to Leading
When Hailey returned to North Shore as a full-time employee, the transition was gradual. Initially, she continued supporting field leads and completing many of the same types of tasks she had performed as a summer student. As her experience grew and she became more comfortable in her role, she gradually earned greater responsibility. Training played an important part in that progression.
“You can do it first under the supervision of somebody who knows what they’re doing. And then it kind of gives you that confidence to be like, ‘Okay, I can now go out on my own and do this.’”
That approach allowed her to build experience and confidence without feeling as though she was being given responsibilities before she was ready.
Today, Hailey can lead vegetation management, DSAs, and tree-planting projects herself.
The progression from assisting field leads as a summer student to leading work herself didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it developed slowly through experience, training, asking questions, and gradually taking on new challenges.
Advice for Students Starting Their Careers
Looking back on her own experience, Hailey says one of the most important things for students and recent graduates to remember is that they don’t need to arrive knowing everything.
She has always felt comfortable at North Shore when approaching coworkers with questions, even those which might seem minor, and sees that willingness and ability to ask and learn as a vital part of starting a career.
Her advice to someone beginning their own career at North Shore is simple:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everybody’s really friendly, they want to help, and they’re excited for you to grow into your career too. Put yourself out there, ask questions, and try new things.”
Hailey’s journey from summer student to full-time employee shows what an early-career opportunity can become. For students who are still figuring out where their interests might take them, gaining hands-on experience, learning alongside experienced colleagues, and being willing to try something new can be the beginning of a career.
