Career Starts/Civil Service Internship Program

By Chastity Dooley Department of Human Resources

In May 1998, young Nova Scotians interested in a career in the civil service were provided with an opportunity to gain work experience through Career Starts, a provincial internship program. Career Starts provided opportunities for 25 young people across the province.

"Career Starts is an overall great experience," said Michael Hannon, Year 2000 researcher with the Technology and Science Secretariat in Halifax. "It's a challenging, intensive summer job that's teaching me the way government works." Michael, a native of Halifax, is a recent graduate of St. Patrick's High School who wants to pursue a career in politics.

In addition to placements for high school students, Career Starts provides summer opportunities for post-secondary students enrolled in universities, community colleges, or registered private trade colleges, and longer placements for recent graduates of universities, colleges or trade schools.

"This is a great summer job that has taught me a lot, including what a well-rounded worker I have to be to become a fish farmer," said Blair Ettinger, fish hatchery technician with the department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Antigonish. Blair, originally from Windsor, studies science with a major in aquaculture, at the Nova Scotia Agriculture College in Truro.

"It's a very challenging job, every day is different," said Alana MacLeod, regional tourism coordinator for northeastern Nova Scotia, with the department of Economic Development and Tourism in Truro. Alana, whose hometown is Truro, is a recent graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University's Tourism and Hospitality Management program. She said through visiting various development sites throughout northeastern Nova Scotia, her job provides her with much experience and insight into the tourism industry .

Career Starts participants benefit from a specialized training program designed to help them develop and modify their career options. They also learn about workplace issues including occupational health and safety and effective teamwork. Participants are assigned a mentor, to help support and guide their career development.

"We help interns set paths to achieve their career goals," said Duncan Houston, Career Starts mentor, Department of Human Resources in Halifax. He explained that mentors are vital to the Career Starts program to provide interns with the information they need to make career choices.

The program benefits from the youthful perspective of its coordinator, Chris Webb, a Career Starts intern and recent political science graduate from Saint Mary's University. "This job has provided me with the opportunities to work with professionals from many different fields who have been eager to share their knowledge with me." Since May, Chris has been developing, implementing, maintaining and monitoring the Career Starts program.

The Career Starts program was developed by the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat and the departments of Human Resources, Education and Culture, Economic Development and Tourism.

The goal of the program is to foster an interest in careers in the public sector among young people while providing students and recent graduates with valuable on-the-job training which could lead to full-time work.

That's already happening for one Career Starts intern, Jane Urquhart, who has been offered a six month assignment with the Technology and Science Secretariat in Halifax as a technology specialist. Jane, originally from Stellarton studied Computer Information Systems at the Community College in Truro. "This summer has been an excellent experience for me, and I am very excited to continue my work with the department. Career Starts has given me the opportunity to work in my desired field."