TalentEgg.ca, a Canadian job board and online career resource for students and recent grads, has launched a cool new initiative called “TalentEgg Challenges“.
As founder Lauren Friese told us, it’s a platform that allows students to take-part in work-like challenges presented in partnerships with brands. The goal is to give students the opportunity to apply their education to real situations, gaining critical work experience as they make the transition from school to work.
“From a technology perspective, it leverages tech to facilitate access to meaningful, relevant work experience for students who otherwise have a really hard time securing it,” said Friese. “Today, having relevant work experience is limited to a small elite of students who are enrolled in co-op programs, or who have connections. With TalentEgg Challenges, a student – no matter where they’re located or what they’re studying – can use this platform to prove their skills and aptitude to employers.”
After completing a Challenge, participants receive a review of the skills and experiences gained, which can easily be added directly to their resume and LinkedIn profile (how much merit it will carry is another question. Still, the initiative is positive).
Top performers in each Challenge will also be eligible for a range of prizes, including employment opportunities, cash and career-related experiences.
As the company explained, almost 75 percent of recent post-secondary graduates surveyed say that a lack of experience is a barrier to securing their first job, and with the national Canadian youth unemployment rate doubling that of the general population, “it is clear that the job market poses unique challenges for this generation of students and grads.”
TalentEgg feels that Challenges is giving students and grads the opportunity to overcome a catch-22: “It’s hard to get a job without experience, and it’s hard to get experience without a job”.
As a launch partner, Purolator is presenting the first Challenge – and offering a cash prize along with an internship opportunity for the best solutions.