From Classroom to Career | Sarah Lee
Sarah Lee:
When Sarah Lee joined Teck Resources as a co-op student supported by ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program in 2021, she didn’t arrive with a long-term plan for the mining sector. What she did have was curiosity, a business degree in progress at Simon Fraser University, and a desire to understand how her studies would translate into a real career.
Work-integrated learning (WIL) — a form of curricular experiential education, such as co-ops and internships, that integrate a student’s academic studies with quality workplace experiences — gave her that clarity. “I was considering a few different paths within business,” Sarah says. “Pursuing a co-op placement helped me figure out what I liked, what I didn’t, and where I actually wanted to focus my energy.”
Making learning feel real
Before entering the workforce, much of Sarah’s academic learning felt abstract. Concepts were interesting, but it wasn’t always clear how they would show up in day-to-day work. That changed quickly once she joined Teck’s recruitment team as a co-op student.
ICTC's Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program provides wage subsidies to employers across Canada’s critical sectors, helping post-secondary students gain meaningful paid work experience through opportunities like co-op placements while still in school. For students like Sarah, seeing theory applied in a professional setting reshaped how she approached her studies at a critical point. Returning to school after her co-op term, coursework felt more relevant and engaging. It was no longer something to complete, but something to understand. “It helped me see the bigger picture,” she explains. “Suddenly, classes made more sense because I could connect them to real situations I’d already experienced.”
Learning through exploration and elimination
Sarah’s co-op experience also gave her the freedom to test different career paths early. As a business student with interests spanning human resources and management information systems, she had explored more data-driven roles before joining Teck.
While she could perform the work, the experience helped her realize it wasn’t where she felt most fulfilled. “That was actually really valuable,” she says. “Co-op gave me a safe environment to try things, learn quickly, and move on without feeling like I’d made the wrong choice too late.”
Human resources — particularly work involving people, collaboration, and improving how systems function — emerged as the clear fit. After her initial co-op term, Sarah stayed on part-time while completing her degree, eventually transitioning into a full-time contract role and then permanent employment. She remained with the recruitment team for several years before moving into her current HR role.
Seeing the job market from both sides
Sarah’s experience came full circle when she later began recruiting co-op students herself. Having recently been in their position, she brought empathy and insight to the role, and gained a new appreciation for how competitive the job market can be.
Working in recruitment gave her visibility into how difficult it can be to secure early-career roles, even for strong candidates. That perspective has stayed with her. “I don’t take my career path for granted,” she says. “Seeing how competitive things are made me really appreciate the opportunity co-op gave me to transition internally.”
Looking back, Sarah is unequivocal in her advice: if work-integrated learning opportunities, like co-op placements, are an option, take it. “I truly don’t know if I’d be where I am today without it,” she says. “Work-integrated learning gives you space to learn, make mistakes, and figure out what you want before the stakes feel higher.”
Today, she continues to grow her career at Teck, supported by mentorship, resources, and ongoing conversations about what comes next. While she’s still exploring what the next five to 10 years may hold, she’s confident in the foundation she’s built.
About ICTC’s WIL Digital Program
ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program provides eligible Canadian employers with grants to subsidize up to 50 percent of a student’s salary over their term. The program takes place over three terms a year: Winter, Spring/Summer, and Fall. Since 2017, it has facilitated over 23,000 student placements with more than 4,000 employers across Canada, and over 65 percent of placed students identifying as belonging to underrepresented groups.
ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program is funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).
