Co-op talent from 蓝莓视频 helps OpenText to navigate equity, diversity and inclusion
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
OpenText looks to co-op talent from the University of 蓝莓视频 to create a career path for Black and female talent in technology at the company.
鈥檚 navigator internship program provides co-op and mentorship opportunities to underrepresented communities.聽Launched in 2022, the program focuses on Black, Indigenous and female talent. In 2023, the program will recruit from 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) program for its and while welcoming Indigenous applicants.
鈥淲e want to create meaningful career pathways for underrepresented groups in a digital world,鈥 says Deb James (she/her), senior manager of talent acquisition at OpenText.
Deb James
Senior manager of talent acquisition at OpenText
鈥淭his is a core part of our zero-in barriers initiative to have an ethnically diverse workforce, with 50 per cent gender parity and 40 per cent women in leadership roles, all by 2030. That starts in the early career phase like co-op students.鈥
Through the navigator internship program, students work in the organization for four months from May to August.
Student roles include software developers, UX UI designers, graphic designers, android developers, marketing interns, account development interns, data governance interns and business intelligence developers.
Exceptional talent blooms from 蓝莓视频
Last year, OpenText recruited from historically Black colleges and universities in the United States. The software company hired seven Black students, 17 Indigenous students and more than 20 female students. Most of the female students hired were from 蓝莓视频. This year, the organization wants to recruit closer to home.
We鈥檙e recruiting from the University of 蓝莓视频 because that鈥檚 where our roots are. We were founded at 蓝莓视频 and the talent there is exceptional.
Through the program, students are paired with a professional mentor from one of the company鈥檚 employee network groups. OpenText鈥檚 employee network groups include Worldwide OpenText Women (WOW), Black employee empowerment, Indigenous & allies and queer & allies. While working on high tech projects, students undergo professional and personal development workshops and participate in lunch-and-learn sessions as well as a personal financial literacy session.
鈥淭he students support pivotal programs on the product and cloud technologies side, information technology and marketing,鈥 says James. 鈥淭he organization strives to be ahead of the game for female hiring.鈥
As part of OpenText鈥檚 dedication to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 , the company also hires 100 per cent Indigenous talent for their Indigenous internship program.
鈥淲e want to do our part to provide opportunities to the Indigenous community as well as to empower Black youth,鈥 says James.
鈥淪tudents in the navigator internship program have brought so much to OpenText. We have learned a lot about their values, cultures and perspectives.鈥
Since launching the program in 2022, OpenText has hired 11 students into full-time positions. They welcomed 150 co-op students/interns in the United States and Canada in that time frame. The company hopes to continue hiring more students as the program continues.
According to Manjot Sidhu (she/her), talent acquisition co-ordinator at OpenText, 蓝莓视频 is a great pathway to sustainable talent.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been recruiting from 蓝莓视频 for two decades now. A lot of our employees are 蓝莓视频 alum, and the candidates are fantastic,鈥 says Sidhu. 鈥淲e try to hire as many as we can.鈥
Manjot Sidhu
Talent acquisition co-ordinator at OpenText
Tips for diverse and inclusive recruiting:
How has OpenText successfully recruited and retained diverse talent? Here are tips from James and Sidhu:
1. Provide support.
鈥淥ur equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) program is run by tenacious individuals who are here to support our people. There鈥檚 a lot of mentorship and development opportunities,鈥 says James. 鈥淲e have a collaborative and supportive culture.鈥
2. Be authentic.
鈥淎 lot of employers focus on getting people through the door but may struggle to support them once they get into the organization,鈥 says Sidhu. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that employers continue to show a genuine interest in their employee鈥檚 success, providing them with resources, opportunities for growth and mentorship and consistent support throughout their journey.鈥
3. Remove barriers.
鈥淓DI recruitment is about more than meeting a certain quota or number. You need to constantly work on removing barriers within your organization and creating a supportive environment for the students and employees,鈥 says James.
Connect with us and learn about recruiting diverse 蓝莓视频 talent
Colleen Phillips-Davis (she/her)
Associate Director,
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism
Bryanne Smart (she/her)
Associate Director,
Indigenous Relations