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Category: Employers

Connecting with the Community: Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management Hosts Business After Hours Event

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Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management, together with its co-op and career services office Management Career Services (MCS), is strategically focused on engaging with the business community; not only by connecting student talent to industry, but also by creating opportunities for those industry and community members to connect with one another.

In June, the Faculty of Management hosted the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in the Kenneth C. Rowe Building for a Business After Hours event. The Faculty has a long-standing partnership with the Chamber, through sponsorship opportunities such as the Halifax Business Awards, and through the Faculty’s Advisory Board, on which Halifax Chamber of Commerce (HCC) President & CEO, Patrick Sullivan, is a valued member.

The Business After Hours event also provided MCS with a unique opportunity to collaborate with another valued partner, BNI Maritimes, to deliver a networking workshop. “While most Business After Hours events are exclusively networking, as an educational institution we were pleased to provide a learning opportunity for Chamber members,” says Robert Wooden, Director of Management Career Services.

This event is just one example of how the Faculty of Management and MCS engages with the community and provides opportunities for community members to learn about business programs and meet students one-on-one. “Events such as these are critical as they allow a two-way conversation between students, recruiters and faculty to better understand evolving career opportunities and paths, assess potential fit and organically grow individual networks; a critical part of the process for all parties involved,” says Akash Rastogi, Lead Strategist at Ocean Frontier Institute.

Dalhousie’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2026, Third Century Promise, encourages public access to university activities and facilities. Events such as Business After Hours offers Dal as the location for connections not only with but between members of the community. “I had many insightful discussions that have developed into continued conversations about shared work in our communities,” says Kerry Tench, Manager, Fund Development at Shelter Movers. “The event’s welcoming and dynamic atmosphere, along with the learning opportunity provided, made it a valuable and enriching experience.”

At the Faculty level, the Faculty of Management is strategically focused on developing alumni and employer networks to grow, nurture, and support a diverse and inclusive community. “Networking plays a crucial role in building strong, resilient communities that can address challenges and capitalizing on opportunities collectively. A great way to do this is to attend the many networking events that are hosted by local organizations like the Halifax Chamber of Commerce,” says John Thompson, Owner of Bin There Dump That Halifax. “The event at the Dalhousie Faculty of Management is a great example of this. The partnership between education and business is an important one, and by hosting events like this, Dal enhances this relationship for both students and businesses alike. Being a Dal graduate, I am very happy that my association with the Faculty of Management continues long after my student days.”

Dalhousie’s work-integrated learning business programs connect deeply with a goal of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Accessing a Skilled Workforce. Ensuring youth retention through work-integrated learning that leads to successful job placement in the future are goals of both the HCC and the Faculty of Management. “The highlight of Business After Hours for me was to see and get connected with the talented students of Dalhousie University, which truly showcased the dedicated efforts of the Faculty of Management to support their students. It clearly demonstrated a strong commitment to student success and community engagement,” says Basam Murtaza Tahoor, Founder at Tahoors Creative Marketing.

To learn more about upcoming engagement opportunities such as this one, connect with MCS’ Employer Development team.

Infusing Fresh Perspectives and Insights: How non-profit organization The Get REAL Movement leveraged funding to recruit Dalhousie business students

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At Management Career Services, we understand the important role funding plays in student recruitment for many employer partners. Not only does our team equip itself with the expertise to help you navigate government funding such as the Co-operative Education Incentive (CEI) and the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), we steward the Dal Business Work Term Subsidy Program. The program is available on a first come, first served basis to eligible employer partners; organizations that cannot hire without funding and were not able to secure funding through other sources.

With no application deadline, this program fits into any recruitment schedule. Organizations may be eligible to receive 50% of a student’s salary of $18/hr plus vacation pay. This subsidy program operates similarly to a scholarship, where funds are delivered directly from Dalhousie to the student.

