Resource extraction and development is big business in Canada, and it’s impossible to think of petroleum in this country without also thinking of the Alberta Oil Sands. As the largest petroleum company in Canada, Suncor Energy is a major player in oil sands development. With refineries in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Colorado, as well as on and offshore oil and natural gas exploration operations, they have a diverse portfolio.

In addition to exploration, extraction, and refining of petroleum, Suncor owns the Petro-Canada commercial gas chain, with over 1,500 stations across the country. The company also produces oil-based lubricants that are sold in over 70 countries.

As an integrated energy company, Suncor has also invested in wind power, with six projects operating in Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the combined output of which equals enough to power 100,000 homes. In the realm of bio-fuels, the company opened their St. Clair Ethanol Plant in Ontario in 2006, the largest of its kind in Canada.

Why Suncor is different

The diversity of its interests speaks to the varied nature of Suncor’s business structure and its need for creative problem solvers. 

“I think as an organization we’re very appealing, because we’re leading our industry in innovative environmental technology,” says Stephanie Ryan, director of talent acquisition for Suncor Energy “When young employees come into our company, they’re given challenging work and can oftentimes be working on interesting, high profile projects, where they are encouraged to contribute. It’s meaningful, important work for early in a career.”

As the company grows, there’s opportunity for new grads to grow with it. “We pay well for top talent and there’s a lot of opportunity for the qualified, talented people we’re looking for,” says Ryan. The importance of the work is crucial in Ryan’s mind. “We’re focused on developing a resource that’s fundamental to North America and to our lifestyle. Being a part of something so fundamental to our economy is appealing.”

Why you’ll love Suncor

It can be hard to know how to begin one’s career path, but companies like Suncor take steps to ease that process. “We have a highly developed student and new grad program,” says Ryan. “We provide young people with strong leadership and mentorship. We have senior professionals in the organization who act as mentors, so there’s opportunity to speak with people firmly established in similar careers.” 

Part of that guidance takes the form of career development opportunities. Suncor’s engineering training program allows new grads the opportunity to rotate through various areas of the business. Above all, it’s about helping employees find their place at Suncor. “We try to make sure it’s a good fit for the individual as well as the organization, so that they can see themselves with a long-term career here,” says Ryan.

How to apply

The best way to apply for a job with Suncor is to go to their website and click on careers. “We post all of our student and new grad opportunities online, so we encourage anyone who’s interested to create a profile on the site,” says Ryan. Timing is everything, which is why Ryan suggests interested applicants check back regularly. “We typically hire new grads in September and January for May and August start dates, but we do have opportunities that open up throughout the year.”

For the full list of Canada's top employers for young people, click here.