McGill.CA / Office of Student Academic Services

FAES Internship FAQs (Undergrad)

All things (undergraduate) internships @ FAES

 

I received an internship offer!  What do I do now? 

Do you know what your internship plans are? If yes, fill out the "Internship Intent" form. Among other things, this ensures that I know to give you permission to enroll in FAES 200/201/300/301.

Steps to enroll in an internship course:

  • Once you know where you will do your internship, fill out the Internship Intent form. If there is a problem (aka internship is unrelated to your field of study), I will let you know. Otherwise, wait until I give you permission to enroll in the course (see below).
  • If your internship is outside the Greater Montreal Area, you are also required to register your travel here. You must register your out-of-Montreal location prior to getting permission to enroll in FAES 200/201/300/301. 
    • Note: 
      • The type of activity is:  Other (Field Course/Semesters, Internships, Co-ops, Performances, Conferences)
      • the name of their academic supervisor at McGill (who is approving their university-sanctioned activity) - Kendra Gray
      • the name of their program administrator at McGill - Kendra Gray
      • host contact name (the name of the host who is supervising them). – on-site work supervisor at company
  • Once the course has been created in McGill’s course system, we can give you permission to enroll.
  • When you are given permission to enroll, you will receive an email to tell you that you have permission to enroll in the course.
  • Then you go and register for the course like you would any other course.
  • If you do not register your travel, you will receive only one reminder to register your travel.  Until you register your travel, you won't be given course permission.
  • Once you are enrolled in the course, the course materials will become accessible to you via MyCourses – which is where all course materials will be.

What is the deadline to enroll in a summer internship course?

Ideally, I’d like everyone enrolled by May 15th.  You may enroll until early June. 

My (French) employer is asking for a convention de stage.  What do I do?

I can provide that for you. Make the request here. (Note: I cannot create this for you after your last day as a student at McGill. So, if you are graduating soon, plan ahead.)

Do I really need to fill out a travel registry?

Yes, all internships outside of the Greater Montreal Area must be registered. 

Link:  here.

Note:

  • Type of activity is: Other (Field Course/Semesters, Internships, Co-ops, Performances, Conferences)
  • Name of their academic supervisor at McGill (who is approving their university-sanctioned activity) - Kendra Gray
  • Name of their program administrator at McGill - Kendra Gray
  • Host contact name (the name of the host who is supervising them). – on-site work supervisor at company

I'm doing an internship outside of Canada. What do I do?

You can do an internship anywhere in the world that is not on the Government of Canada's travel advisory list. This is the relevant list. (No internship can be done in a country deemed to be red or orange.)

In addition to filling out the travel registry (see above), pre-departure orientation is required for all internships outside of Canada. And, yes, event a student returning to their home country for an internship needs to complete the pre-departure course.  You can learn more here.

Tell me about the internship course options...

What is the point of a zero-credit internship course?

Some students want the documentation of the experience, some employers require that the student’s internship be recognized by the university (sometimes to get tax credits), some students want to apply for funding (and having the internship reconized via a course makes on eligible for funding).

What is the difference between the different internship courses?  (Comparison of FAES 200/201 and 300/301)

 

 

FAES 200/201 – Internship I

FAES 300/301 – Internship II

Credits

0

3

Appears on Transcript?

Yes – Pass/Fail

Yes – Letter grade (affects GPA)

Counts as elective?

No (0 credits)

Yes; for Bioresource Engineering students, it also may count as a Set D (or B)

Cost

$0 (and no fees)

$ = cost/credit * 3 credits

Shared FAES Components

Pre- and Post-internship reflection (3 pages each)

Pre- and Post-internship reflection (3 pages each)

 

 

Poster (created on a PPT, at the end of the internship outlining your experience)

Poster (created on a PPT, at the end of the internship outlining your experience)

Supervisor Evaluations (your internship supervisor will be asked to complete evaluations of your work)

Supervisor Evaluations (your internship supervisor will be asked to complete evaluations of your work)

Attendance at September poster event

Attendance at September poster event

Unique Course Components
  • Journals entries (~2 paragraphs each; written on the 15th and 30th/31st of every month during your internship)

Midterm report (3 pages; Submitted at the halfway point of the internship)

Poster and Video (more info to come)

Funding available

Traditional McEwen Internship Funding (deadline: April 12, 2024)

Traditional McEwen Internship Funding (deadline: April 12, 2024)

-and/or-

-and/or-

EEO funding (Scholarship and Student Aid)

EEO funding (Scholarship and Student Aid)

Sample Syllabus (old)

Link to FAES 200/201 Draft Syllabus (may change)

Link to FAES 300/301 Draft Syllabus (may change)

Now that I've secured an internship, I'd like funding. What are my options?

Source

Hypothetical Amount

Do I need to be in an internship course (ex. FAES 200, 300)?

Restrictions

More info…

OSAS – Macdonald UG Internships Office (FAES)

Usually up to $3000, maybe as high as $5000

Yes.