Since 2020, nearly 30 work terms have been partially funded through the Dal Business Work Term Subsidy Program. The Get REAL Movement is one of the organization that has been selected for this funding; a national non-profit organization combatting 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination, racism, and bullying in schools, summer camps, and workplaces through education and support impacting more than one million youth annually. Chris Studer, Executive Director of The Get REAL Movement, shares his experience hiring Dalhousie business students with support from funding.

“We hire students in part because so much of our programming is youth-focused, and so working with young people is a must. We also hire students because we founded the organization when we were in university ourselves, and so we have always believed in the power and abilities of young people who want to work hard to give back and make positive change in their own communities,” says Chris. “Working with business students from Dal has provided and infused our organization with fresh perspectives and important insights that have led to important new systems, milestones, partners, campus engagement, and most of all, new members of our Get REAL community, who we are still in touch with to this day!”

Chris was first introduced to Dalhousie’s Commerce Co-op program in 2018 by a friend, whose step-sister was looking for a summer co-op.

“That student was Caitlin Ladd, who came on board and to say she exceeded our expectations that summer would be putting it mildly. We then found out about the funding opportunities that existed for Dal co-op partners and non-profit organizations, and as working with Caitlin was such a great experience, we decided to apply for funding and were able to hire Ella Cha, who was also outstanding. Fast forward to four years later and we had the need and capacity to take on another student, and so we worked with Dal once again for support. Flavia da Cruz Silveira just finished her co-op with us in March.”

Chris has no hesitation in sharing that their experience with Dal business students has been outstanding across the board, including their most recent hire. “Flavia has been a perfect example of that high calibre of work. Throughout Flavia’s semester with us, she contributed to many different aspects and areas of the organization.” Chris explains that Flavia’s tasks varied in depth and breadth, from outreach, to research, to working on the ground to successfully lead the rebuilding of the Get REAL Dalhousie Chapter. “Flavia’s impact has been significant. She has also been just a wonderful person to work with, someone any business or organization would be lucky to have on their team.”

For some organizations, the biggest barrier to student recruitment is financial constraints, and this barrier can be even more prominent depending on the industry or sector. “In the non-profit and charity world, the work is needed but the resources are scarce. We have been extremely grateful to have been a recipient of funding support from Dalhousie,” says Chris. “In addition to this funding being crucial, and thus highly impactful, the entire process – from the application, to the logistics – is extremely manageable from start to finish, with support from Management Career Services every step of the way.”

If you are a small- or medium-sized enterprise interested in learning about funding options to support your Dalhousie business student recruitment, contact Joseph Habchi at ceibus@dal.ca.

“If having the kind of person on your team who brings valuable business acumen, fresh eyes for opportunities, new perspectives for solving old headaches, and a finger on the pulse of university and college age students is important to you, I could not recommend this co-op program more,” says Chris.

Nurturing Talent: BDO Canada’s Ongoing Success with Dal Business Students

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For many years, BDO Canada has consistently integrated Dalhousie business students and grads across its many teams. Three BDO Canada leaders – Josephine Wieczorek, Senior Manager, Assurance, Jalen Sabean, Senior Manager, Assurance, and Erica McCurdy, Partner, Assurance, shared their perspective on BDO Canada’s 14-year track record of hiring students and recent graduates from Dalhousie.

BDO Canada is a leading provider of assurance, accounting, tax, and advisory services. The firm recently celebrated over 100 years of excellence, operating from 113 offices nationwide with a team of nearly 5,000. BDO is committed to the personal and professional growth of its teams and this dedication has been recognized through multiple awards, including Canada’s Top 100 Employer. This people-first approach aligns with Dalhousie’s work-integrated learning programs that prepare students for the professional world. BDO’s commitment to nurturing talent is evident in its long-time relationship with Dalhousie, particularly through the Commerce Co-op and Management Internship programs. The firm’s Atlantic offices have consistently hired students and graduates from Dalhousie since 2010, expanding this practice to offices in Ontario and Quebec in recent years.

