DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION PROFESSIONALS

At MHIRJ, we are committed to playing a leading role in the education and development of the next generation of aviation professionals. To help ensure we benefit from having the best and brightest work with us at MHIRJ, we have partnered with universities across Canada to create a pipeline for talent. Our partnership with Carleton University and their Co-operative Education Program (Co-op) is a prime example of this commitment.

The Carleton Co-op program started in the Faculty of Engineering and Design some 30 years ago and has grown to over 150 study streams today. This innovative and practical program combines academic studies with hands-on experience and is structured so that study terms are alternated with paid, full-time work terms that are directly related to the co-op student’s program of study. For MHIRJ, the program enables us to identify, educate and ultimately hire the right talent across a wide range of areas, including Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Finance, Computer Science and Information Technology.

GETTING A HEAD START IN THE INDUSTRY

To qualify for the Co-op program, applicants need to be full-time students in good standing, attain and maintain GPA requirements for their program, and show a commitment to completing the program. The program’s Co-op work terms allow for the development of key employability skills, exploration of career options and graduation with tangible, workplace experience. As a result, students gain a competitive edge in the job market after graduation.

For many students, the Co-op program is their first professional work experience and the first time they will undergo a formal employer interview. To help students be fully prepared, they take a “prep course” and are assigned a Co-op student advisor who provides guidance and service (e.g. shares career advice, conducts a mock job interview) to ensure that each Co-op student is ready to shine when they interview with MHIRJ or another employer.

UP TO SIXTEEN MONTHS OF 100% REAL WORLD LEARNING

In the Co-op program, landing a job with an employer works just like in the real world. MHIRJ posts the job opening and Co-op students compete for it. After the job interview, successful applicants are onboarded the same way as full-time employees with an emphasis on ethics and compliance in our industry. For four to sixteen months, students experience the work-life of an aviation professional with all the associated responsibilities. As opposed to other internships, participants aren’t treated like summer students. Instead, they are treated as an employee and are expected to perform in the same manner as a full-timer. The intent is to offer a 100 percent real work experience.

INVALUABLE INTANGIBLES

While the Co-op program emphasizes experiential learning, the intangibles experienced by students are invaluable as well. This includes working with a team in a real-world setting, getting tasked with projects that have meaning outside the classroom, adhering to deadlines that have an impact on the finances of the company and learning how to effectively communicate and collaborate within a company setting.

Before securing their first Co-op Work Term, students must complete a minimum of two years of study. Students who complete the required number of co-op work terms receive a Co-operative Education designation on their degree. This special designation indicates to future employers that they have successfully demonstrated both strong academic performance and realworld experience and dedication.

A WIN/WIN PROPOSITION

The Carleton Co-op program offers many important advantages to both students and MHIRJ. Firstly, students get to build a solid resume and earn income at the same time – all while still in university. There are a lot of tertiary benefits that extend beyond the internship itself as well, such as making valuable network contacts, forging relationships with industry professionals and most of all, gaining a gateway into kickstarting their careers. For MHIRJ, the benefits of taking part in the Co-op program are numerous. The flexibility of Carleton’s hiring timelines, professionalism of their Co-op Team and ease of use of their Co-op hiring platform, make hiring enthusiastic and talented Co-op students a pleasure.

The Co-op program also helps make our permanent hiring process more efficient and effective as these students are ready to hit the ground running when they are hired back as full-time employees. We know exactly what we are going to get because our chosen candidates have interned with us for 16 months. Co-op students are fully versed in the job at hand and are immersed in the culture of our company, making them an ideal fit within our organization.

As a past graduate now working at KF Aerospace in Kelowna, British Columbia, Andre Lawrence states the Co-op program is a great way to prepare for the real world work environment and gain the experience needed to qualify for a position.

“Having job experience through the Co-op program definitely gave me a leg-up. It’s an excellent way to get up close and personnel on how things work in commercial aviation and have the opportunity to make a real contribution to on a daily basis,” said Andre. “I didn’t feel like I was a student, I was part of the team. And by participating in the program, I was hired before I got out of University.”

FACILITATING FUTURE SUCCESS

Creating partnerships with the institutions that are training the future generation of the aviation industry is important to MHIRJ. We believe it’s vital that academia and industry are more closely linked, so that graduating students are matching what the industry genuinely requires. By working with the Carleton Co-op program, we are facilitating the future success of MHIRJ with talent that is tested and ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.

Contributor: Margaret Haswell, Business Development & Maintenance Engineering Manager MHIRJ