Here at posAbilities we’re always looking for new and talented individuals to join our team. In fact, one of the many areas of employment we engage in is hiring practicum students from colleges and post-secondary institutions across the province. In doing so, we gain the opportunity to incorporate fresh perspectives into our organization while also complimenting students’ classroom learning through hands-on training in their fields of study.

In recent years, we have facilitated over one hundred practicum students in a variety of positions including residential care. Sometimes these placements lead to full-time jobs. Here are the unique stories of two practicum students turned employees, Diane and Angelica, who are continuing to advance and develop their skills with our team every day!

Diane, Community Support Worker, Drake Medox College

Q: Tell me about yourself and one unique fact about your current experience at our association so far!

A: My name is Diane and I recently graduated from Drake Medox College where I received a diploma in community support work. So far, I have come across many new and exciting learning opportunities and have seen how the association encourages growth. I just recently applied for a position at the residential home I work at and I felt very supported and encouraged to do so by the team members.

Q: What is your role at posAbilities and how would you describe your overall experience to others?

A: My role as a community support worker is to help people have a better quality of life. This could mean a number of things like supporting them in their daily routines, finding new and fun activities that they can be a part of in the community, and most importantly, supporting them in reaching their goals.

Q: What has been your most rewarding experience?

A: For me the most rewarding part of this line of work is being a part of a huge, supportive, and positive group of people who genuinely want to help others in a way that increases their quality of life.

Q: How did you hear about us?

A: When I was still a student we were tasked with researching different resources in BC that supported individuals with diverse abilities. On numerous occasions my professor mentioned posAbilities and the wide range of resources offered for individuals. This sparked my interest in the organization and I coincidentally ended up being a practicum student here!

Angelica, HR Representative, Business Management, Brighton College

Q: How would you describe yourself?

A: I am a passionate person and channel this passion into everything that I do. Something I value is taking the time to step back and reflect on the work we have done. I believe performing our duties with love makes everything easier!

Q: What has been one of your favourite moments at our association?

A: One of my favourite moments was when I was accepted as a Practicum Student. This opened doors to new experiences and after studying hard at school it was great to see the result of my efforts! Being accepted into such a great and humanitarian organization encourages me to continue growing every day.

Q: What have you learned so far?

A: While working with the HR team I’ve learned that posAbilities doesn’t just have employees it has collaborators! New talent is always welcome and everyone here maintains a warm and respectful environment — which is essential for the success of any organization.

Q: How would you describe your role and overall experience to others?

A: I describe my experience as a positive one filled with everyday life lessons. Since my first day as a practicum student, I’ve been proud to tell my classmates, teachers, friends, and family how important an HR department is to any company and how lucky I am to be part of the team!

Q: What sparked your interest in posAbilities?

A: When I was nearing the end of my studies the school coordinator started to find placements for my practicum. After learning about posAbilities’ mission to assist persons with developmental disabilities to lead meaningful and healthy lives, I realized this was something I wanted to be a part of. As an aunt to a teenage boy with autism, I felt a personal connection to the mission and knew that my passion for helping others would be put to good use. I am happy to celebrate every moment of success, achievement, and happiness with our team members, persons served, and collaborators.

Practicum placements help us grow as an association and give students the opportunity to learn about their passions in a hands-on way. To learn more about us and current placement opportunities visit https://posabilities.ca/careers/overview/ or contact human resources by phone at (604) 299-4001 or email [email protected]. Join us!