Alberta employers on the hunt for post-secondary grads

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 3, 2023.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Students check out the opportunities awaiting them as they explore the Career Fair Thursday at the University of Lethbridge.

For students in post-secondary academics, the phase between graduating and scoring a job fresh out of school can seem daunting or near-impossible. But thanks to the University of Lethbridge’s Career Fair held on Thursday, the connections made between employers and students helped make those goals attainable for fresh faces in the workforce.

The event gave students the opportunity to build their network and ask questions with future employers, helping them when it comes to seeking employment.

“It’s been better than we could have expected, the students are receiving this event really well,” said Jason Kirbyson, events and outreach coordinator with Career Bridge. “The idea is early recruitments, employers get it just as much as the staff and faculty get it here. When students come to post secondary, they are looking to start their career. Career Fairs offer that opportunity as early as their first semester, they can start making connections all around the world.”

Looking to highlight the opportunities for students, the Career Fair offers options for students who may still be going to school, or graduating.

“Almost all these employers have opportunities. From summer jobs to full time employment, and projects. Ask questions to an employer and see what they are looking for, because you never really know what you’ll find. The breadth of hiring that these employers have is far beyond one faculty, one student, it’s everything that we offer (at the University).”

With possibilities for helping advance careers, the opportunities filled the First Choice Savings Centre with plenty of booths to check out.

“We are here today promoting our member agencies, various areas of non-profits. Letting students know about the benefits of volunteering and how it can benefit them to get experience,” said Nicole Bosh, membership coordinator with Volunteer Lethbridge. “Volunteering can be great on a resume. It’s a great way for students to try something on, to use their skills, and get the best of both worlds that way.”

Volunteering also helps fill out a resume, when work experience is lacking.

Other organizations, like Farming Smarter, look for potential students to help with summer workloads.

“We are looking to fill summer positions for our company here. We hire 10 to 15 science students every year, doing agricultural research. It’s a perfect fit, where students can start their career,” said Lewis Baarda, on-farm research, Farming Smarter. “Summer positions, sometimes for us, they will roll into full time things. But summers are a big crunch.”

Bringing employers to campus for students to reap the rewards, the University’s Career Fair showcases the desire for southern Alberta students in the workforce.

“What’s great about this career fair is the breadth of knowledge that our students can offer these employers. We have federal government, provincial government, and municipalities. We have organizations all the way from Mexico and there is an organization from Japan here today. They all are here to capture the talent that is coming out of southern Alberta,” said Kirbyson.

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