An online resume posting service is making waves at Algonquin. The Online Graduate Referral System (OGRS), established on Jan. 3, has attracted attention from students, graduates and alumni.

The service is designed to help students find a job in their field and can be found on the Student Employment website through the college website. This online service has made it easier for students to access employment opportunities and has created a simple and easier way for applicants to get information about a particular business.

Joanne McDonald, an employer relations officer for Employment Services, suggests this was the best
move the college could have made, as it is a friendly environment for the students because they know what to expect from the site. “It’s a familiar network for them,” said McDonald. “It gives the students a choice. Students like their ACSIS. And it’s free.”

Troy Bronzan, a graduate of the computer engineering program, said he did not have any doubts about finding a job online. Since Bronzan is in the high-tech field, he says it is quite uncommon to find a company who does not post jobs online.

“Some larger companies require you to create an account and upload your resume on their site so they can look at it when they are looking for people for open positions,” wrote Bronzan in an e- mail. “OGRS automatically forwards your resume to companies that match your skill and experience criteria, so it helps save a student’s time.”

“The job I was just hired for came through an automatic referral by OGRS.” Marilyn Stratton-Zimmer, director of Student Services, said that having OGRS up and running is a dream come true and Student Services now has a record number of clients. “It is a service that has been customized to meet our very own Algonquin needs,” wrote Stratton- Zimmer in an e-mail.

“The job I was just hired for came through an automatic referral by OGRS.” Troy Bronzan Computer engineering graduate No other Ontario college has such a system and Student Services, as well as the rest of the college, is proud of that, added Stratton-Zimmer.

“We are very lucky to have had the assistance of many talented people in ITS (Information Technology Services) to help us realize our vision.” The ITS department will continue to bring the college improvements and enhance the site to give better quality service to clientele. “I think students like it,” said McDonald. We’ve gotten positive results and the students have the luxury of logging on to look for work.”