“Dal students come to BDO with a high-level of professionalism and a willingness to learn and grow their careers,” says Josephine. “A majority of the students we hire return to BDO for multiple work terms, stay connected to the firm throughout their time in school through social events and frequent touchpoints with us, and truly become part of the BDO team.”

Jalen explains that continually hiring students for work terms provides BDO Canada with the ability to help them hone their skills and prepare to enter the firm full-time after graduation. “This has a positive impact on the services we offer to our clients as it also allows us the opportunity to provide continuity in the teams that service our clients and include our co-op students in the building of client relationships.”

“We believe in developing the potential of today’s top talent and tomorrow’s rising stars, allowing them to make extraordinary things happen,” adds Erica. She recognizes Dal business students and grads for their high level of professionalism, willingness to learn, and growth mindset. One such grad is Wesley Herrett, a Commerce Co-op alumnus who joined BDO in 2017 and has since moved from Junior Accountant to Manager.

“I believe that the Commerce Co-op program gave me a head start after graduation in a few ways,” says Wesley. “I was better able to understand how business professionals approached their jobs and interacted with colleagues in a professional setting. Doing 15-20 interviews with professional services firms every four months was great practice for when the time came to apply for a permanent position after I finished at Dal. When I joined BDO as a Junior Accountant in 2017, one of the things I learned very quickly in public accounting is that the more hats you are able to wear, the better.”

Outside of the recruitment process, BDO Canada also recognizes the importance of engaging with students and grads one-on-one beyond the application and interview to build connections and relationships with potential candidates. One way their team accomplishes this is by attending and sponsoring networking events and information sessions.

Axe Throwing Social

Pride Firm-Wide Webcast Celebration

Get to know BDO Halifax Event

“Meeting students face-to-face outside of the job application process, such as by attending events like Dal Business Networking Night or our recent ‘Get to Know BDO Halifax’ Open House, is crucial for several reasons,” says Josephine. “Interacting in person allows us to establish a personal connection that goes beyond a resume or online application. It provides a deeper insight into a student’s personality, communication skills, and interpersonal abilities, which are often difficult to assess solely through written materials. For the student, it humanizes the recruitment process and helps them see the real people behind BDO, fostering a sense of trust and familiarity. It can also help students gauge our company culture, values, and work environment to see if BDO aligns with their career aspirations and values.”

She goes on to explain that active participation in campus events reinforces BDO’s commitment to the local academic community by enhancing their brand’s visibility and reputation among students and faculty. “In addition, it allows us to network with students who may not be familiar with BDO and have not initially applied, but demonstrate exceptional potential and enthusiasm for a career with us.”

Overall, through these interactions and events, and through their recruitment, BDO Canada has found their experiences with Dal business students have kept them coming back to the school and its business programs time and time again.

“Initially, we want to say that we would not recommend other employers considering Dal, as we would like to keep the top talent for ourselves,” says Erica. “But all jokes aside, in our experience with Dal business students, we have seen consistently strong candidates with a good sense of professionalism, time management, communication, problem solving, and willingness to learn. They are also eager to share their experiences with other students and have a good understanding of the CPA profession. Their professors, coursework, and the co-op program do a great job at preparing them for the needs of our firm. This is apparent when meeting at events, during the interview process, and throughout their careers with BDO.”

 

Interested in hiring a Dalhousie business student or recent grad, or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Manager
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca

Lauren Shaw, Employer Development Coordinator
Lauren.Shaw@dal.ca

Joseph Habchi, Employer and Funding Services Specialist
Joseph.Habchi@dal.ca

Giving Back: How Dal’s Business Societies Work to Make a Positive Impact on our Community

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During the 2022-23 academic year, Dalhousie Commerce Society (DCS) and its umbrella societies, all led by Dalhousie business students, have organized and participated in a number of initiatives to give back to their community, from collecting donations to raising awareness. Keep reading to learn about four of these initiatives led by our student leaders.

