One way to gain valuable “job” experience is by considering an internship with a company or organization. An internship—which is generally performed on an unpaid basis—is an excellent way in which to gain the experience required to qualify for permanent employment. It is also an excellent means by which the intern may create networks—contacts who might be able to recommend him/her for employment opportunities.

In Canada, there are many websites offering volunteer work or business-sponsored internships. Two such sites are Volunteer Canada at: http://www.volunteer.ca and CareerEdge at: http://overview.careeredge.ca. In addition to these sites, the provincial governments and federal government list volunteer opportunities with many of their departments and, in the private sector, many large corporations also have internship opportunities in place.

Many opportunities exist in diverse fields. For example, if your interest is in counselling, you might want to contact religious organizations, philanthropic organizations, and social service agencies. In addition to these, municipalities and local chambers of commerce groups are quite often looking for civic-minded individuals.

If your interest is in the medical field, try hospital departments such as an oncology day-centre. The medical professionals you meet—as well as the patients you assist—may very well be able to put you in touch with potential employers.

If communications or marketing is your desired field, try applying to radio and television stations, especially local and community broadcasting enterprises and/or community newspapers.

ICS Canada offers its students a Work-Experience Option. This consists of a set of forms which validate the student as an individual completing a practicum. The student presents the forms to a company or organization and if the company or organization agrees to intern the student, it then uses the guidelines on the Work Experience Option forms to rate the student’s performance. The student may send the completed forms to the school where they are kept on file. Not only may the student gain the work-experience necessary to compete on the job-market, but he/she may have made a valuable connection through the employer.

Source: Michael Savich, Instructor, ICS Canada