Harmohit Sarpal joined a pool of in-demand alumni when he graduated from Lakeland College's business administration program's real estate appraisal and assessment major in 2019.

Sarpal successfully secured employment with the City of Red Deer as a property assessor, after city representatives came to the Lloydminster campus for a presentation.

“I was encouraged to apply by my instructor Ken (Rutherford). If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have applied. The process went fast - I applied and had the job within a few days. Now, I determine the value of city properties for tax purposes,” Sarpal says. Sarpal has been in his position for a year and says he feels lucky working in a niche industry with plenty of opportunities for positional and financial growth.

The vast job prospects and two credentials through Lakeland's program is what captured Sarpal's attention. Apart from a diploma, graduates from the program also earn a certificate in real property assessment from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

“It was a no brainer to pursue a career in appraisal and assessment. When I attended a job fair at Lakeland, I noticed that majority of the jobs were in real estate, and I felt the connection to UBC would increase my chances of securing a job,” he explains.

Sarpal adds he appreciated the variety of educational experiences outside the classroom that Lakeland offers to students. He says these experiences give students a competitive advantage in their chosen industry.

Sarpal was a part of a small group of students who travelled to Mérida, Mexico, in 2019 to learn about their real estate system and compare it to Canada's industry. He was also the first international student team member of Lakeland's business case team, which took third place at the 13th annual Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition in 2018. Sarpal moved from India to Lloydminster to attend Lakeland.

“It was an honour to be a part of the business case team. The fiercely competitive nature of this competition makes you brainstorm a solution for a business suffering to make a profit. You're in a room for hours, working with a team and settling for nothing but the best. It was a great way to exercise my knowledge and skills. It was the first time I felt like a specialist in my field,” Sarpal says.

Sarpal credits some of his success to his instructors' passion and willingness to see their students excel.

“My growth was tremendous semester by semester. The biggest reason for that is how the instructors encourage students to think critically, focus on strength rather than weakness, and to work with like-minded classmates. I think the bonds we have with our instructors something that pushes students to do better.”

Photo: Sarpal, second from the left, celebrates Lakeland's case team's third-place win at the 13th annual Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition in 2018.