Movember

In November, the Dalhousie Commerce Society participated in Movember to raise awareness and funds supporting men’s health. The team hosted events and encouraged students, faculty, staff, and community members to support the cause by donating. Those who were able to grow a mustache did so throughout the month to raise awareness of the campaign. DCS surpassed their goal of $10,000, raising $13,000 for the cause. “I can’t understate how important these resources are to young men. I know many people’s mental health were shaken by the pandemic, so seeing so many students coming together (in-person) to raise funds and awareness for Movember was amazing!” says DCS VP External, Michael Tough.

 

Eng vs Comm Charity Hockey Game

On March 17th, the Dalhousie Commerce Society co-organized the first ever Engineering vs. Commerce Charity Hockey Game as part of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. After months of planning, including seeking corporate sponsorship and promoting the event to students, faculty, and staff, the game was attended by more than 1,100 people. Together, Commerce and Engineering raised over $100,000 toward Canadian Cancer Society‘s Lodge That Gives, a Halifax facility that provides free accommodation and support for cancer patients and their families.

 

The Concept Project: Polar March

Dalhousie’s supply chain society, the Dal Chain, collaborated with a Dalhousie student foundedinitiative, The Concept Project, during the month of March. The Polar March project involved jumping into Nova Scotia bodies of water fully clothed every day in March (even in freezing weather conditions!), and then washing and donating those clothes to non-profit organizations across Halifax, particularly Souls Harbour Mission. The project had a dual focus: supporting the homeless community, and raising awareness of the over production and mass consumption of clothing by highlighting alternatives to throwing out old clothes. More than 60 students participated throughout the month.

 

5 Days

The Dalhousie Commerce Society wrapped up March by partnering with 5 Days for the 10th consecutive year. During the campaign, students slept outside the Kenneth C. Rowe Management building in Halifax with only the clothes on their back and a sleeping bag to raise awareness of homelessness in Canada while also fundraising and collecting donations for Phoenix Youth Programs (Phoenix). The students only used public facilities and counted on the public for food donations, endured winter weather conditions, all while still regularly attending classes. Although schools across the country participate in this fundraising initiative, DCS is one of only two student groups to still participate in the sleeping outside part of the campaign.

To learn how your organization can support or get involved in the community initiatives being organized by student leaders in the Faculty of Management, contact Management Career Services to get connected to our business student societies.

 

Welcoming new talent: How Doing Things Simply sourced and leveraged new skills from Dalhousie’s Bachelor of Commerce Co-op students

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Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Toronto as a Canadian, Black-owned technology company, Doing Things Simply implements physical and digital work spaces powered by audiovisual, empowering the future of work. Over 50 employees contribute to the heart of the business, believing in simplicity, simple understanding, and ease of use, supporting clients throughout Canada and in US metropolitan areas. Kimberly Bridge, Solutions Group Manager at Doing Things Simply, shares that after experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team gained a new perspective on workplace challenges, which inspired them to bring in co-op students to help solve these challenges.

The Doing Things Simply team hired their first co-op student, Dalhousie Commerce Co-op student Dylan Kelly, in fall 2021. Kimberly says that Dylan provided the team with valuable contributions by lending his skills and enthusiasm to a number of employee groups, such as Solutions, Managed Services, Accounting, and the Project Management team. “He ensured projects were completed in a timely manner and to the highest standard. We are delighted to say that Dylan continues to be a valuable member of our organization to this day. He is an enthusiastic and hardworking member of our team, and we are fortunate to have him on board.”

Realizing the benefits of welcoming new talent to the organization each semester, Doing Things Simply hired their second co-op student, Joseph Sung, onto their Solutions team in winter 2022. “He quickly proved to be an asset to our organization with his willingness to step up and help in various areas,” says Kimberly. With a keen interest in finance, Joseph was also able to contribute to other roles in the organization. “When we faced employee turnover on our Accounting team, Joseph stepped in and offered his assistance.” Elated with Joseph’s success and overall team commitment, he continued to contribute to the organization in a part-time role after his co-op ended. Joseph has since returned to full-time studies. “We are grateful for his contributions during his time with us and are thrilled to see that he has contributed to other fields that aligns with his future goals.”

