Lakeland College's optional 16-week paid work experience will turn into full-time employment for two business administration accounting majors when they graduate in 2020.

Second-year students Angela Robinson and Heather Healey both agree Lakeland's optional 16-week paid work experience was invaluable.

“This was a good opportunity for me to get out and see what career options were available. After this co-op experience, I feel more prepared for the workforce and my second year of school. I am glad I went through with it,” says Healey, who completed her placement at MNP LLP, an accounting firm in Lloydminster, from May to August.

heather healy at her desk

Healey's summer employment presented opportunities for her to develop her technical skills in compilations, reviews, audits, bookkeeping and taxes, setting up files for new clients, obtaining and reviewing documents, and more.

“MNP also sent me for training, which was a benefit from this experience,” Healey explains.

Robinson, who completed her practicum at Wawanesa Insurance in Lloydminster this summer, says her instructors were integral in helping her through the job application process, from writing a cover letter to preparing for interviews. Lakeland instructor Melanie Mutter also aids students in securing summer placements, starting in November.

Angela Robinson

“Obviously working for an insurance company doesn't quite pertain to my accounting major, but my other Lakeland courses helped me with data entry and organizational behaviour,” Robinson explains. She adds these transferrable skills were integral to her success on the job.

Thanks to their hard work and job-ready skills, their co-op employers hired both students for full-time employment, which will begin in 2020.

“I'm thrilled that Wawanesa decided to keep me on. With the skills I gained with them over the summer and my second-year studies underway, it'll be exciting to see what I can accomplish with them as a full-time employee,” Robinson says.

Photos: Second-year business administration accounting major students Heather Healey (top) and Angela Robinson (bottom).