Trafalgar students, Susan W. and Jane C., earned internship positions at Hannover Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurance groups, as part of our Traf First program.
Wanting to learn more about careers in general, what it’s like to work in an office and what possible jobs are out there for those interested in studying math and commerce in university, were just some of the things that piqued the girls’ interest in this opportunity.
There are not a lot of opportunities for high school students to spend a week in a downtown Toronto office talking one-on-one with executives about what it takes to be successful. Thanks to Joanne Bradley, a Grade 7 parent at Trafalgar, this is exactly how Jane, Grade 11, and Susan, Grade 12, spent their March Break.
Joanne is on the senior leadership team at Hannover Re and knew she would be able to host this new Traf First program and craft an unforgettable experience for the girls. “We developed a really healthy schedule for them, I wanted them to have a bit of everything,” says Joanne. “This industry is still a very male-dominated industry too, so I made sure to get a video conference set up with the CEO of our UK outfit – a woman who can speak to her path of getting to a very senior role.”
While at Hannover Re, Jane and Susan were given hands-on projects and job shadowed with professionals in marketing, digital strategy, underwriting and more to find out how they got into their fields and what their day-to-day work looks like. They worked on resume writing and were able to do a mock interview with feedback from a top HR professional – it was a truly fulsome experience and a really valuable week.
Coincidentally, during their time at Hannover Re, there were a number of university co-op students working in the office as well. So our Trafalgar students were able to ask questions about university life, what the workload is like and strategies for success.
What an incredibly unique and valuable experience for two high school students just starting to consider their post-secondary studies and career direction. Thank you to Joanne and Hannover Re for making this opportunity possible!
If you’re interested in hosting an intern in the future, please contact Sheila Street, Director of Advancement.