Being a technology company focused on inclusion and hybrid collaborative environments, remote work is essential to their business. Taking advantage of remote work during the pandemic, Doing Things Simply was able to source talent on a much broader scale, giving them the ability to hire the best individual for the position. “Working remotely, we have the ability to hire from across the country, broadening our pool of candidates,” says Kimberly. Accommodating students who may not have had the tools for the position, each Doing Things Simply co-op student employees receive a work from home package including a laptop, extended monitor, headset, high-definition camera, and a docking station.

During their initial research of the hiring process for a co-op student, Kimberly says that Doing Things Simply was able to source a government grant that contributed to payroll costs. “With a straightforward hiring process, the students have been eager, knowledgeable, and always willing to go above and beyond, opening a wealth of excellent candidates to us. Not to mention great government funding to support the hiring and teaching of Canadian youth and visible minorities.”

Interested in hiring a Dalhousie business student or recent grad, or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca

Joseph Habchi, Employer and Funding Services Specialist
Joseph.Habchi@dal.ca

Five Things to Know about Student Employment Funding and Incentives

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Interested in tapping into funding and incentive opportunities that are available to help you recruit business students and recent graduates from Dalhousie? Here are five things you need to know:


There are several funding programs available for Nova Scotia employers, and others available for employers across Canada.

Funding and incentive opportunities are often categorized by province or industry and the criteria differ by program. At Dalhousie, all work-integrated learning business programs (four and eight month work terms) are eligible for Co-op Education Incentive (CEI) Nova Scotia provincial funding and Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) federal funding.


Receiving an endorsement from a co-op coordinator is required for Cooperative Education Incentive (CEI) funding approval.

To be eligible for CEI funding, Nova Scotia provincial government requires the employer and job description be endorsed by a co-operative education program at a university or college. For CEI funding, connecting with ceibus@dal.ca to have your job endorsed before applying to is the most efficient way to navigate that funding initiative.

 

Plan ahead: Some funding applications are due months in advance.

Funding is often tied to recruitment during a specified semester, so it is important to plan ahead and apply accordingly, as some funding deadlines are as far as four months ahead of co-op recruitment. There are also rolling application deadlines throughout the year for programs that offer more than one delivery partner, such as SWPP.

 

Funding is not just for hiring students.

There are also funding and incentive programs available for recruiting recent graduates. In Nova Scotia, the Graduate to Opportunity Program, through which the provincial government can cover part of a new grad’s salary for the first two years of their employment.

 


Management Career Services can help you navigate the process.

Our Employer Services team are experts in recruitment and funding. They can answer your questions and help you navigate the process. Contact Joseph Habchi, our Employer and Funding Services Specialist, to learn more about the funding opportunities you can leverage to hire business students and graduates from Dalhousie.

From academia to healthcare: How Dalhousie Corporate Residency MBA students are supporting innovation at Nova Scotia Health

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The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub is leading innovation within the healthcare system to deliver high-impact solutions for patients and providers. As they continue to tackle some of the biggest health challenges in our province and country, their team members are known for challenging norms, working collaboratively, and applying new methodologies to deliver high-impact solutions for patients and providers. Their team lives at the intersection of business, health, academia, and government, which, according to Margaret Palmeter, Director of Business Development, made perfect sense to bring Dalhousie business students on board.

The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub team first recruited from Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA (CRMBA) program in fall 2021, bringing four students onto their team from January to August of this year. “The engagement of this talent pool aligns perfectly with the growth of the Innovation Hub,” says Margaret. “When you combine the passion for impact from the Hub team with a provincial leadership focus on health transformation and innovation, it’s an ideal time for MBA students to be here. Our leadership really supports the Hub’s need for a business development lens and solid business acumen.” The team was so impressed with their student employees that they have hired five more CRMBA students who will be starting with the team in January 2023.

