Featured Employee – Raha Yazdandoost

Raha is an Electrical Designer at RAM and Engineer-in-Training (EIT) with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC). She has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, in addition to obtaining an Engineering Diploma at Capilano University.  

Tell us about your role at RAM! What is your favorite part about it?

I am an Electrical Engineering EIT at RAM. My favourite part about working here is the people, as everyone is very friendly. This is also my first engineering job out of University so I’ve really enjoyed the learning experience here.

What advice would you give to recent new hires?

My advice is to not overthink and stress especially if this is your first “office job”. Make sure you introduce yourself to everyone, as you never know who you might work with in the near future. My second piece of advice is to join work activities to build strong relationships with your coworkers, or colleagues from other companies. Last but not least, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is better to ask than to do something wrong, but even if something goes wrong, make sure to talk it through.

What are 3 career lessons you’ve learned this far?

    1. To ask for help from my peers. I have a hard time asking for help when needed as I do not want to “add to their problems” or “take their time.” But I have learned that by asking for help, not only do I get my answer, but I also learn more information that will help me in the future.
    2. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a middleman in my projects, and I’ve learned to come up with solutions that work well for all stakeholders.
    3. As a young employee, I’ve learned that my professionalism comes first. When coordinating with individuals who don’t know me, I make sure what I do and say comes off as clear, concise, and knowledgeable.

What do you like to do on your days off?

I enjoy the City, so you will probably find me trying new food and cafes, or shopping and hanging out with friends. I also enjoy sketching on my downtime. During the summer, I take my non-rainy days very seriously (especially living in Vancouver), and will spend a good length of the day at beaches because I enjoy the water.

Interested in joining RAM and learning more about our Women-in-Engineering initiatives? Head over to our careers page to learn more.