Every strong career, like every great building, starts with a solid foundation. For many administrative assistant students, that foundation is poured at the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC), where practicum placements are giving students the hands-on experience, mentorship, and confidence to build careers that rise far beyond the construction site.

Just ask Harleen Kaur (pictured above), who went from Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) practicum student to full-time Program Assistant at MCSC. She now helps train the next wave of practicum students.

“I came to Canada as an international student,” said Kaur, originally from India. “I was facing something totally new. I came with just two suitcases, and was adjusting to a new system and a new culture. It was a challenge, but the key was staying focused and open to opportunities.”

One of those opportunities came when she was placed at MCSC for her practicum.

“That practicum experience changed a lot of things for me. It gave me my first real exposure to a Canadian workplace,” she said. “The staff are all really kind and support you in your growth, especially Executive Director Carol Paul. She’s very experienced and passionate about the work that we do. When she offered me a job following my practicum, I gladly took it.”

Today, Kaur keeps MCSC’s projects and training programs running smoothly, while also mentoring new practicum students walking the same path she once did.

“I enjoy guiding our practicum students,” added Kaur. “Many of them are international students just like I was. I understand where they’re coming from professionally and personally. I know how much it means to get hands-on experience. I want to see them succeed and land jobs when they leave the practicum.”

They’ve been doing exactly that. Many of the students Kaur has trained have gone on to secure permanent positions. 

Take Nina Chen for example. She came to Canada from China and now works as an administrative assistant at Terrace Property Maintenance Ltd.

“During my practicum, I learned a lot,” said Chen. “I attended a lot of MCSC activities, helped prepare materials for several construction training sessions, and assisted with general presentations. It helped me to know what a real Canadian workplace is like. I’m more confident after I had my practicum there.”

Confidence, along with communication, was the foundation Chen needed.

“The most important thing I learned at MCSC is communication skills,” she said. “Harleen was really supportive and helpful too. She graduated from the same program as me and encouraged me to speak a lot and be confident. I was able to learn a lot about the conversations people have in a workplace here. ”

Karla Belen, another former MITT practicum student who immigrated to Canada from the Phillipines, became the MCSC program assistant and later the MCSC conference coordinator. Karla turned her experience into a launchpad for a career in the Manitoba Government’s Department of Health.

“Through my practicum, I learned the importance of accuracy and attention to detail in administrative tasks, as well as how to manage multiple responsibilities at once,” Belen said. “I also gained confidence in using Microsoft Office programs, developed stronger organizational skills, and saw firsthand how administrative support contributes to the success of training programs and projects.”

Those lessons have been crucial in her current role as she supports staffing and HR processes like onboarding and offboarding, coordinating flexible work agreements, and managing everything from staff contact lists to travel bookings.   

Now, Belen would like to continue her education in human resources and has her sights set on leadership. 

“Long term, I would like to grow into leadership positions that allow me to contribute to both people and organizational strategies,” she noted.

Three women. Three different career paths. One common starting point: a practicum placement at MCSC that turned potential into progress.

Clearly, administrative assistant practicum students aren’t just learning how to file or format at MCSC.  They leave with skills, confidence, and connections that stretch far beyond construction.

It shows that when you build the right foundation – even with just two suitcases and a dream –  there’s no limit to what you can construct.