Margaret shares that each CRMBA student employee brought a unique set of skills and experiences to the Innovation Hub. “Anne Reddon supported multiple files and was able to work directly with our CEO to take action and coordinate responses as a front door for innovative ideas from clinicians, employees, patients, and families. David Kerr jumped at the chance to work with local start-ups and founders as he explored their products and services as potential fits for our innovation launchpad. Shawn Adderley leveraged his knowledge from his Master’s in Pharmacology and helped spearhead new relationships and partnerships for Clinical Trials. Tess Donohue applied skills from her undergrad in Engineering to priority initiatives like the acquisition of state-of-the-art surgical robotics technologies.” Margaret explains that all in all, these students have contributed immense value to their small yet growing team. “They were eager to try their hands at different things and were extremely comfortable being on the leading edge of technology and system change. They worked with us as true team members and benefitted from real work experience. They did the same type of work as the rest of the team, shoulder to shoulder with us.”

The Innovation Hub juggles a variety of health industry facets, bringing forth new technologies and services and leveraging a test and try model, fostering growth and enabling economic development. Their focused work translates directly into real deliverables in virtual care, AI, robotics, clinical trials, and predictive analytics. “We needed the help and resources to meet the increasing demands of keeping pace with our exciting work. We were fortunate that all four students were highly skilled with strong backgrounds, transferable skill sets, and relevant experience,” says Margaret. “They aligned with our philosophy on business development and innovation. Additionally, they demonstrated sound judgment and decision-making skills which meant we could lean on them to support other team members and lead some files themselves. Simply, they were a great fit. The sophistication they bring is exceptional.”

Interested in hiring a Dalhousie business student or recent grad, or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
Ayse.Gammon@dal.ca

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – NS
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca

Joseph Habchi, Employer and Funding Services Specialist
Joseph.Habchi@dal.ca

A Win-Win: Templeton Properties shares the mutually beneficial relationship that comes from employing students

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While some organizations are new to work integrated learning, others are no stranger to employing students, understanding and advocating for learning opportunities while benefitting firsthand from the skills and new perspectives they bring. Companies like Templeton Properties have learned the depth of value that students can add to the workplace.

Danielle Gaitor is an Executive Assistant at Templeton Properties, a family business that has been deeply rooted in the Halifax housing scene for more than 45 years. They are responsible for managing over 1,000 residential suites and approximately 70,000 feet of commercial space, spanning across 22 buildings throughout the city of Halifax. “With several exciting new projects underway and forecasted over the next several years, we are growing quickly and impressively.”

Hiring students can provide businesses with fresh perspective from eager young professionals looking to employ what they’ve learned so far in school to real-world scenarios. When asked why Templeton Properties prioritizes offering employment opportunities to students, Danielle replied, “We love to work with students. They bring a youthful and new perspective to the team while gaining experience in their respective fields. We extend opportunities to a few universities here in Halifax; however, we do get a larger volume of applications from Dalhousie University. They are among the brightest and the best, so they make it very easy for us as an organization.”

Students who have worked with Templeton Properties have made their mark on the organization, aiding in transitional growth and overall efficiency. “The students we have had thus far have been instrumental in making our growth and transitions smoother, especially in our accounting department,” says Danielle, giving a special shoutout to their Commerce Co-op student employee from this past summer. “Weilu has been a shining star from the very beginning, and we hope to work with her in some capacity in the future.”

Danielle goes on to emphasis the advantages of welcoming students into the organization, highlighting the benefits for the student, but also from the perspective of the business. “Hiring a student presents a mutually beneficial opportunity for the student and the employer. Employers have a direct hand in enriching the future of our workforce while students get paid, real-world experience. It’s a win-win situation!”

