Unpaid Internships
All of these internships are available in Metro Vancouver. To qualify for an internship, you must be currently enrolled at a college or university – in Canada or abroad. Or – you must qualify for a Young Workers Exchange Visa or Youth Mobility Visa (more info on those here).
To apply for an internship, please click here.
NB: There is a placement fee for each internship.
Unpaid Internships
Accounting
Roughly 50% of accounting internships happen at accounting firms, another 50% are done in the accounting department of a large manufacturer or service company. Accounting interns work in close contact with other staff, they are closely supervised and assist with the preparation of ‘monthlies’, ‘yearlies’ – and ‘expense reports’.
Conversation is done primarily with the supervisor. Other office duties such as photocopying and filing may be required.
Additional Requirements: Knowledge of Excel. Students with knowledge of Quick books, and with accounting experience, will be given more responsibility.
Advertising
Please see either ‘Graphic Design’ or ‘Marketing’
Architecture
Architectural firms have some of the best internships available. Interns in these companies will be mixed in with Canadian university interns. They will work with the team of interns and the supervising architect. They will sit in on consultations and often have roundtable discussions, deciding how to divide up the work. Interns primarily work on the detail work of architecture – showing where the bathrooms go, the electric systems and more.
Additional Requirements: Knowledge of AutoCAD is an absolute requirement. Students with knowledge of 3-D modeling, MAC experience, and advanced Photoshop skills, will have more responsibilities.
Arts & Culture
This includes work at art galleries, in ceramics, at playhouses. There is a wide availability here, so the student determines the focus. Depending on where they are, the specific work will vary – but it is all hands on, and always includes a promotional aspect. The promotional aspect includes preparing flyers, distributing them, visiting hotels and youth hostels and promoting venues or shows. Minor office and retail work may also be required from time to time. This type of internship guarantees a lot of speaking practice.
Additional Requirements: None.
Biotechnology & Biomedicine
This can also be called a ‘lab assistant’ internship. Interns in these positions work at local pharmaceutical companies or biotechnology firms (these are mostly in Richmond). Thee they work as lab assistants and office administration assistants. In office administration, they perform data entry and filing. In lab assistance they help with cleaning and record keeping. In some cases they may be permitted to observe projects and work on projects of their own.
Additional Requirements: Education in biology or a related field. Lab experience, either professionally, or in university.
Community Service
A standard charity internship, this is done a community service organization like AIDS charities, the Red Cross, Canadian Blood Services, the Alzheimer’s Society. Students looking to do community service, should be motivated by a desire to learn about non profit management and events. Students will work in more senior administrative roles, and will often be given important positions in projects or events planning
NB: this also includes Environmental internships..
Additional Requirements: None.
Economics
These internships are done at economics research organizations. Students may choose from ‘Free Enterprise’ or ‘Progressive’ research institutions as they desire. Short term interns will assist with fact checking and research on institute projects. Longer term interns will be able to propose their own project within the institute and guide it to completion. In all cases, interns will also have events planning work – such as filing, data entry, calling, and promotions development, as part of their day to day duties.
Additional Requirements: Some education in economics. Computer fluency and numeracy.
Education
Education is a heavily regulated industry, so our two choices are either summer camps work or teaching assistance work at ESL schools. At summer camps, interns will work with Canadian children. They will partner with a staff member to supervise the children and lead them in activities. They will also assist the administration in the planning of activities. At an ESL school, interns will perform reception duties, and have the opportunity to assist some teachers in their day to day tasks.
Additional Requirements: None.
Engineering
Engineering can be broken into industrial engineering, or electronic engineering. Electrical engineering placements are done at small manufacturing firms. These firms give students the opportunity to see the entire manufacturing process from design to delivery. Students will have the chance to see product development, to work on programming chips, to see injection moulds at work. In industrial engineering, they will work with larger manufacturers and assist in a junior development internship. They will focus exclusively on product development – helping senior staff designers with their own projects.
