Generally speaking, an internship is a pre-professional work term that provides students, recent graduates and those seeking to change career paths, with an opportunity to gain experience in a particular field. In today’s competitive job market, such an experience would lend well for students to market themselves more aggressively to future employers.
Benefits
Internship provides the following benefits:
- Gaining hands-on experience and build marketable or transferable skills to get a job in the future.
- A chance to test the waters in a variety of career fields and decide if this is the right career for you.
- Learning what your dream industry or field or company is like.
- Providing opportunities to network, link with mentors and people in your field.
Finding the Right Internship
Securing an internship should be treated in the same way as obtaining a full-time job. The foundation of successful career planning is sound exploration of your interests, values, skills, and goals. Internships can be competitive and the recruitment process should be taken seriously. Finding the internship that is right for you requires patience, research and a plan of action.
Steps to find an internship: Interactive Guide to Finding an Internship
Books available at CaPS: Recommended Books
Internship Opportunities
Consider paying a visit to the following offices/websites for opportunities:
McGill Internship Offices Network (ION) - Contact Info- Faculty Internship Programs
Internship, co-op and practicum programs managed by your faculty/school. You can contact the program coordinators to learn how to participate in one of these programs. - Internship Opportunities
You can find a list of internship providers (on campus, national and international) and apply for opportunities available on their websites. - Internship Database
Available only to McGill students. Follow the login instruction to see a list of organizations offering internships. The database is searchable by location, discipline and study level. - Host Organizations in Montreal
A compilation of 100+ host organizations in the Montreal region that offer internship opportunities. The organizations are grouped by interests. - ION - More Opportunities
More internship opportunities. - Create Your Own Internship
If you would like to create your own internships, please visit Faculty of Arts Internship Program for more information.
Additional Resources
- myFuture - CaPS job and internship search tool
- More Internship Websites
Intern Abroad
If you are looking to intern abroad, consider these resources:
- Going Global
(VPN is required. Individual registration is highly recommended)
16 million worldwide job and internship listings, work permit information, sample resumes by country, and cultural advice. - The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas
(VPN and individual registration are required)
Articles and advice on how to apply for an internship abroad. Visit the resources listed in "PART 2 Acquiring Experience" for internship opportunities with UN, IGO and international internship providers. - International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)
A program for Canadian graduates (ages 19 - 30) to gain international experience, skills and knowledge for future employment. For a list of organizations/projects: Internship Programs
Financing Your Internship
Preparing for an unpaid internship requires financial planning. In addition to having to pay most, if not all, your expenses, some internships even charge fees. The following are links to a variety of funding sources:
- Faculty of Arts Internship Awards
Funding for both undergraduate and graduate students. - Graduate Student Internship Awards
Awards and funding opportunities for graduate interns. - Scholarship Programs
- Charity Village - Sources of Funding
- CaPS - External Scholarships Database
- COS Funding Opportunities (VPN is required)