TSIP TALK

Unbelievable how time flies! seems like it was only yesterday we were rounding up our 2017 summer interns for a photo shoot and talking to them about the experience, which we highlighted in this news release. The batch had high praises for the programme and the people they worked with, particularly those who got the chance to work at TPDCo and learn more about the tourism product.

We have seen how valuable this programme is, as such the Tourism Summer Internship Programme (TSIP) has been fused with the Housing Opportunity Production and Employment (HOPE) programme to allow even more young people to gain work experience during the summer months of July and August. This year, 50 million dollars have been allocated to assist nearly 2000 students between the ages 16 and 25 to immerse themselves in the world of work and learn about some of what tourism has to offer.

In our “TSIP Talk” blog series, we will be introducing you to some of our interns, for you to get first-hand information about their experience and their hopes and dreams.

Our first intern is 19 year old Candice Scott, a tall and lean bubbly girl who expressed with glee that it was a family member who encouraged her to apply. She was placed at our headquarters in Kingston and was put to task in record management. Although somewhat unrelated to her Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Candice is grateful for the opportunity, as she is now able to develop her organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills.

“I was able to add to the efficiency of the HR department’s record management systems” she says and with her outgoing personality, was happy to know that her time here allowed her to interact with the many interesting and friendly people employed at TPDCo. She learnt from them, she says and was able to make adjustments in her own academic and personal life, using their expert advice.

When asked about the benefits of TSIP, Candice had words of advice for participants, encouraging them to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available through engagements with co-workers. “Do this as much as possible,” she said.

As it relates to her future, Candice hopes to be making the steps towards starting her own business and believes that the most important task to achieving that goal is time management (which she has improved since pursuing her internship) This way, she says, one won’t be distracted from achieving their goals.

Other students like Candice are not only learning how to function in a work place, they are getting real life experiences, and are learning to develop their inter-personal skills, which is necessary to propel them to becoming outstanding citizens of our society.