LYNX provides connection for employers needing Aboriginal workers

The LYNX website launched in 2008 has proven to be a perfect solution to the difficulties corporations were having in recruiting Aboriginal post-secondary graduates for positions with their companies.

 Since Career Services departments do not post jobs by ethnicity, the corporations would go directly to the Aboriginal Native centres, including the University of Calgary’s, says Cyndy Bermingham, LYNX program manager.  But Native centres are not staffed to job postings. The Aboriginal LYNX website was a good fit to provide links to jobs, scholarships, employer profiles, job searches and career advice.

As it is expensive to invest in technology, partnerships come into play, says Bermingham. LYNX not only partners with the larger post-secondary institutions in the western provinces, but also with corporate sponsors that are choice employers. Although students and student centres need to register, the services provided are free.

Launching just before the 2008 economic downturn provided extra time to build the technology, says Bermingham.

Currently the LYNX website has 2,238 Aboriginal post-secondary students and new graduates registered. Since 2008, the LYNX program has posted jobs for 1,234 employers, averaging approximately 1,200 job postings annually. Last year, the website had 10,471 hits.

The website is a job source for new grads, those searching for summer jobs and co-op positions. Bermingham runs the program with the help of a marketing assistant who is either a co-op student or attending post-secondary part-time. LYNX partners with post-secondary schools with a high number of Aboriginal students. Current partners include First Nations University of Canada, Mount Royal University, SAIT, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, University of Northern BC, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, University of Winnipeg, University of Victoria, and Vancouver Island University. Going further east, LYNX has also partnered with Lakehead University and a few other institutions in Ontario and Quebec.

LYNX partners with its corporate sponsors at industry events and career fairs. The LYNX program has eight corporate sponsors:  ATCO Corporation, BMO Financial Group, Cenovus Energy, Encana, HSBC Bank Canada, Shell Canada, Suncor Energy and TransCanada Corporation.

“Both the post-secondary partners and the corporate sponsors have mutual credibility,” said Bermingham.

In addition to job postings, the LYNX website offers links to employer/sponsor websites and their career pages. It also provides an optimal résumé tool that helps students quickly build high quality résumés, get career advice and information. The website also links with social media. As jobs come available they are tweeted, and there is also a link to their facebook page.

The website is promoted through contests and giveaways of iPads and Eagle Feather Flash Drives. LYNX representatives also visit the Aboriginal Student centres at its 15 post-secondary partners to engage students in conversations about their careers and to introduce the corporate sponsors.

“We are very fortunate to have the commitment of the sponsors who continue to help us grow,” said Bermingham.

Photo caption: LYNX marketing assistant Kendall Yellowhorn (from left) visits with students Cherie Burns, Raven Hart and Janell Henry at the University of Winnipeg Aboriginal Student Centre.