Kickstart your career with the FIRST Jobs Program by Technology Alberta​

With multiple program pathways, there are plenty of work-integrated learning opportunities available for you. Find your FIRST Job in Alberta's tech sector!

Purpose of the Program

Alberta’s technology companies are looking for students and new graduates in areas including business, arts, science, and technology

The FIRST (First Industry Research Science Technology) Jobs program offers a  meaningful work experience for a current student or recent graduate of an Alberta post-secondary institution while supporting the growth of Alberta’s SME Tech Sector.

Weekly relevant professional development sessions are provided in the context of the workplace and are offered as a vehicle to enhance workplace performance – both for the young professionals and for the companies themselves. Recognition of completion certificates is provided to those who complete all the required sessions.

Applicant Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the FIRST Jobs Program:
  • You must be a current student or recent graduate (within the past 6 months) from an accredited Alberta post-secondary institution
  • You must have previously set up your LinkedIn Profile (putting in your best efforts) in order to complete the application form (and be seen as of interest to employers)
  • You must be an Alberta resident
  • You must be over the age of 18
Applicants NOT eligible for funding:
  • Individuals who have previous working relationships with the Tech Company that they are applying to

  • Individuals who have previously completed the First Jobs Program or Next Level Careers Program

The FIRST Jobs Program

6 Easy Steps

Step 1

Apply to the program

(In the period where applications are open)

Step 2

Review pre-program session materials

Step 3

Apply for projects posting from the participating companies

Step 4

Interview for project positions with employers

Step 5

The top candidates begin their work term as part-time contractors

Step 6

Professional Development Sessions are offered over the entire term

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no quota assigned for any university or region in Alberta. The assessment will be based on the candidate’s profile and the employer interview, although the program will be managed to encourage province-wide participation.

The complete company list will be made available directly to eligible participants, or posted online. Past Companies who have participated can be found on the “Past Programs” tab.

International students are eligible to apply if participation does not put them over their allowed weekly work hours. Please check your visa to confirm your work eligibility.

The work hours timing will depend on the participating company, but there is likely to be 2-4 hours/week that will need to occur from 9-5PM:

  • Employers will discuss this during the time of the interview (and potentially post with the job posting). Since part of the value of the program is your interaction with the company’s team – you should be prepared to have some time available during standard working hours. Depending on the company’s work schedule, working on weekends may or may not be allowed.
  • Also, the FIRST Jobs program will have 1 hour/week sessions where Technology Alberta provides programming/professional development sessions that are required to attend.

Since this program includes working remotely, your current location is independent of the location of the company, provided you are residing in Alberta. However, the program is interested in providing candidates Alberta job opportunities in their desired place of permanent employment, in order to help candidates develop their future job prospects and networks.

This would depend on the participating company. They will inform the candidate if there will be any such additional requirements, and all companies realize that the jobs will need to be completed remotely in a short-period of time – therefore setup needs are kept minimal.

Not unless you are under-employed (ie. unless you are currently working in a temporary job that isn’t in line with your chosen profession/education background). This program is designed to connect unemployed or underemployed Alberta residents with tech companies who may be able to provide a path to future employment in a field of interest.

If you have previously held a position through a Technology Alberta Jobs Program (ie. a past FIRST Jobs cohort, and/or NExT Level Careers), you are not eligible for additional funding.  A student may be funded for only one position through the Technology Alberta Jobs Program. 

The program is not limited to any specific university major. It is open to diverse areas including, but not limited to, science, business, education, arts, and many more fields that could be of interest to technology companies.

Thanks for your interest. You are advised to refer to interview preparation tips, improve your LinkedIn Profile, learn more about Alberta’s tech sector (through Technology Alberta.ca and other association websites) and other resources on our website to prepare for the interview and remote work. 

Thanks for your interest. You are advised to refer to interview preparation tips, improve your LinkedIn Profile, learn more about Alberta’s tech sector (through Technology Alberta.ca and other association websites) and other resources on our website to prepare for the interview and remote work. 

For FIRST Jobs Programs (Cohorts 2 and greater: (Summer 2021 forward)) – participants must be a current or recent (within 6 months of graduation) Alberta post-secondary student and Alberta Resident. There are no age stipulations, other than being 18 or older. The individual also should be currently un-employed, or under-employed.

The program runs for 20 weeks – with approx 10 hours/week of work experience directly with the company, and one hour in weekly Professional Development Sessions.

This field is intended to identify companies you are interested in, not only to participating companies. Refer to Technology Alberta’s ABTEC companies for examples or write any Alberta technology company of your interest.  This will help the program staff focus any recruiting efforts for company participants, and may help ensure that there are companies that interest you in the final list. 

Technology Alberta will provide a template for a brief report to be submitted twice during the program period (halfway and at the completion of the program). In addition to this, any company-required deliverables should be discussed during the interview with the company – and will be confirmed through your discussion with the company at the commencement of the project work-term.

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