PCJ Interns Urged to Make Good Use of Opportunity
By: , July 10, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Donald Delahaye
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hillary Alexander (centre), and Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Human Resources Manager, Kirk Johnson (right), share a moment with the 10 participants in the PCJ’s Graduate Internship Programme, at the launch on July 8, at the PCJ Auditorium, New Kingston.The Facts
- The brainchild of PCJ’s Group General Manager, Winston Watson, the internship programme was undertaken in recognition of the challenges currently facing tertiary level school leavers, who are searching for employment.
- The objective is to engage talented, qualified graduates, providing them with exposure to the corporate world and experience in their chosen professions.
The Full Story
The first cohort of 10 interns participating in the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s (PCJ) Graduate Internship Programme, have been urged to make full use of the on-the- job training.
“Grasp this chance that PCJ has given you, grasp it very generously with both hands. Let it teach you and let it guide you,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM), Hillary Alexander.
She was speaking at the official launch of the programme on July 8 at the PCJ Auditorium on Trafalgar Road, New Kingston.
The brainchild of PCJ’s Group General Manager, Winston Watson, the internship programme was undertaken in recognition of the challenges currently facing tertiary level school leavers, who are searching for employment.
The objective is to engage talented, qualified graduates, providing them with exposure to the corporate world and experience in their chosen professions. It is targeted at persons 21 years and over.
There were more than 200 applicants for positions in the company in the areas of accounting and financing, auditing, engineering, geology, media and communication, law and human resource management. Of that number, 40 persons were shortlisted and 10 chosen.
PCJ Human Resources (HR) Manager, Kirk Johnson, said in selecting the candidates “we can’t just look for those traits and competences that the normal HR practitioner would look for”.
“We had to go far and wide and look at what were you involved with at school, what club or society, what contribution you made outside of just your academic pursuits. Those also helped as a determining factor for those selected,” he noted.
With over $11 million allocated to the programme, the interns will serve for one year and paid a monthly salary with health insurance and other benefits.
One of the interns in the finance and accounting department, Nakia Williams, thanked the board of directors of the company on behalf of the other participants, for the opportunity afforded to them.