Internships

At times it may be hard to find work that will give you the experience you need to land your dream job or to kick-start your career. Internships are a great way to gain work experience while working in your field of study.

The Basics:

  • As an intern, you work within an organization to learn about the work that is done there. Some internships are paid and some are unpaid.
  • Check with professional associations for internship opportunities in your field of study or interest. Visit the occupations page for a list of links to professional associations.
  • Visit your provincial or territorial government’s Web site for information on internship opportunities.
  • Ask around! Schools, career centers and the Internet can all be great resources for finding an internship opportunity.

Helpful Web Sites:

Government Internships

  • The Public Service Commission’s Post-secondary Co-op and Internship programs play an important role in providing post-secondary students with the relevant and practical work experience they need to fulfill the requirements of their academic program.
  • The Accelerated Economist Training Program provides Master's degree candidates, in any discipline, the opportunity to work alongside Canada's top decision-makers on a number of social, economic and international policy agendas.
  • The Management Trainee Program offered through the Canada Public Service Agency enables talented people, both inside and outside government, the opportunity to lead a representative and diversified public service into the future.

International Internships

  • The Canadian International Development Agency’s International Youth Internship Program provides unemployed or underemployed Canadian youth with an opportunity to gain work experience in their field of study in an international development context.
  • CANADEM offers three international internship programs to help young professionals gain work experience and promote, at the same time, governance, democratization, human security, sustainable development and human rights abroad.
  • The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) offers international volunteering and internship opportunities in world development.
  • Carrefour de solidarité internationale (CSI) (French language only) sends youth between the ages of 18 and 35 to countries in Africa and Latin America for an average of two months to participate in development projects.

Internships for Aboriginals

Internships for People With Disabilities

Private Sector Internships

  • The Atlantic Council of Canada offers internships to help students find out why the ties between Canada and European nations are of critical importance to Canadian culture, economy and security.
  • Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) is a non-profit organization that actively contributes to creating a sustainable and equitable world by fostering partnerships, facilitating learning and exchange across cultures, and raising awareness of global issues.
  • The Canadian Film and Production Association (CFTPA) offers internship programs in film and television across Canada.
  • Career Edge provides professional internship opportunities with over 1000 Canadian companies and NGOs for post-secondary graduates of all disciplines and for graduates with disabilities.