Recognized as one of Alberta's Top Employers (2021):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Jan 25, 2021)
Here are some of the reasons why NorQuest College was selected as one of Alberta's Top Employers (2021):
- NorQuest College helps employees balance work and their personal lives with a variety of flexible work options and up to 10 paid personal days, which can be scheduled throughout the year
- NorQuest College offers wellness-related programming and resources to help employees prioritize their health and well-being, including annual health clinic assessments, weekly massage therapy appointments, mental health breaks, a life planning workbook and fitness challenges -- additionally, employees have access to a mental health practitioner benefit of up to $1,500 as part of the college's benefits plan
- NorQuest College takes a thoughtful approach when helping employees manage unexpected challenges, offering compassionate leave top-up for those called upon to care for a loved one (to 100 per cent of salary for up to four weeks)

NorQuest College staff attended the organization's downtown campus block party in 2019
Highlights
Industry | Post-secondary education |
Established in Canada | 1965 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Whitecourt AB, Drayton Valley AB, Wetaskiwin AB, Edmonton AB |
Full-time employees in Canada | 800 |
Part-time employees in Canada | 309 |
Average age of employees in Canada | 43.75 years |
Longest serving employee | 35.49 years |
Benefits note | NorQuest College has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position |
Long-term savings | defined-benefit (DB) pension |
Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 62% of the premiums |
Health spending account | up to $747 each year |
Flexible work options | flexible work hours, shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, telecommuting |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Outside survey period | outside consultant surveys are held every 24 months |
Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 12 months |
In-house training initiatives | in-house training, online training, leadership training, mentoring |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Employee charitable involvement | employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
COVID-19
Pandemic response | provided computer and office equipment from campus to enable work-from-home arrangements, daily video updates from leadership as well as email communications, introduced Mental Health Tuesdays for one month with a registered psychologist, created online community support groups to help families adapt to home schooling, share information on wellness and home office set up, and help employees stay connected |
The Career Directory
NorQuest College has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.

Vanyelle Behr, a graduate of NorQuest College, works as an instructor in the college's pharmacy technician program
Highlights for New Grads
Industry | Post-secondary education |
Full-time employees in Canada | 751 to 1,000 |
Major Canadian hiring locations | Whitecourt AB, Drayton Valley AB, Wetaskiwin AB, Edmonton AB |
Student opportunities | summer jobs |
Training | subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training |
Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
Typical new grad positions | Administrative Assistant, Administrator, Curriculum Designer, Social Worker, Student Advisor, Institutional Research Analyst, Business Analyst, Desktop Specialist, Circulation Technician, Library Services Assistant, Instructor, Human Resources Assistant, Graphic Designer |
Starting salary | $55K to $60K |
Work benefits | health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, transit subsidies, employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
Vacation allowance | new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job |
Academic fields recruited
-
Bachelor of Arts
- Business
- Criminology
- Economics
- English
- Human Resources
- Journalism
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Relations / Communications
- Recreation Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
-
Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Hotel / Food Services
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Public Administration
-
Bachelor of Education
- Adult
- Counselling
- Early Childhood
- Physical & Health
- Special Needs
-
Bachelor of Engineering
- Agriculture
- Computer Engineering
- Environmental
- Forestry
-
Bachelor of Science
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Anthropology
- Computer Science
- Environmental
- Forestry
- Health Sciences
- Immunology
- Information Studies / Library Science
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry / Ophthalmology
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Speech Pathology
-
Community College Diploma
- Accounting
- Advertising
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Audio/Video Technician
- Business
- Child Care / Education
- Chiropody / Podiatry
- Communications / Public Relations
- Computer Science
- Cooking / Chef Training
- Facility Management
- Financial Planning
- Forestry
- Graphic Arts / Design
- Health Care Aide (HCA)
- Health Sciences (Other)
- Hospitality
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Journalism
- Laboratory Technician
- Marketing / Sales
- Nursing (RN)
- Nursing (RNA / RPN)
- Office Administration
- Pharmacy Technician
- Purchasing / Logistics
- Radiation Therapy
- Recreation Studies
- Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy
- Respiratory Therapy
- Secretarial
- Social Worker / DSW
- TV/Radio Arts / Broadcast
-
Doctorate (Arts)
- Economics
- English
- French
- Geography
- History
- Languages (Other)
- Music
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
-
Doctorate (Education)
- Administration
- Teaching
-
Doctorate (Eng.)
- Telecommunications
-
Doctorate (Science)
- Audiology
- Computer Science
- Environmental
- Health Sciences
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Speech Pathology
-
Master of Arts
- Criminology
- Economics
- English
- History
- Human Resources
- Journalism
- Languages (Other)
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Relations
- Recreation Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
-
Master of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Public Administration
-
Master of Education
- Administration
- Counselling
- Teaching
-
Master of Engineering
- Agriculture
- Computer Engineering
- Environmental
- Forestry
-
Master of Science
- Agriculture / Horticulture
- Computer Science
- Environmental
- Forestry
- Health Sciences
- Information Studies / Library Science
- Nursing / Health Administration
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
- Speech Pathology
-
Professional Accreditation
- Accounting (CA)
- Accounting (CGA)
- Accounting (CMA)
- Cisco Certifications
- Financial Planning (CFP, FMA)
- Financial Securities (CSC)
- Human Resources (CHRP, CEBS)
- Microsoft Certifications
- Novell Certifications
- Other Business / Technical/ Industry Certifications
- Purchasing Management (PMAC, CPP)
- Quality Assurance (TQM)
-
Secondary Education
- High School Diploma
Recruits at these schools
- MacEwan University
- NorQuest College
- University of Alberta