Thursday, April 10, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – Eighteen new and exciting HRM intern opportunities are about to open up for university and college graduates.

This is the second year of the forward-thinking ‘Bridging the Gap’ program, in which qualified graduates enter 18-month paid internships with various business units across the municipality.

Nova Scotia has one of the oldest populations in the country. And studies suggest that trend won’t change anytime soon. As a result, the HRM employee pool is getting older, and succession planning is crucial to maintaining a vibrant, fresh, and engaged workforce.

It’s also critical to find creative ways to entice our local graduates – regardless of age – to stay in the province and be solid contributors to the future growth of the Nova Scotia economy.

New graduates find it challenging to win jobs in the public sector because they lack the valuable experience prospective employers’ desire.

The ‘Bridging the Gap’ program is focused on attracting, recruiting and retaining new graduates. By seeing first-hand what it’s like to work in the municipal public service, there’s a better chance these graduates will want to apply for and be successful in landing work when a job becomes available.

The first-year wave of 14 interns began work with the municipality last year and they are already learning new skills that will prove invaluable as they add to their professional tool boxes.

These interns are performing a wide range of tasks, from assisting with the research and preparation of a brand for the municipality, to electrician apprenticeships.

In 2014, HRM will be hiring interns for the following positions:

• Research & Communication Analyst
• Brand Implementation Specialist
• Special Project Developer – Policy Intern
• Policy Intern
• Access & Privacy Intake Analyst
• Acadian Francophone Liaison Intern
• Labour Relations Analyst
• Articled Clerk Intern
• Co-op Law Intern (student)
• Junior Policy Analyst with Halifax Regional Police
• Junior Business Analyst
• Information and Communication Technology Portfolio Coordinator
• Performance Business Analyst
• Building Standard Intern
• Development Approval Technician
• Engineering Assistant Intern
• Apprentice Burner Mechanic
• Planning Intern

For more details on each of these positions visit www.halifax.ca/employment/index.php

Source: Release