 

Interested in hiring a Dalhousie business student? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
ayse.gammon@dal.ca

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – Atlantic Canada
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca

Joseph Habchi, Employer and Funding Services Specialist
Joseph.Habchi@dal.ca

Quality and professionalism: How an accounting firm benefits from repeat student hiring

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Co-op and internship programs equip students with working skills that meet market demand. At Dalhousie, business students in the Commerce Co-op, Management Internship, and Corporate Residency MBA programs gain hands-on learning experiences through work-integrated learning that allow them to transition from the classroom to the workplace quickly and efficiently.

AC Belliveau Veinotte is a full-service accounting firm with six offices from Halifax to Barrington Passage. According to Chief Operating Officer Andrea Dean, the company has been hiring Dal students for more than 10 years. “We love our Dal business students! The quality and professionalism of the students from Dal continually impresses. Without fail, these students are professional, enthusiastic, bright, well-prepared, reliable, and ready to work. They work hard and are hungry to learn,” she says.

Students not only bring skills and knowledge, they also bring new energy and perspectives to the office. According to Andrea, the company had the opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival during the fall semester, thanks to their first international student, Jianxin Tian, who represents the integrated cultural values of the company and was excited to share her culture with her new team.

Andrea shares that Tian has returned to AC Belliveau Veinotte for her second co-op with the organization this summer, something that many previous co-op students have done. She says that she loves to hire students, and especially welcome them back to the team when given the opportunity. “They have all been fun, well-rounded individuals who mostly choose to complete more than one work term with us, which means that when they come back, they’re already fully trained on our systems and processes, they know everyone, and they fit right in.” Repeated student hiring also saves time and is cost-effective for any organization. “Our growth as a firm has mainly come through the permanent hiring of former co-op students who go on to complete further education.”

Interested in hiring a business student or grad, or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
Ayse.Gammon@dal.ca
902-220-2237

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – NS
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca
902-219-2548

Benefitting companies across sectors: How a technology company finds value in business students

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Regardless of industry, any organization can benefit from hiring students with a business lens. These students bring a range of skills such as finance, accounting, and marketing to the team. Companies from across sectors hire Dalhousie business students year over year, including platform technology company META (formerly Metamaterial Inc.).

Ahmed Shebl is the Group Controller at META, which develops high-performance functional materials and intelligent surfaces, enabling global brands to deliver breakthrough products to customers. The company has a long history of working with Dalhousie students, and last summer, their finance department began hiring Commerce Co-op students.

“We understand the importance of academia and the private sector working together to provide hands-on experience,” says Ahmed. “For our finance team, with our recent rapid growth and listing in NASDAQ, we wanted to build a team that can work in a fast-paced environment and get the opportunity to learn different accounting standards and processes for a NASDAQ-listed company. We are always looking for new talented people and this also provides the students an opportunity to learn about us, and us about them.”

Ahmed says that deciding to bring student talent onto META’s finance team initially led to a rehire. “We had a summer co-op student who excelled in his role, and we ended up hiring him on a part-time basis after the end of his co-op term. He was committed, a fast worker, and a fast learner. This inspired the finance team to work with Dal students on a more regular basis.”

Ahmed acknowledges the win-win value that student employees bring to an organization. “Not only do co-op students gain valuable experience that is crucial to start their career and distinguish themselves, but they also make truly valuable contributions to their employers,” he says. “I really like the Commerce Co-op program Dalhousie offers. Having three co-ops and with a study term between each allows students to experience different work environments and possibly different career paths. It also gives them an advantage in the job market.”

Interested in hiring a business student or grad, or learning about funding programs? Contact our Employer Development team:

Ayse Dai-Gammon, Employer Development Manager
Ayse.Gammon@dal.ca
902-220-2237

Cindy Ryan, Employer Development Coordinator – NS
Cindy.Ryan@dal.ca
902-219-2548

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