From Classroom to Career | Stefanie Fylypchuk

Like many university students nearing graduation, Stefanie Fylypchuk knew she wanted more than a degree — she wanted confidence that her studies would translate into a real career. Enrolled at the University of British Columbia and studying human resources, the 23-year-old Vancouverite was looking to test what she was learning in the classroom against the realities of the workplace.  

That’s why a co-op placement was her natural next step. 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 Stefanie, the program supported a practical bridge between academic theory and professional practice, as well as a turning point that led directly to full-time employment at Teck Resources.

Turning theory into practice  

Teck’s large and diverse HR department offered exposure to multiple specializations — from performance management to compensation — providing a clearer picture of how HR functions within a complex organization. It was also Stefanie’s first opportunity to learn more about Canada’s mining sector, an industry she had not previously explored.

The shift from classroom learning to hands-on work was both immediate and eye-opening. While university courses rely on lectures, assignments and exams, Stefanie quickly found that the workplace demands a different kind of learning. Applying HR concepts in real time, coordinating projects and collaborating with teams across the company helped her understand how theory becomes practice.  

Like many students entering a professional environment for the first time, confidence was an early challenge for Stefanie. As the youngest and least experienced person in the room, speaking up in meetings didn’t come easily at first. Over time, however, mentorship and encouragement from her team helped her realize that her perspective was valued — not despite her being a student, but because of it.

That confidence grew alongside her understanding of the role, and soon she found herself taking more initiative and contributing ideas more freely. “The experience transformed how I saw my own capabilities and my future.”

The project that changed everything

One particular co-op project became a defining moment: Coordinating Teck’s application for the Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition. The process was extensive, involving input from teams across the organization, and the outcome carried real stakes.

Leading that effort gave Stefanie a front-row seat to the work HR does behind the scenes, much of which is invisible to employees but critical to shaping workplace culture and experience. Watching the application come together confirmed not only that HR was the right field, but that she valued the impact the work could have on people’s day-to-day experience at a company. Having already performed many of the responsibilities listed in entry-level HR job postings, Stefanie felt confident in her qualifications and her direction.

Today, she continues her career at Teck, carrying forward the clarity and confidence gained through co-op. More than just work experience, the program helped her confirm what she enjoys, narrow her career focus, and take her first professional steps with purpose.

Her advice to other students is simple: “Treat co-op as a chance to explore. Try different roles, stay open to new opportunities, and say ‘yes’ as much as possible. That experience helps you discover where you truly belong.”

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).

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