Additional Requirements: Education in engineering.
Events Planning
This is a combination of sales and logistics. This type of internship can be very stressful for students not prepared for working on tight deadlines. Interns will be placed at an events planning company. Lower level students with no experience, may work in wedding planning – students with experience will not. In events they will partner either with logistics or with sales teams. In logistics, they will work under the supervision of the logistics manager in sourcing materials and venues. In sales, they will work under the supervision of the sales manager to prospect for clients, and to work on innovative ways to promote the event.
Additional Requirements: None.
Film
This is usually work with a corporate films production company – that is to say, a company which produces educational and promotional films for corporations. In some cases, these internships can also be with smaller production companies – and very rarely – with major studios. Interns work essential as P.A.s – this person assists the director with anything they want – from coffee, to working on sets, to watching cameras, to controlling pedestrians.
Additional Requirements: A portfolio, showing previous film work.
Finance
Finance internships can be with either securities firms, investment firms, or insurance firms. Due to Canadian privacy regulations – each of these internships is very similar. In each case, interns will be working closely with a broker or agent. They will help that person with records keeping and with client prospecting. Client prospecting can include in some cases sitting in on meetings with prospective new clients, but more often, attending information seminars, and promoting these seminars and following up on them. Interns will also conduct research on new financial products and investments, and assess the value of working with those items.
Additional Requirements:None.
Freight and Logistics
This is the most popular part of international trade, so we have listed it separately. In freight and logistics, interns will work with companies called ‘Freight Forwarders’ – or with container management companies. In both cases they will help prepare documents for customs agencies, and they will help research alternative shipping methods, and / or source partners for overseas shipping. A minimum amount of general office work is required for this internship.
Additional Requirements: None.
Graphic Design
A type of advertising, graphics design interns will work at graphic design firms, preparing brochures, flyers, web graphics, and posters. They will work entirely on computer, so strong computer skills are essential. They will be given projects and work under the close supervision of the senior designer.
Additional Requirements: A portfolio of previous work. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator). Students with web design experience will have more responsibility.
Health Care
This is a varied internship. It is done almost entirely at hospitals. The intern’s precise position in a hospital varies according to their specialization. Interns will work under close supervision, and will have no direct contact with patients (palliative care excepted). Their primary job will be to observe and assist with administrative duties. This internship has a high rejection rate, so students choosing Health Care, should have a second choice of internship.
Additional Requirements: Education in scientific medicine, pharmacology, palliative care or nursing. A report from the family doctor showing dates of inoculations, and stating that the intern has a clean bill of health. NB: Interns from Japan often have difficulty obtaining these sorts of reports from their doctor. Therefore, they should obtain one of these reports before applying.
Hotels
Hotel internships are all done within the city of Vancouver. Interns will circulate throughout the hotel. Depending on the length of their internship, interns will have the opportunity to view many different departments. In each department their duties will be different. But they will always start at the front desk, and end in reservations. In between they may see guest services, food services, housekeeping, and marketing. Students in each position will job shadow an existing staff member and help that staff member with their own day to day tasks.
Additional Requirements: None.
Human Resources
There is a recruitment option for this field – however, unless a student specifically requests that, HR will be done inside a large manufacturing or services company. HR jobs include payroll and benefits, staff training, promotions, dispute resolution, and hiring. Interns here will job shadow the HR manager in her day to day duties. She will also assist with general office duties like reception, filing, and data entry.
Additional Requirements: None.
Industrial Design
Industrial design interns will work at an industrial design firm, or in the design department of a manufacturing firm. They will work entirely on computers, taking products from concept to design – they will work with sketches and convert them into practical 2-D and 3-D models. Interns work under the close supervision of a senior designer, but much of the work is independent.
Additional Requirements: A portfolio of previous work. Knowledge of AutoCAD 3-D or equivalent. Students with knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite may have more responsibility.
