For the past few years EDN has hired students participating in the Co-operative Education program with Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University. Work terms run for four months during the Fall, Winter, and Summer. The position is open to all co-op students.
If you are energetic, eager to learn, and would like the opportunity to work for a non-profit organization, view the EDN – Project Coordinator – Job Description – Summer 2012 and contact us.
Here’s what some of our previous co-op students had to say about their work terms:
Elysia Percival, Winter 2011
To say my experience with EDN was amazing would be an understatement. The skills, knowledge, and professional development that I have taken from this work term are invaluable. I have had opportunities that I would never have been given elsewhere, and was lucky enough to be involved with members on a one-on-one basis.
Having already completed a work term, I found my time with EDN to be engaging and fulfilling. From aiding in the creation of promotional products for the organization to being a part of the planning team for the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, there was never a dull moment. One of my favourite aspects of the job was the responsibility that I was given from the very beginning. This independence allowed me to voice my opinion, state my ideas, and confidently approach each project I was assigned. At the same time, there was always a team behind me to help in any way possible. Brian and Archie both had a 100% open-door policy and made me feel welcome and comfortable from the very start.
I am a firm believer that you get exactly what you give in your work terms. The sky is the limit at EDN, and students have the opportunity to gain more than they could ever imagine while working with this organization. I think any major can benefit from working here, and would recommend the Project Coordinator position to every Co-op student looking for a job.
Dianne Poole, Fall 2010
The project coordinator position at EDN is a great opportunity for any commerce student looking for a work term job. The amount of exposure to different areas of business that you get is incredible. There are always a variety of tasks to work on; you never get bored and it really helps you to recognize which areas of business you enjoy most, and those you excel in. I found that I was especially able to further develop my organizational and time management skills.
Access-a-Pro and the Holiday Social, the events which take place during the fall term, are both great opportunities to get to know the members of the organization, as well as the members of the community who get involved and show their support. The environment in this organization is perfect for co-op students; you are given lots of responsibility with what you are working on, but there is always help available when you need it. You are always invited to take part in meetings and discussions, and able to share your ideas. One of the things I enjoyed being a part of was the interview process for hiring the next co-op student; after being interviewed by employers a number of times, it was a valuable learning experience to be on the other side of the desk
I feel lucky to have been given this very rewarding opportunity, and having the pleasure of working closely with Brian and Archie, who were always so supportive. I learned so much during my four months with EDN, and have met some exceptional entrepreneurs. It was great to be able to play a small part in their development and success!
Hannah Crawford, Summer 2010
Beginning my first work-term I had no idea what to expect. EDN was the perfect first experience into the business and office environment. My range of responsibilities allowed me to gain understanding in all areas of the organization. This was the ideal way to learn which areas I really enjoy working in most. The position also allowed me to design the job and many tasks around these areas of interest and my major in Marketing. It was great to work in a place where each day was different. My duties as Project Coordinator included planning the AGM, creating newsletters, editing and maintaining the website and hiring the next co-op student. I not only learned from the planning of events but also from attending them. The background I gained in areas such as these will be incredibly valuable in future positions.
Both the staff and members at EDN were great people to work with. It was a very welcoming, fun, and positive environment to become part of. Through working in the Canada Business Centre and attending various meetings I was provided with the opportunity to network with many people in partnering and related organizations.
This is an awesome position especially for a first work term. It is great to have the flexibility to customize the work to what you would like to learn. It is a position for someone with a range of business interests, who takes initiative and is eager to learn and try new things. I had a great time and can’t believe how quickly the 4 months passed!
Becky Chapman, Fall 2009
EDN has been such a rewarding and fantastic experience for me. My four month term went by so quickly yet I managed to accomplish so much during that time! The Project Coordinator position comes with a lot of responsibilities and opportunites, yet the staff at EDN and Canada Business – Nova Scotia are always available should you need help.
The co-op student really has the chance to tailor their work term to their interests. I got to do payroll and invoicing but I also coordinated several events from 5 guests to 100. I was responsible for our quarterly newsletter, however, I took the opportunity to collaborate with the other staff members at EDN and I am really happy with out final piece. I also had the chance to do some unique work as well, which really made my term! I got to meet one on one with several of our members and I learned so much from all of them and I always enjoyed their company. I also had the opportunity to attend several workshops and training sessions as a student and learn even more! The work I got to do during my term was so varied, yet all relevent! As an entrepreneurship major, it was so valuable for me to be exposed to so many areas of business.
