A whale of a summer job
June 22, 2010
Camosun business student, Amanda Perri.
David Roberts, sales and operations manager with the Prince of Whales whale watching company in Victoria hires approximately 20 staff per season and aims to hire as many co-op education students as he can—this year six co-op students are gaining valuable work experience in the eco-tourism industry with the Prince of Whales. “Co-op students offer up to date insight on how things are done and their input is invaluable. It forces us to look at how we do business and what can be improved upon,” says Roberts. “When I receive job applications, the co-op students get to the top of the pile.” Camosun business student, Amanda Perri, is completing her diploma in Tourism Management with an internship at the Prince of Whales and finds the experience invaluable. “Getting paid while you learn is great, but having work experience on your resume is what co-op is really about,” says Perri.
The power of networking
David Roberts, sales and operations manager with the Prince of Whales whale watching company in Victoria.
Initially Perri hesitated to complete a work term, but given these tough economic times decided to complete the workplace education preparation (WEP) course to learn how to write a winning resume and cover letter, as well as networking and interview skills. Perri put her newly learned networking skills to good use! Roberts, a staunch supporter of co-operative education, frequently assists with the workshops associated with the WEP course and met Perri at a mock interview session. Although Perri was not scheduled to interview with Roberts, she sought him out to discuss opportunities in the tourism industry. She got that opportunity. From Roberts’ perspective, participating in the mock interviews is the biggest help with co-op – networking works even better for him than job posting. A win-win situation for student and employer!
The value of co-op
Roberts finds co-op students to be very motivated and believes that some of that motivation stems from the desire to achieve a strong grade for their work term. He says, “It is easier to invest time in employees who are enthusiastic and eager to learn. All students need to be trained - it takes about six weeks, and it is probably another month before they really get into the job.” Roberts like to have students return for a second work term and give them more responsibility in areas such as marketing, bookkeeping and sales. He points out that students need to have realistic expectations and understand the importance of learning the business first from an entry level position. “The business is really all about sales – every job depends upon it.” Perri was hired as an outside sales person, but after a couple of weeks demonstrating strong skills she moved inside to the office and now works closely with customers, selling tours and providing information. “Being given extra responsibilities provides more of a challenge and an excellent learning experience,” she says.
The Prince of Whales whale watching vessel, "Ocean Magic".
A worthwhile experience
Roberts would recommend hiring co-op students to other employers who can provide a meaningful learning experience to a co-op student. “It is the best, most motivated workforce for the money.”
Perri advises fellow students to consider co-op. Through her work experience, she has discovered that there are many things that cannot be learned from a text book. “Book knowledge is one thing, but you have to get out there and learn,” says Perri. As Perri is interested in pursuing a career in the tourism industry, having the opportunity to establish relationships within that industry is a huge asset. “I deal with Gray Line, Tourism BC, Butchart Gardens and many hotels on a regular basis. It is great to have those connections.”
Find out more about business programs and co-operative education at Camosun.
