How To Find An Internship In Canada

Internships are almost a right-of-passage for new graduates. As an intern, you have the opportunity to work for a large company, learning the ropes and getting a great deal of life experience.

While many internships do not pay you any money, some do provide with a small honorarium. Of course, many interns actually end up working for the very company that they interned at. So, short-term pain for long-term gain, financially speaking.

There are thousands of college students vying for the same internships that you are looking at, but how do you set yourself apart, how do you get that internship you have been looking at? Here is how to find an internship in Canada.

First of all, you need to be open-minded about the opportunities for internships. You should apply at every internship you can find, with many different companies. Look for any positions you feel you are qualified for, or that you are interested in.

Look for companies that you also want to work for after graduation, because as was stated before, many interns go on to work for the companies they interned at. No sense interning at a company you hate, only to be offered a job there once your internship is completed.

Second, finding the internship itself typically comes down to your college or university. Most campuses have a career centre, and a website, that shows local and national intern opportunities. These centres also help you with crafting a good resume, and workshops to help you in the all-important interview stage. You don’t have to go through the college though.

There are several websites including TalentEgg.com and CareerBuilder.com, which help you find companies that are hiring interns, and allow you to send your resume in directly to them. You can also read reviews by former interns, who have worked at these businesses to determine if they are where you actually want to intern. You can also go to GlassDoor.com to see job listings, company reviews and salaries. Don’t forget about looking on the company websites themselves to see if there are any internships available.

Third, always be prepared and always network on LinkedIn. There are ample opportunities on LinkedIn if you are willing to connect with people. In addition, make sure you pay attention to how your social media profile may impact your hiring. If your profile picture is you with your spouse, or your child, that is great. If your profile picture is you drinking a large jug of alcohol and your cover photo is something offensive, don’t expect to be hired.

Assuming that employers looking for interns aren’t going to look at your profile page is a big mistake to make. They absolutely will look at your profile page, so make it look good. This goes for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn especially. In a recent study by Career Enlightenment, it found that 50 per cent of all employers will use Facebook to find talent. Make a good impression before you even meet the employer with your social media profile.

Fourthly, speaking of LinkedIn, most recruiters will use LinkedIn to find candidates for internships, and to learn more information about you. Make sure you keep your LinkedIn profile page up-to-date with your education and experience as a well.

Once you find the internship and are hired, you now need to turn that internship into a full-time job. You can do this by understanding that you are not going to have fun work to start. You are going to be filing, doing menial tasks, and it will be boring but that doesn’t mean the job will be. Show enthusiasm and build trust early on to help increase your chances of being hired once the internship is done. Look at the office culture and follow it. If everyone shows up to meetings 20 minutes early, then you need to do the exact same. In addition, focus on the task at hand and do it to the best of your ability. Be confident in your work, but don’t be over confident. Above all else, make sure you take the work seriously. This could be a stepping stone to a bigger and better career for you, so don’t blow it.

Internships can be thankless jobs for some, but if you find the right internship, you can turn it into something more. Do your research beforehand and make sure you find the right internship for you, and don’t delay when you apply. Sometimes the first to be hired are the first to apply.

Internships are short-term work experiences that enable you to note and participate in professional work environments and explore exactly how your interests associate with possible professions. They are essential learning possibilities that can guide you make notified choices concerning your career path.