It’s a warm summer evening in Calgary and your kids are playing outside while you’re struggling to create new pages on your business website. Now it’s asking for your CSS class? What even is that?
Then it strikes you that this type of work would be fantastic for a summer student!
But where can you find students with these skills? And how would you go about finding them? Are there student work placement programs to access? How can you be confident that summer students could take on this work?
Enter the beta version of the TalentED YYC Work Integrated Learning Catalogue.
Find skilled students to help your business
TalentED YYC, a pilot project championed by Calgary Economic Development, is pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new database that offers employers the opportunity to search for post-secondary student programs that have students ready for work experience.
The new database helps organizations find skilled students and highlights over 350 programs at seven post-secondary institutions in Calgary. It can be searched by the type of work experience those students are looking for and categorized by paid or unpaid placements, short or long opportunities, and when the students are generally available.
Prior to the development of the database, employers wanting to connect with students had to talk with each school individually and only 11 programs had been listed on the national work integrated learning database. Now, employers can search over 300 work integrated learning programs in Calgary to find the perfect fit for their organization.
The catalogue is currently in beta testing and TalentED YYC welcomes feedback from employers who use the catalogue.
Calgary students are ready to work
Need some ideas to make the directory work for you? Simply use the search function at the top to indicate which types of students you are seeking.
For example, the directory can help you find:
IT students from SAIT, Mount Royal University and Bow Valley College who can help address your IT helpdesk backlog
Business students from Ambrose, SAIT, Mount Royal and Bow Valley College ready to support your small business’ administrative functions
History students from St. Mary’s University, Ambrose, and the University of Calgary ready to offer research support through an internship, field placement, or co-op opportunity
Biology students from Ambrose, St. Mary’s University and the University of Calgary seeking 12 – 32 week placements in a lab
Photography and design students from AU Arts and Mount Royal who can provide photography and design expertise for your business
If you are a small business owner hoping for website support on that sunny summer evening, you can connect with SAIT students who want a capstone project. They will get work experience on your website, and you get some time back to spend with your kids. A win-win for all.
Student work placements that work for employers
Students are eager to put their learnings to work and it’s important to know that employers can design opportunities in ways that best suit their needs.
While funding for student positions is available through programs like Canada Summer Jobs and Mitacs Grants, many students are also willing to accept unpaid industry experience, especially if their projects are for a non-profit or community organization.
In addition, the catalogue lists a wide range of work integrated learning opportunities beyond a traditional internship such as capstone projects, field placements, and community service learning experiences. The database can also be sorted or searched for specific needs.
Find your student today
If you’re keen to connect with Calgary’s best and brightest, check out the database today at www.talentEDyyc.com/wil-catalogue.
Employers who aren’t sure of the best way to connect with student talent are welcome to contact us directly for one-on-one support by emailing info@talentedyyc.com.
TalentED YYC’s services are free thanks to our generous funders. Project partners include Calgary Economic Development Calgary Chamber of Commerce CCVO Ambrose University Alberta University of the Arts Bow Valley College Mount Royal University Career Services Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) St. Mary’s University University of Calgary