By Allison Auld

As a student, Brittany Bartlett (BComm ’09) would never have imagined how a co-op job application would set the course for her future career path, let alone the full-circle opportunity it would present. That was 2007. Today, Brittany is a Senior Manager with KPMG’s Halifax Audit practice, where she also holds a lead recruiter role, putting her in the position of hiring new Dalhousie Commerce co-op students.

Co-op as a path to success

With no previous business experience before her work terms, Brittany acknowledges the co-op program as a launching pad and facilitator into the professional world. Dalhousie’s Commerce co-op program gave her the opportunity to experience work terms with three different organizations, where she learned valuable on-the-job skills and gained professional contacts. After graduation, Brittany moved into a full-time position with KPMG in what she describes as a fulfilling and challenging role that offers opportunity for ongoing learning and development.

Brittany explains how the co-op experience offers benefits that expand beyond those received by the students. KPMG’s long history of hiring Dalhousie Commerce co-op students has satisfied a number of organizational goals, including assisting the company during busy times of the year, serving as a recruiting tool to identify potential graduate hires, and as an opportunity for co-op students to get to know KPMG and determine whether they see a future with the organization. Co-op students working with KPMG are treated the same as new full-time hires; attending the same training in Toronto and holding the same job responsibilities. In return, the students offer KPMG a fresh perspective and a hard-working attitude.

Experiences that matter

Hiring Dalhousie co-op students also allows Brittany to remain connected with Dalhousie as an alumna. Her experience as a former co-op student has supported a deep-rooted value for work-integrated learning. Mirroring KPMG’s values in co-op hiring, it’s immensely important to her that students working for KPMG are provided with a meaningful work term experience that is reflective of the work they’d do if they were to pursue a long term career with the organization.

Now is the time to scout our top prospects for four-month fall co-op jobs. To learn more about hiring Dalhousie business students for work-term opportunities across the country, visit the Dalhousie Management Career Services website.