Also, this is ONLY for students in FAES 200/201/300/301 – not other internship courses

Direct costs of an internship only (not opportunity costs or recurring bills).

https://www.mcgill.ca/osas/internships/studentinfo - or - talk to Kendra Gray

Bieler School of the Environment (BSE)

Up to $2000

No?

Need to be a BSE student

https://www.mcgill.ca/environment/student-funding

EEO – Scholarships and Student Aid (Central Admin)

Unknown – I am told they can be generous.

Yes. Or any other official McGill activity.

Positions need to be “unpaid or insufficiently paid (excludes on-campus or in affiliated hospitals and research institutes)”; this sources works best for those already working with Scholarships and Student Aid

https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/special-funding/eeo

SEEF – Student Experience Enhancement Fund (FAES)

Individual students: up to $2,000; student groups: up to $5,000 for a single project.

No.

non-credit internships only;

Deadline: 8 January 2023 (passed)

https://www.mcgill.ca/osas/internshipawards

I don't have an internship offer yet. But I've got questions...

When in my program can I do an internship? Is it too early? Too late?

It is never too early or too late. The greatest number of students do internships after their U2 year, but many do internships earlier than that (including after their U0 year).

Are internships always done in the summer?

Most students do internships during the summer, but there are always a few students who take the semester off to do a full-time internship in the fall or winter. Note that a full-time internship during the fall or winter is likely NOT possible for international students as study visas generally require that students maintain a full-time status.

What is the minimum internship length?

10 weeks long, 35 hours/week (full time). Or equivalent.

Is there a minimum GPA to do an internship?

Officially, we require that students to have a GPA of 2.7 or higher. If your GPA is below 2.7, speak with the Internships Officer.

Can I get internship credit for a research internship?

Yes, research is a career, so yes. But one cannot do an NESRC funding project at McGill and count it as an internship course. Or any other research program that appears on a transcript. In short, each activity should only be listed on a transcript once, so we don't allow anything that results in one experience being counted twice.

Can I apply for coop positions?

YES, you can apply for coop positions. IF you enroll in FAES 300 (or another course), then the internship appears on your transcript and it is part of your program.

Where can I find positions to apply to?

For local internships, I highly recommend that you take a look in MyFuture.

Looking for Government of Quebec internships? Consult this page: https://www.quebecemploi.gouv.qc.ca/plateforme-emploi/?lang=fr

Strategies for getting internship ideas:

  1. Past Posters (Internships website)
  2. Current postings (MyFuture, other online resources)
  3. Networking >>> Approaching employers and asking them about possible opportunities
    1. Who is in your network? (Friend, family, past employers, etc.)
    2. Linkedln.ca/.com
    3. Informational interviews

How do I learn about possible internship opportunities?

  • Past Internships:
    • You can see past internship posters on the FAES internships website (see above).
  • Current Postings:
    • Most positions will also be posted on MyFuture, the jobs database maintained by CaPS (Career Planning Services). https://caps.myfuture.mcgill.ca/students/
    • Create job alerts on Indeed.ca/.com. You can request that postings be sent to you daily or weekly. You can request internships, or you can search for keywords. It is likely that you will NOT find many internships listed. However, the value is learning about companies/organizations doing work you might be interested in. (Once you know what they do, you can ask them about internships.)
  • Networking (aka Pursuing opportunities that don’t have postings):
    • Go to McGill Career Fairs
    • Make a list of interesting companies and look at their websites.
    • Networking.In-person. Go to panel discussion, meet and greets, conferences, etc.
    • Linkedln. See others' career paths, research companies, see different companies in the same industry, join Linked In interest groups.
    • Informational interviews.
      • For a specific company. Or position.
      • Broadly, for an industry.

In an ideal situation, what should I do when if I want to secure a summer internship?

September – December
  • Write/update your CV and generic cover letter.
  • Create/update your LinkedIn profile.
  • Take part in CaPS workshops on CVs, cover letters, interviewing, and job search techniques.
  • Research where past interns have worked. (Look at posters on OSAS website.)
  • Reach out to people for informational interviews.
  • Meet with Internships Officer regarding what you would like to do.
  • Apply for internships that have early deadlines.
  • BREE students: Look into resources available via Engineering Career Centre. (https://www.mcgill.ca/careers4engineers/students.)

Winter Break
  • Make sure you have a CV and generic coverletter.
  • Update (or create) your LinkedIn profile.
  • Determine who you will use as references [Suggestion: 2 profs, to non-profs (ideally a past supervisor)].
  • Look at the postings - on the FB page (including those that point you towards MyFuture postings), and MyFuture.
  • Consider creating an account on indeed.ca (or .com) – and request job alerts related to your interests. (Note: Any job alert is helpful – companies with full-time positions may be approached about summer opportunities.)
  • Apply for positions.

January - February
  • Practice interviewing. Consider using InterviewStream (https://mcgill.interviewstream.com/)
  • Apply for internships.
  • Decide if you’d like to get credit for your internship; FAES 200/201 (0 credits) or 300/301 (3 credits, and BREE Set D).
  • Speak with your academic advisor to ensure your course selection fits with your program of study.

March
  • Continue applying for internships.
  • Apply for funding from Macdonald Campus Undergraduate Internships Office (optional). (Deadline: April 1st.)

