Gain Hands-on Experience

At Western, you will have access to one of Canada's most extensive career planning services.

At Western, we believe it is never too soon to start planning for your future career. For this reason, we offer work integrated learning opportunities to help you gain the hands-on experience employers want.

Our flexible internship, co-op and practicum programs – which are offered in more than 45 academic programs – will provide you with meaningful opportunities to translate your academic and classroom knowledge into practical experience in the workplace. This includes both long (eight to16-month) and short-term (10-week to four-month) programs.

Our Job Shadow program offers a first-hand look at a role or industry in a briefer context. Students engage for a day with professionals in their chosen career field. This supports networking, career planning and career decision making.

We also offer a Careers & Coffee program for a fun and easy way to practice business networking while still a student. Western alumni return to campus to talk to students about their careers and answer questions in an informal environment with coffee and snacks.

On-campus leadership opportunities also abound at Western. There are more than a thousand positions available through The Student Success Centre, The Student Development Centre, Residence Life and orientation programs. Students grow their competencies, and their resumés, with the added convenience of an on-campus role.

Our Leadership Education Program offers a series of workshops to ensure that your soft skills, such as conflict resolution, public speaking and networking, are as workplace-ready as your academic skills.

Essential career planning, including career counselling, employer-hosted events, career assessments, resumé clinics and mock interview recordings are also offered to all students and recent alumni.

The wide breadth of career planning and programming ensures our students and alumni are preferred candidates to many employers.