Only students who meet the following eligibility criteria are provided access to view and apply to these postings:

• Registered in the Faculty of Social Sciences in a degree program completing a minimum of 18 units during the Fall/Winter Term.
• In good academic standing with the university (not on academic probation).
• In good financial standing with the university (no outstanding financial accounts on the student record).
• Registered in Level II or above (official registration for Level II begins only after the student has successfully completed Level I requirements and has commenced coursework for Level II, usually in September of their second year).
• Successfully completed SOC SCI 2EL0, Career Planning through Experiential Learning
• Must be authorized to work in Canada (International students must refer to the Government of Canada website to ensure eligibility before submitting an application).

Cultivated Internships

Throughout the year, internship placements are cultivated by the Careers & Experiential Education team and posted on OSCARplus under Available Placement Opportunities.

While some employers have short job posting and hiring timelines, many employers begin recruitment the academic term prior to the internship start date. Therefore, students are encouraged to check the site often for suitable placements, and plan ahead if considering internships for future terms.

See below for a sample timeline as to when most employers choose to post internship placements on OSCARplus.

Student-initiated Internships

Students can take the initiative to secure a job on their own and have their experience noted on the official student transcript as an internship placement. These positions, though not cultivated through the Careers & Experiential Education team, may hold equal value in providing you with a unique opportunity to capitalize on the learning opportunities within the position.

Interested students are required to complete the Student-initiated Internship Application form to see if their position qualifies.

Student-initiated internship applications are to be submitted via email to thorbk1@mcmaster.ca on the following dates for each respective term:

Late applications will not be accepted.

The following fees will be applied to internship placements. Internship fees are charged so that the Faculty may recover a portion of the overall administrative costs associated with the program.

The following resources are considered required reading and are meant to assist students interested in participating in the Social Sciences internship program.

• Social Sciences Internship General Information Handbook
• Student-initiated Internship Application Form
• OSCARplus User Guidelines – See “Where do I find Internships?” in Frequently Asked Questions below

Independent Job Search – Tips and Techniques

You can begin the research process by following two directions:

Research Visible Jobs:

Fewer than 25% of all positions will be formally advertised.Using this method involves some leg work to find positions that suit your skills and interests.Resources that can help you find these jobs include the Student Success Centre (GH 110), newspapers, job banks, career fairs, magazines, public postings, and word of mouth.

Talking to others is a very effective way of finding a job. Family and friends are usually most willing to pass along leads about job openings. The key is to do your part by making others aware>of your goals and following through with the information that they provide.

Research Hidden Jobs:

The secret to find hidden opportunities is not looking for a specific job, but rather to look for ways to become connected to an industry or organization.

Key resources include:

1. Cold calls – make cold calls in the form of seeking information, rather than a specific job, more people will be willing to talk to you. You can get started by reading articles in newspapers, publications, newsletters, brochures, and web sites (look specifically for companies that are moving, expanding or undertaking new projects). Once you have this information collected, organize it according to your priorities (location, size of company etc.).
2. Volunteering – Building relationships is the key to be remembered. Volunteer for a fundraising event the company is holding, offer a few hours a week to help out with daily tasks.
3. Looking outside the box – Start thinking about opportunities where you least expect them. Think about your skills and interests, not your degree title.

Contacting the Employer for the First Time – How do I do that?
Contacting a potential employer for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some tips to consider:

• Calling employers that you are less interested in first can be great practice for when you are calling those employers that you really want to impress – you’ll be more relaxed, and you’ll better know what to expect.
• First Impressions Count – Be confident. Be sure of yourself, your skills and what you want to get from the phone conversation.
• Contact the right person. Know who you want to talk to BEFORE you call. Never ask for “someone in human resources”, instead ask for Ms. Smith, or John Mitchell. The best person to talk to is usually involved in recruiting, human resources, or even the manager of a specific department that you would like to get more information about. (You can find out names on the web site, company advertisements and brochures etc. or for a larger company you could simply call and ask the receptionist who the best person to speak to would be).
• Know what you want to say BEFORE you call. Role play with a friend or write down a script to practice beforehand. Never read from a script when you are talking to a potential employer – instead, write down general questions that you would like to ask.
• Make sure to clearly introduce yourself, tell them that you are enrolled in the _____ program at McMaster University, and that you are calling for general information about…
• Ensure that you understand what the employer is saying by asking questions and paraphrasing statements.
• If the person you would like to speak to is not in the office, leave a message, then call back within a couple of days if they haven’t returned your call.Show genuine enthusiasm and interest in your messages.
• Always thank the employer at the end of your conversation. Tell them how they have helped you learn something about an area/career/subject matter.
  If you would like to contact them again in future, ask for permission. The employer may direct you to another person who may be better suited to answer your questions.

After Contacting a Potential Employer – What Next?
After you have initially approached an employer, and talked to them about potential opportunities within their organization, you should start thinking about:

• Are you still interested in working for this organization?
• Did the employer seem interested in speaking to you?
• Did the employer identify some areas or departments where you may wish to consider pursuing an internship? If not, where can you see yourself working within this organization?
• What do you think you will learn from an internship with this organization?
• How will an internship with this organization relate to your area of academic study?

*“Co-op Tips and Techniques” is taken, in part, from the Canadian Association for Cooperative Education’s (CAFCE) Accreditation Council, 20

Deadline:

1. Term One Deadline: Second Friday of September
2. Term Two Deadline: Second Friday of January
3. Term Three Deadline: Second Friday of May

Internships are posted on OSCARplus.

OSCARplus User Guidelines

Throughout the year, internship placements are cultivated by the Careers & Experiential Education team and posted on OSCARplus. Only students who meet the Social Sciences internship eligibility criteria are provided access to view and apply to these postings through the OSCARplus system.

1. Login:
A) Students can login to OSCARplus.
B) Once you have entered the system, click on My Account beside Overview. You will then be taken to a page with your account information.
C) Ensure all the information is correct and complete.
D) Once your profile is updated, select Save at the bottom of the page to ensure all required information is saved.

2. Search for Positions
A) Select Social Sciences in the grey navigation bar on your left. From there select Internship Placements.
B) Once on the internship home page, select Available Placement Opportunities in the grey navigation bar on your left.
C) Click the maroon tab entitled View All Available Postings. Be sure to follow all application instructions for each unique posting.

Please Note: Applications will be screened for eligibility. If a student’s application contains errors, omissions, or is of poor quality, it reflects negatively on the student as well as the Careers & Experiential Education team and will therefore NOT be passed on to the employer for consideration.

Depending on your course load requirements and extra-curricular activities, you may begin applying to internship placements as early as your second year.

If you mean at which point during the year, the Careers & Experiential Education team receives internship listings continually. It’s best to begin your internship search the semester prior to your desired placement. That way, you’ll have time to respond to listed positions and initiate contacts on your own as well. Lead time can give you a competitive edge when it comes to composing an effective cover letter or tailoring your resume to a desired internship.

Students do not receive academic credit for internship placements, however they are noted as a Pass or Fail grade on the official record. In addition, students receive a transcript notation which includes the position title, name of the organization worked for and the start and end date of the placement.

Salaries vary according to experience and skills required, year in school, type of position, type of employer, and location.

It is not unusual to find positions ranging from minimum wage up to $25.00 per hour.