Overall I would without a doubt recommend this position to all co-op students. You get the chance to meet inspiring people, do rewarding work.
Stephanie Pronk, Summer 2009
My co-op placement as Project Coordinator at the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network (EDN) was better than I could have imagined! From the moment I was hired, EDN welcomed me like a member of their family. Brian and Archie, the permanent staff at EDN, have an excited energy about them that’s contagious! They create a welcoming and supportive work environment. The small size of the organization meant that I would witness, and take part in, most operations.
The best part about working at EDN, apart from the fantastic co-workers, was the freedom I had to tailor my work term to learn skills related to my major in Human Resource Management. Apart from my required duty to prepare the payroll, I was able to manage the entire recruitment process, write a Member Engagement Policy, and start adding sections to EDN’s Personnel Policy. I was also able to attend conferences on behalf of EDN that related to my education as well as the organization.
I would recommend this co-op position to any student who is looking for a challenging, fast-paced, independent role in a supportive work environment. Most importantly, a student in this role should be highly communicative, self-initiated, and have a sense of humour!
Working for EDN was a highly positive experience, and I was so sad to leave!
Jordann Kaye, Winter 2009
For most co-op students, their first work term is intimidating. No matter how prepared you think you are, in the end, you have no idea what your first day will be like. In the winter of 2009, I was no exception. EDN taught me what to expect, in an open and welcoming environment. Eventually I had a wide range of responsibilities including payroll, accounting, cash flow forecasting, event planning, database management, updating the website, and I even got to help in the hiring process of the new student. This really helped me decide which areas of business I was most interested in, and as a result I was able to concentrate most of my energies on the areas I wanted. The freedom to decide what to work on will be perfect for anyone who takes initiative and pride in their work, and for those who have questions, answers are not far away.
I would recommend EDN for any student who is looking to have a great first work term. The environment is friendly and low pressure, and the staff are pleasant and more than willing to answer any and all questions. Being located at the Canada Business Service Center is also ideal as it opens the door to learning about all of the government programs designed to help businesses not only survive, but thrive. EDN also takes an interest in the personal development of their co-op students, they take the time to make sure that the work term is going well and that your needs are met. Overall a wonderful place to work and I will be sad to leave.
Chiraag Mutreja, Summer 2008
My work term at EDN during the summer of 2008 was one I will never forget. Personally, I believe that this is the perfect job for a student’s first work term because the responsibilities involved cover several different academic fields. While having lots of freedom to focus on what I was interested in the most, I got to do the following: Payroll, Cash Flow Forecasting, Event Planning, Interviewing/Hiring, Quarterly Newsletter, Website/Database management, and lots more. This allowed me to get a feel for different lines of work which helped me decide the career path I would like to take in the future.
The workplace had a very friendly environment and was very professional at the same time. It was a great balance which helped me get my work done, stress free! My co-workers were also great people to have around to seek advice from and getting to know them over my work term was great. In conclusion, I highly recommend this job to students who are self-motivated, responsible, and are willing to try and learn new things!
Elizabeth Elliott, Summer 2007
While working at EDN in the summer of 2007 I gained experience that will be valuable to me throughout my career and worked in an environment that could not have been more inviting or inspiring. This is a work term that is well suited to student development as there are a variety of tasks from many different areas of academic concentration. As the Project Coordinator for EDN, some of my routine tasks included payroll, a quarterly newsletter, website development, and research projects (amongst others). These activities were a great learning experience and provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge beyond my Human Resources major. This work term was very valuable to me as well because I was invited to participate in the complete hiring process for the subsequent Project Coordinator. Since this project was directly related to staffing, an area of special interest for me, I learned a great deal from this experience and appreciated the special consideration that Brian gave to this interest.
I would definitely recommend this position to another Co-op student because it was such a positive experience for me. I think that any person who has the initiative and desire to take on new tasks and have freedom in their work would thoroughly enjoy this placement. I think this would be an especially good work term for new Co-Op students because the work environment is very welcoming and not intimidating so it is a good way to be introduced into the work world. Overall, I had a very positive experience in this work term and any other student could achieve the same result if they are responsible and have initiative.