Information Technology
Intern at a software, web applications, or computer consulting company. Put your skills and education to use at a cutting edge Canadian web applications, software, or IT consulting firm. These are three different internships, depending on your skills or education. Knowledge of IT is an absolute requirement for any of these three internships. In a web applications internship, you will use your .Net programming experience to build applications that interface with Google, with Facebook, with iPhones, or that run on stand-alone web sites. In software design, you’ll put your C++ skills to use working on different types of software for mobile devices. In systems administration, you will help set up and manager servers, and work on day to day tech support requests. In all cases you will be closely supervised by a team of young IT professionals. The minimum time for this internship is 4 weeks, but you can work as long as 6 months.
Additional Requirements: Previous education or experience in IT.
International Trade
Students work in import and export research for an international trading agency. This internship host company is looking for interns who can help market Canadian products overseas. These host companies help introduce Canadian companies and products to overseas partners. The biggest part of their job is looking for foreign companies to partner with. This is a very focused internship. Interns will work with a product manager to build important business contacts for a specific Canadian firm. Depending on how long they intern for, they may work in partnership with many different Canadian companies.
Additional Requirements: None.
Law
This can be done in immigration law, family law, or litigation. Students will work at a downtown law firm. They will be put under the supervision of the office manager and will have daily contact with the staff lawyers, and the opportunity to attend court. Students with little or no industry knowledge or experience, will perform regular office administration duties. Students with more detailed knowledge in the law will assist in the preparation of legal documents, under the close supervision of an articling lawyer.
Additional Requirements: None.
Marketing
Students work with a brand manager at a marketing house – promoting products for different Canadian companies and products. With a marketing company, they will do a mix of work. If their English skills are very advanced, they could find themselves making marketing calls and writing copy. But even at an intermediate English level they will sit in on marketing meetings, client consultations, and will have the opportunity to assist with research and events such as trade shows. As with many office internships, the day will be split between industry specific work, and general office duties such as reception work and filing.
Additional Requirements: None.
Media
This can be in radio, magazines, newspapers, or on media web sites. Interns here work in research and in some cases, story development and sales. At the end of each internship, the student will produce one published or broadcast story. Work here is done under direct supervision of the editor. Research is done in support of staff writers, and sales work can include building lists of potential advertisers.
Additional Requirements: None.
Museums and Galleries
Please see ‘Arts & Culture’
Office Administration
This can be in almost any kind of workplace. In office administration, students work on reception, filing, and special projects like mail outs or a company event. Much of the work is independent, but a lot of training is provided, and the student has the opportunity to closely interact with fellow staff members. This is the most appropriate type of internship for a student who isn’t sure what they want to do – beyond gaining North American experience.
Additional Requirements: None.
Retail
This is work at a shop, typically in the back office. This differs from paid casual work experience in the level of work. Whereas in the casual work experience program, students will be greeting customers, and selling products – in the unpaid internship version of retail, students will work on merchandising, purchasing, and some general office duties. They will work in direct support of a store management team.
Additional Requirements: None.
Sports
These internships are with sports teams in Metro Vancouver. Those teams include the Whitecaps FC, the BC Lions, the Vancouver Canadians, and the Vancouver Canucks. Nearly every major sport is represented. These are essentially events planning internships with a sports focus. The majority of work is spent preparing promotional activities for games day – this includes sitting in on planning meetings with marketers, working under a marketer and helping promote the event in the media, online, and direct to local tourist agencies. Hands on tasks can be included. When games day rolls around, interns will work with operations staff.
Additional Requirements: None.
Travel & Tourism
These interns work at a tourist destination or a tour operator in Vancouver. In each case they do a combination of promotions and operations. In promotions, they work in the sales team to promote their destination to hotels, via the web, and directly to customers. In operations, they attend tours or operate the tour attraction, taking tickets and guiding people through different attractions. Some office administration work is included in each position.
Additional Requirements: None.
