When We Support Our Students, We All Win
Opportunities NB (ONB) is dedicated to helping talented New Brunswick students begin or advance their careers here at home.
That’s why we launched our NB Proud Award for students in 2015, offer a variety of student work experience opportunities, and created a professional network building initiative for new graduates.
Investing in our future
This week, 12 individual $1,000 prizes have been awarded to New Brunswick high school students planning to attend a post-secondary program in the province.
Students from across New Brunswick told us why they were #NBProud; youth with a desire to pursue their passion here along with a positive view of the future for themselves and our province.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients:
- Joshua Armstrong, Riverview High School (Riverview)
- Joël Brideau, Polyvalente W.-A. Losier (Petit-Tracadie)
- Émile Couturier, École Sainte-Anne (Fredericton)
- Félix Couturier, Polyvalente A.-M. Sormany (Edmundston)
- Gabrielle Desjardins, École Marie-Gaétane (Kedgwick)
- Victoria Gray, Hampton High School (Hampton)
- Morgan LeBlanc, Bonar Law Memorial High School (Rexton)
- Jackson Lirette, Miramichi Valley High School (Miramichi)
- Caitlin Moore, Simonds High School (Saint John)
- Kevin MacIntyre, St. Stephen High School (Chamcook)
- Amélie Michaud, École secondaire Népisiguit (Bathurst)
- Emma Sytsma, Carleton North High School (Royalton)
Walking the Walk
Recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 25 Employers in 2017 and 2018, ONB believes in leading by example and providing our young people with professional and meaningful work experiences.
ONB regularly recruits talented and motivated university and community college students for internships, co-op terms or summer employment. From day one, our students are involved with real projects; real work, not simply busy work. We ensure that they are provided opportunities to experience all aspects of our organization to help with their career decision making and provide tangible skills that are transferable to their next placement or job.
Investing in young people is a priority; we have a dedicated resource to manage and support the students throughout their experience in addition to mentorship from their managers. This includes weekly student team meetings with topics that range from panel discussions led by ONB employees about their work to skills and values.
New last year, we piloted a post-graduate training program to provide a new university graduate with the opportunity to experience four rotations on the team of their choice to broaden their skill set. The program was a huge success; Melissa Gottschall, the inaugural participant, is now helping us expand and evolve the program for a new cohort – watch for job postings for this program and other student opportunities on our Careers Page.
The application process is competitive, only 7 per cent of student applicants are accepted into our student program. We are proud that 100 per cent of our student participants would recommend ONB to other students as a place to work, and we are fortunate that three former students have accepted permanent employment with ONB.
Helping Graduates Create Professional Networks
Earlier this year, in partnership with the National Connector Program and the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL), ONB introduced a new version of ONB Connects.
ONB Connects helps new graduates (as well as new immigrants to Canada) quickly build a professional network that could lead to incredible career opportunities. We know New Brunswickers want to help others find great careers. Often, however, people don’t know how to help. ONB Connects makes it easy for busy people to make a difference in someone’s career path and build a better future for New Brunswick.
“Imagine if every employer took advantage of hiring a young person in New Brunswick – everyone wins,” notes Heather Libbey, ONB Vice-President, Chief Culture & Brand Officer. “If we make a real effort to provide our youth with work experience at home, we greatly increase the likelihood of them being able to stay and begin their careers in New Brunswick. If we don’t someone elsewhere will.”
Banner image: Autumn Lawrence, Laura Sehl, Melissa Gottschall, Alex Cunningham, Maria Vidya Kotnise, and Bridgette Ruck-Jessome. Image: submitted by Opportunities New Brunswick.