Internships in Canada: Welcome!
About Interning in Canada
Canada has recently become a popular destination for internships thanks to its thriving economy, stunning national parks, and buzzing diversity. The Canadian economy is the tenth largest in the world. The country itself is one of the wealthiest in the world, and a member of the Group of Eight (G8). Canada is also listed as sixth worldwide in economic freedom. Eleven of the Fortune Global 500 call Canada home.
Some of the world's most beautiful natural scenery is found in Canada, including national parks like Pacific Rim, Waterton Lakes, Banff, and Jasper. Canada's national parks are full of amazing scenery, glaciers you can climb, and plenty of beautiful creatures that will definitely catch your eye.
Canada is also officially a bilingual nation, with French and English as its two languages. There are also eleven different Aboriginal languages in Canada, three of which are still substantially surviving today. Other languages scattered throughout Canada include Cantonese, Italian, German, Punjabi, and Spanish. This variety in languages serves to prove that Canada truly is a cultural mosaic.
Canada Fast Facts
- Main Industries: Logging, Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Services
- Popular Destinations: Baffin Island, the Canadian Rockies, Niagara Falls, Old Quebec City, Pacific Rim National Park
- Cost of Living: $600 to $1000, depending on size and location
- Visa: Temporary Work Permit
Popular Internship Fields
- Architecture and Engineering: In Canada, lumber and stone are fairly cheap, providing plenty of building material for major companies. However, since the geography of Canada is so diverse, there are many different climates and cultures to take into account when building - whether that is towers or bridges. Interns can expect to work in drafting, construction management, structural engineering, or CAD.
- Hospitality and Tourism: As a huge tourist destination, Canada is a great place for tourism interns. Interns could choose from opportunities in hotels, ski resorts, restaurants, and many more industries. Expect to work with tourists from all over the world, get your feet wet with some training, and also have time for social events. Tourism internships at resorts and hotels in Canada will generally last for about six months or longer. It will be well worth it when you experience all the fun and excitement of interning in the hospitality and service sector.
- Information Technology: The technology sector is becoming more and more important around the globe. In Canada, tech interns can expect to find many opportunities. There are internships available for database administrators as well as, ASP.Net, Java, software, and web application developers. You could find a job at small, medium or large IT firms (like Electronic Arts), or within tech departments of large hotels or manufacturers.
- Marketing: With a population of over 33.4 million people from all over the world, Canada is a great place to get a feel for a diverse marketing platform. Interns can expect to work in marketing research, sales, or advertising. Expect to learn a lot about different ways to market products and services, taking into account social media and the fact that Canada has so many languages!
Planning Your Internship in Canada
When and Where to Look for an Internship:
Interns in Canada will be able to find positions throughout the year. There are plenty of placement programs that will help find a suitable internship for their participants. Many major business internships are located in Toronto, Vancouver, or Ontario.
Cost of Living in Canada:
Living costs in Canada will vary depending on where you decide to live. On average, a one bedroom apartment in the city center will cost about CAD$1000 per month and a one bedroom apartment in the suburbs will be about CAD$750. Because Canada is such a large country, costs can vary across the nation in provinces and cities.
Work Culture in Canada:
- Etiquette: In business, Canadians can often start out as reserved, but will generally become more open and friendlier as relationships grow. As a general rule, manners are respected and polite behavior should be used as often as possible. Handshakes are very commonly used; be sure to make eye contact while shaking someone else's hand. Communication is moderately indirect, but this can also vary by province. Experience and hard work are appreciated in Canadian business.
- Language: English is most commonly used in business, however if you are working in Quebec you will probably need to have an understanding of French. You may or may not be required to take language classes if you are using a placement program.
- Networking: Networking in Canada is useful for further employment or just building relationships in general. Networking among coworkers is popular, and there is also BNI Canada for even more opportunities to network.
Work and Labor Laws in Canada
There are paid and unpaid internships in Canada and the law is very vague on the difference between "work" and "internships." Internship laws are based on the province you will be working in. For more information refer to the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
Why Intern in Canada?
Canada is a vast country filled with opportunities for interns looking to spruce up their resume and compete in a global job market. Not only are there different types of internships in Canada, there are also diversity of languages used to conduct business, and different provinces to be lived in. Variety truly is the spice of life in Canada!
Photo Credit: Vancouver - Parliament Hill - Emerald Lake
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