At a reception filled with cool jazz, warm wishes and more than 150 guests, the Humber community said thank you to employers that hired business degree students for work placements between their sixth and seventh semesters.
“Building employer relationships is vital to developing employment opportunities for our students,” says Antoniette Di Marco, business degree placement advisor. “Events like these further strengthen those relationships, as well as giving students an opportunity to network, make valuable industry contacts, and possibly open doors for future employment.”
For Michelle De Sousa, her work-placement at Mississauga Photography Studio and Gallery allowed her to solidify skills she already had – and enabled her to develop new abilities through projects like coordinating photo shoots and planning events.
“I had such an incredible experience working for MPSG,” the Fashion Management student says. “I was able to try so many different things – and discovered talents I didn’t know I had.”
Michelle’s internship went so well that the head of MPSG, Andrew Hiorth, has kept her on part-time for the current school year.
“Working with students is great because they’re able to jump in and be a contributing member of a team right away,” says Hiorth. “In Michelle’s case, not only was she incredibly willing and skilled at whatever we gave her to do, but we also found she had a particular talent for styling photo shoots. We’re thrilled that she’s stayed with us this year.”
All business degree students participate in a paid 14-week internship as part of their programs. For many students, this on-the-job experience is essential to their future career plans. For some, like Michelle, they’re able to get a head-start on their career before they even graduate.
“Benefits for placement students include improved industry knowledge and quicker career advancement upon graduation,” says Di Marco. “Employers benefit because they gain access to highly motivated and productive employees, often resulting in full-time hires. Really, the advantages are endless.”
