Submit your Application
Apply to participate in Alberta’s Externship through a quick online application.
Alberta’s Externship Program
Gain career clarity by taking on a real-world challenge a business is facing with a volunteer team of like-minded peers. Expand your network, meet future employers, and step up to the challenge.
in Alberta Only
Current post-secondary students
Program Benefits
Short-term commitment; long-term impact.
Career Clarity
Learn by doing. You’ll work on real challenges to help you decide if you like the industry or the scope of work or not.
Mentors to Employers
First impressions matter. Meet a mentor who's signed up exclusively to meet you. Who knows? You might meet your future employer. Expand your network either way.
Competitive Edge
Don’t have a lot of professional experience? Get some! Give yourself a competitive edge when applying for future jobs.
Program Features
A long-term career development investment and volunteer opportunity that fits into your already busy schedule. You’ll learn from peers across disciplines and a mentor who’ll show you the ropes.
How It Works
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Selection
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. If successful, we’ll get in touch about the next steps.
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Choose your Externship
Once your application has been approved, you’ll gain access to our Externship Opportunities and can sign up for the challenge of your choice. When your Externship selection is approved, you’ll be invited to secure your commitment with a signed agreement.
Onboarding
Attend a virtual onboarding session, plus complete our short Extern Training. Our Extern Training will give you the keys to access externship opportunities.
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Get to (net)work
You’ll work with a team of 2-7 students. Over the next four weeks, each of you will spend ~30 hours working on the challenge over the next few weeks. You’ll work independently, plus meet up with your team every week to check-in.
VFC Training
Enhance your Externship experience by engaging with VFC’s complementary Externship Training designed to help you get the most out of your opportunity.
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Coffee-Chat Mentorships
You and your peers are assigned a mentor from the company that posted the challenge. You’ll have weekly check-ins plus, you’ll get the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 coffee chat with your mentor.
Present it
At the end of the month, you and your group will present your findings to your challenge company. The company will provide each team member with an assessment of their work.
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Update and Upgrade Your Resume
We’ll help you showcase this incredible experience with our resume resources.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Since 2015, BHER has worked to harness the strengths of Canada’s business and post-secondary education sectors to build opportunities for young Canadians, boost innovation and drive collaboration.
Business & Higher Education Roundtable
National
National
Extern Eligibility
Currently enrolled in post-secondary education in an undergraduate or diploma program
Studying at an Alberta-based post-secondary
International students are welcome to apply
Students studying for master’s, or Ph.D.’s are not eligible
All years of students welcome (first, second, third, fourth, etc)
Program Details
Are Externs paid?
The Externship Program is not a paid opportunity. It’s a volunteer opportunity for students to gain crucial experience in a short time frame without a huge investment of their time.
Remote Externships
This program is fully remote and virtual. You will meet with teams & the challenge company virtually, and work on your challenge remote.
Externship Challenges
We have three types of challenges you can participate in:
Focus Group
An idea, product, or problem for students to solicit creative, fresh and innovative feedback. Suited for early year students.
Research
Students will research and present their findings to a question posed by employers. Suited for early or upper year students.
Analysis/ Project
The action-based solutions to address a problem. Employers provide more background context, so students have the relevant data and information to identify solutions. Suited for upper-year students.