FORT ST. JOHN – Eighteen companies and non-profit organizations participated in Discover Careers, a job and networking opportunity for students and community members, held on February 19 at the Fort St. John Campus of Northern Lights College.
Hosted by NLC’s Student Recruitment department, Discover Careers was an opportunity for employers to meet potential employees, and for students and members of the community to network with potential employers, discuss career paths, and examine employment prospects.
Debra-Anne Lloyd, a Career and College Preparation (CCP) student at NLC, wanted to learn more about possible employment options for students.
“I visited many of the booths. This gave me a different perspective on what there is out there and what is available in terms of job opportunities. I have found that many of the companies will hire students,” said Lloyd. “It is nice to know that some companies do this and that there are places to go and gain experience and that they are willing to work with students to get them the experience they need.”
Richard Podolecki is completing his final semester in CCP, with a goal of enrolling in the Electrician Foundation program in Fort St. John.
“I was really interested in the BC Hydro booth as I am thinking about becoming an electrician. I would love to work for BC Hydro and travel around BC. I found the booth very informative and helpful regarding my future career,” Podolecki said.
Employers attending the event included: BC Hydro, ClearStream Energy Services, Community Futures, Concordia University College, Encana Services Company, Fort St. John Adult Probation, Fort St. John Association for Community Living, Maple Leaf Loading, MNP, Northern Metalic Sales Ltd, Precision Well Servicing, Safeway, Shell Canada, United Safety, Vestas Canadian Wind Technology, Walter Energy, Winners and Work BC Employment Connections.
“We are here to meet potential employees and get to know our fellow exhibitors. I am pretty happy with the traffic. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have been pleasantly surprised and I have met lots of interesting people,” said Robert French, Human Resources Coordinator of Industrial Services for ClearStream Energy Services.
For an organization such as Community Futures, the event was an opportunity to present a slightly different option.
“We decided to come here today to show people the possibilities that are open to them as self-employed individuals and to let them see that this can be a viable option for some people, and to offer support for those who choose it,” said Nicole Eherer, Business Analyst and Loans Administrator for Community Futures.
Rachel Casponi, a Student Recruiter at NLC, was pleased with the turnout for the event.
“The event was received very well, especially by our instructors, who encouraged their students to attend. The energy at the event was also exciting, especially with local television and radio stations on-site. It was a valuable day for NLC students and visiting guests,” Casponi said.