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Two agricultural companies among Canada’s Top Employers for Young People 2020
January 27, 2020 By Top Crop Manager
The 2020 winners of the Canada’s Top Employers for Young People competition have been announced, and two agricultural companies made the cut. Nutrien, a Saskatoon-based fertilizer company, and Cargill, an agricultural merchandiser and processor with their Canadian headquarters in Winnipeg, are among the employers recognized for offering the nation’s best workplaces and programs for young people starting their careers.
One of the reasons Nutrien was selected is their commitment to the education and training of their employees. They manage apprenticeships and skilled training programs for millwrights, instrumental technicians, electricians and welders, and provide funds for the training required to advance in each trade. As well, they have a four-year engineer-in-training program that allows students to combine their technical training with hands-on work experience.
A quality that put Cargill on the list are the networking and mentorship opportunities they create for interns and employees. Cargill interns participate in events that allow for cross-functional networking, and the company offers relocation assistance to interns, co-op students and associates who qualify. In addition, the Cargill Young Professionals Network manages an internal mentorship program to build constructive relationships among young employees and provide guidance in navigating the organization’s culture.
The overarching message to come out of this year’s competition was that social media and technology are changing the way young people expect to interact with their employers.
“Employers are responding to a generation that has come of age with social media,” says Kristina Leung, Senior Editor at Mediacorp, the company responsible for compiling the Top Employer list. “With social media, everyone has a voice and feels empowered. There’s an expectation by young people that their workplace will be the same, that they can contribute and have an impact.”