April
  • Deadline for apply for funding from Macdonald Campus Undergraduate Internship Program Office is April 12th.
  • Enroll in FAES 200/201 or 300/301 (required if you are applying for funding).
  • Fill out required documents including
    • Internship contract (with photo release).
    • Emergency contact information.

April/May/June – August
  • Take part in internship. (10 weeks total, full-time)

September
  • Hand in final course documents via MyCourses (see syllabus), including:
    • Poster & video (see syllabus).
    • Thank you note for funder (if applicable)
    • Present your poster at the Internship Poster Event

 

     

     

    I'm putting together a CV, LinkedIn profile, or coverletter.  Do you have any tips?

    While CaPS (Career Planning Services) is the authority on this area, my top pieces of advice are as follows: 

    Things to do to get started:

    • Make or update your CV.
    • Get a (free) LinkedIn Account (see tips below).
    • Research companies/ positions / people on Linkedln.
    • In terms of networking, consider the communities you are a part of.

    Examples: Professional associations, national groups, languages spoken, religious organization, clubs and activities, etc.

     

    What should I put on my (free) LinkedIn profile?

    • Look at other student profiles to get ideas. (Search for “Student Sample”.)
    • Give yourself a descriptive “title” - descriptive of what you want to do
      • Aspiring Veterinarian - Student | Seeking Challenging Summer Position | Skilled Social Marketing Enthusiast |
      • Bioresource Engineering Student at McGill University
    • Include a good head shot.
    • Include 4-5 sentences in the “About” section that tells people what they should like about you. Tell the story of where you are going in 5 years. Answer the question “Why should I be excited to speak with this person?”
    • Add the information you would put on a CV (under the experience section)
    • Clean up your profile URL so that it does not contain a random strong of characters.
    • Also, considering including links to projects you have done.
    • Questions? Get help from CaPS or me.

     

    What should I put on my CV?

    • About Section (on LinkedIn) – The 4-5 sentence story that you want people to know about you.
    • Work experience (perhaps divided into “relevant work experience” and “other work experience”; or “research experience” and “other experience” or “leadership experience”)
    • Volunteer experience
    • Clubs and activities
    • Projects you have done in academic courses
    • Computer skills (Microsoft Office, specialized software, social media platforms)
    • Technical skills (industry related tech, drones)
    • Certifications (industry related certifications, CPR/First Aid, driver’s/drone/boating license, SCUBA)
    • Languages. Use descriptors like “native speaker”, “fluent”, “intermediate”, “working proficiency”, etc.
    • Serious hobbies or sports – that illustrate a skillset or commitment (ex. Competitive athlete, competitive chess player, musical instruments, marathoner, hiking the Appalachian trail)
    • Travel experience if it is relevant.
    • Do NOT include: citizenship information, birthday, marital status, other personal information
    • Optional: GPA (as one person recently told me, if you put it, it may be used to eliminate you if others have a higher GPA; if you don’t put it, GPA will be a “neutral” factor
     
     

    What do I say when I contact potential employers?

     

    In general, when speaking with potential employers, don't say:

    “I'll take anything; I just want to get my foot in the door. Here's my CV; can I have a job?”

     

    Instead, briefly tell them how you will you add value to their enterprise. Sell your vision.

     

    Have an elevator pitch.

    Sample:

    My name is (name), and I am studying (major) at McGill University. I looked up (your company) because I am interested in (something your company does). I'm wondering who I might speak with about possible summer opportunities.

    (Goal: get a name of a decision maker or other informed question who can give you useful information.)

    Best case: You get a name and contact information, and maybe they transfer you (unlikely). And you have a conversation with this person about how the company uses summer students, and how you might fit into this.

    Have a response ready for "What did you have in mind?"

    Sample 1:

    Well, I am studying (major) at McGill University and I'm particularly interested in (topic). More specifically, I’m very interested in your project/ work related to (specific topic). (Maybe: I also have (xyz) technical skill.) I'd love to work on (topic/project), perhaps in a (technical / job descriptor) capacity, but would be open to other opportunities as well.

    Sample 2:

    My name is (name), and I am studying (topic) at McGill University. I was referred to you by (name), who I met at (some workshop, event, recruiting event, etc). I'm particularly interested in (topic) so am very interested in your project/ work related to (specific topic). I'd love to work on that (topic), but would be open to other opportunities as well. I also have technical skills including (insert skills), so would be interested in utilizing these skills. I looked at your website, but don't see any postings, so wanted to get in touch about possible summer opportunities.

    In your response, include information that says the following:

    • I am qualified (working on relevant degree).
    • Maybe we have a mutual connection (people prefer to hire people who have been referred).
    • I know something about your company; I am seeking you out specifically.
    • I am interested in what your company does.
    • I may have special technical skills that your company values.
    • I did my research (looking at your website), and didn't find what I was looking for, so am contacting you in directly.

    I'm feeling lost and am looking for in-person assistance.  Who can I speak with? 

    Additional resources:

    Scholarships and Student Aid

    Special Funding

    EEO funding (esp good for unpaid internships)

    Co-curricular record

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