“The process went by pretty quickly. It felt meant to be.” Read More
“You’re more important than you think.”
That’s what a paid internship at LifeSpeak taught Tahmina Naznen.
Immigrating from Bangladesh, Tahmina arrived in Canada with a master’s in computer science and four years of experience. For six months, she struggled to secure permanent, meaningful work, losing confidence. Read More
As a trailblazer for her internship employer, we felt it was right for Natalie Goldring’s story to be featured as our first ‘Where Are They Now’ piece, as a teaser for our upcoming Alumni Newsletter. Subscribe to read more of these stories!
Back in 2006, as Investors Group’s first-ever recruiting coordinator, Natalie Goldring developed the position – and her career – from scratch. Read More
Chidinma, an internationally qualified professional from Nigeria, completed her Career Edge paid internship for the Ontario Public Service as a part of the OPS Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals. Six months and two promotions later, this is her letter of appreciation to her mentor Talha, the OPS team, and everyone else who helped make it happen: Read More
Almost every graduating student knows a classmate who’s secured a job before graduation. How do they do it? They start early, like Domenic Sgambelluri, Career Edge’s Alumni of the Month for October 2017.
Before his exams began, his internship coordinator posted a role through Career Edge.
Two weeks later, he signed a contract.
On the first Monday after classes finished, he became Loblaw Companies’ newest talent acquisition specialist. Read More
Maxim Sorokin immigrated to Canada with an MBA, four years of work experience, and a self-imposed deadline of finding work within four months. The bilingual candidate said he struggled in his new home, before learning he needed to “introduce himself to the world” to succeed. Read More
DECEMBER
Career Edge Role: Administration Coordinator, Wireless Lab at Bell Canada
“My post-graduation job search definitely carried me through a rollercoaster of emotions. The difficulty isn’t just finding a job and moving on to the next chapter of your life… that would be the simplest part of the frustrating congratulations-you-graduated package.
But this frustrating package comes in a combination: there’s a side of reassuring your family that you’ll find a job, another side of dealing with the mismatch between the industry wanting experience but not wanting to give you that experience, and finally the main course of maintaining your sanity, self-esteem, and determination.
I felt relieved when Bell called to hire me! The role was diverse, and it had an equal balance of enjoyability and challenge. I was interested in the different aspects of responsibilities that the job brought, whether it was high-pressure or simple.
There was never a dull moment! The components of coordination, conflict resolution, and communication management between employees, departments, and vendors were the main hooks for me.
Career Edge was very helpful and positive. Their team genuinely cared about my success with landing a job!”
NOVEMBER
Career Edge Role: Business Management Analyst at TD Bank Group
Alumni of the Month: November
“I underestimated the transferability of skills that could be brought to the workplace from seven years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, doing what I loved in the infantry. I realized I was utilizing project management skills everyday in the military, and could translate them into an amazing career in IT Project Management.
I worked with Career Edge to sell myself with these skills and found an amazing internship with TD Bank as a Business Management Analyst. This position had me working with a mentor within a completely new industry, coaching me to become successful in the IT field.
Following my internship, I was offered a position that required three to five years of experience. I only had one. I’m now on my way to a rewarding civilian career, still doing what I love.”
OCTOBER
Career Edge Role: Talent Acquisition Specialist Intern at Loblaw Companies Limited
Alumni of the Month: October
“During the final month of my HR Management program, my internship coordinator posted a Talent Acquisition Specialist role with Loblaw Companies Limited through Career Edge which I applied for. Two weeks later, I had a signed offer with a start date for the first Monday after the completion of my classes.
To receive an offer from Canada’s largest retailer to work in my field of study before final exams was an amazing feeling, made possible by Career Edge.
I spent the next year as a Career Edge intern and Canada-wide Talent Acquisition Specialist. This experience allowed me the opportunity to secure a Talent Acquisition Specialist position with The City of Brampton starting October 2017.
Thanks to Career Edge, I earned amazing work experience that launched my career in human resources.”
SEPTEMBER
Career Edge Role: Customer Service Specialist at The Toronto Star
Alumni of the Month: September
“After I graduated, it was extremely difficult to find a job within my field or even anything that exercised what I had learned. As most may know, many entry-level jobs require experience that seems impossible to gain during one’s college years. I continued to work at my summer job for quite some time (which felt mentally debilitating due to my lack of growth) until I found a sales job that I believed would be suitable. I was not only overqualified but severely underpaid, and this led me to grow increasingly frustrated with my job search.
A cousin of mine had heard of my frustrations and spoke of a program that helped her friend find a paid internship in her field, which ultimately led to a full-time position. This of course, was Career Edge. Without hesitation, I immediately applied, and almost instantly received opportunities to be interviewed for various positions.
I remember returning home from an interview with The Toronto Star when a representative from Career Edge called to tell me that the employer liked me so much that they not only wanted to hire me, but they also wanted to extend my contract length.
The employees at The Toronto Star were extremely warm in welcoming me and provided thorough training, while creating an environment comfortable enough to ask questions.
This placement not only helped me utilize my skills and even learn new ones, but of course helped build on them through firsthand application. Shortly into this contract position, they offered me a full-time job. To say that I was ecstatic is an extreme understatement.
This path has literally changed my life. Even if I had not been offered a full-time position at The Toronto Star, the experience that I would have received from my internship would have undoubtedly been a pivotal stepping stone in my career path.”