For the Fort McMurray Giants, baseball is more than a game\u2014it\u2019s about community, connection, and creating opportunities. This summer, those opportunities extended off the field thanks to a partnership with CAREERS: The Next Generation, which brought local student Joshua Omeje onto the team as a social media intern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General Manager Josh Iannetti says the decision to work with CAREERS came at the perfect time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were looking for people to help out with our social media content for the summer,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe were working closely with a local company in town, and they suggested that CAREERS was a good option to hire some local talent that are skilled in this trade. It was very appealing to find a younger generation to help us capture the beautiful ballpark we have and highlight the players and the talent we bring here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Giants, content has become as important as the game itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen in the last few years, especially after COVID, content has been crazy,\u201d Iannetti says. \u201cContent is king. It\u2019s a way to reach people, and at the end of the day, we want to pack these stands as much as we possibly can. With guys like Joshua, they\u2019ve been helping us out big time, bringing these people in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joshua quickly proved to be a great fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis summer, his ability to learn stood out,\u201d says Iannetti. \u201cI would tell him what I need, and he would take it and just use his creative mind. He jumped on, got to know the players super quick, and was willing to learn and take advice on how we wanted to portray the Giants. He did a fantastic job with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Joshua, the internship was more than just managing accounts\u2014it was about creativity, teamwork, and gaining real-world experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d always heard a lot about CAREERS, and I always wanted to try it. When I finally did, it was really smooth. The application process wasn\u2019t hard, and the information sessions helped me out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A typical game day started around 5 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019d talk about what we were going to do for the day, maybe start editing a video for the Giants, or work on a clip, montage, or graphic,\u201d Joshua explains. \u201cWe\u2019d ask the players what the question of the day is for one of our main media segments, then edit it out. During the game, we\u2019d record clips to capture the fan experience, the mascot, or anything fun happening in the crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The role gave Joshua the chance to refine his creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a creative person, but sometimes I don\u2019t know where to start,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Giants helped me channel it into something where I could actually have results with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That growth was exactly what Iannetti had hoped for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever happens this season, I just wanted him to have fun, get to know the guys, and become friends with them. It was almost immediate, the impact he had on the team and with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Joshua, the experience reignited an old interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI tried content creation a bit when I was younger and kind of put it away, but coming to the Giants relit the fire. They taught me a lot\u2014things I can carry into the future. Content creation is such a big skill nowadays, and I could really see myself doing something further with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although his main career focus is engineering, Joshua sees potential in blending both paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEngineering is my main, but I could definitely see content creation on the side or even blending the two. This experience really opened my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the way, Joshua developed essential skills that will serve him no matter where his career takes him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommunication with your team, meeting deadlines, and building a work ethic to always do your best,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you give me an idea, I can create that for you. I\u2019ve learned a lot of different ways to be creative and to work on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That adaptability impressed Iannetti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe proof\u2019s in the pudding, the content he put out this summer speaks for itself. If I were looking for someone to produce content, I\u2019d hire him. I\u2019d love to have him back in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joshua says what made the difference was the support he felt from the Giants\u2019 leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJosh is the best. He\u2019s very hands-on, but he doesn\u2019t put too much pressure on you because he believes in you. If I had a question, I could text him and he\u2019d always respond. He honestly cares, and that makes it easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking back, Joshua calls this \u201cthe best job I\u2019ve worked so far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recommends CAREERS to his friends without hesitation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt gives you a lot of experience. They work well to match you with your skill set, and even if it\u2019s not your exact skill set, you learn so much. I really recommend it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Iannetti, the partnership with CAREERS was seamless and effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been more simple. They had candidates for me within two weeks of contacting them. From the onboarding process to hiring the intern, it was a no-brainer. If you get the right people on board, it benefits your organization and shows the community you\u2019re hiring local talent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He sees internships like this as a win for everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible to help them grow. Sometimes you try one direction and realize it\u2019s not for you, but for Joshua, it seems like this is what he wants to do in university and for the rest of his career. Getting his foot in the door and seeing how much he enjoys it has been fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Joshua, it was about more than a summer job\u2014it was about finding his place, building confidence, and realizing new possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was so nervous when I first came, but everyone made it smooth. I just fit in really well,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m definitely going to keep pursuing content creation, graphic design, and my education. This experience has opened a lot of doors.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the Fort McMurray Giants, baseball is more than a game\u2014it\u2019s about community, connection, and creating opportunities. This summer, those opportunities extended off the field thanks to a partnership with CAREERS: The Next Generation, which brought local student Joshua Omeje onto the team as a social media intern. A Timely Partnership General Manager Josh Iannetti […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":21232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[325],"tags":[330,352,108,105,329,231,230,150],"class_list":["post-21231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apprenticeship","tag-careers","tag-hands-on-experience","tag-internship","tag-mechanical-trades","tag-rap","tag-registered-apprenticeship-program","tag-skilled-trades","tag-student-internship"],"yoast_head":"\n