Application Process

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Arts & Humanities Internship Program (AHIP)!

Please read the following step-by-step breakdown of how to apply to the internship (course code ARTHUM 3000/A/B/Y).

Step 1: Apply Through Western Connect (Mandatory)

If you have not yet done so, register for the Arts & Humanities Internship Program through Western Connect.

Your application will be reviewed to ensure you have met both the academic and internship preparation requirements (see below) to be accepted into the program.

Please check Western Connect for the portal opening date to apply for the upcoming internship cycle.

To apply to the Arts and Humanities internship program:

Step 1a: Log into Western Connect and on the Dashboard, click the purple "Click here to apply for Western's Internship & Co-op programs" button.
Step 1b: Click the "Apply to a Program" button in the top right corner of the page.
Step 1c: Click "Apply" under Arts and Humanities Internship.
Step 1d: Complete the application form, including your name and contact information. You will be provided with instructions for the next steps and information on the Internship Preparation.

Step 2: Complete Internship Preparation (Mandatory)

Before a student's application for the Arts and Humanities Internship Program is accepted on Western Connect, they must complete the following internship preparation:

Career Fundamentals: Complete 4 Career Fundamentals for University Students modules (“Developing a Resume and Cover Letter,” “Interview Skills,” “Job Search Skills,” and “Career Decision Making”) in OWL. Once you have completed all the modules, you can generate a certificate.
- Note! The Career Fundamentals certificate is currently temperamental. Using the Firefox browser helps, but it is not the overall solution. We are working on a solution, but we strongly recommend you take a screenshot of each module’s completion page. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this matter.
- Upload your certificate or the screenshot of each module’s completion page to the AHIP Brightspace Internship Preparation Assignment page. (Each student will be added to the Brightspace site after their application is conditionally approved on Western Connect.)
CliftonStrengths Assessment and Modules: CliftonStrengths is a program designed to help people understand their strengths, unlock their potential, and improve their performance. Through the program, students can better understand how they work and what types of careers and work environments work best for them. Unlike other programs that attempt to identify specific career fields in which a person should work, CliftonStrengths shows how a person can apply their strengths in a range of career fields, adapt and apply their strengths in different environments, and work better with others by understanding their strengths.
- To complete the assessment, upper-year students must either pay a $20 fee (go to CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment Code) or get a code by participating in the free Learn to Lead program. When you’ve finished the assessment, download your Top Five Strengths report.
- Then complete the 3 online CliftonStrengths modules: "Introduction to a Strengths-Based Approach,” “Exploring Your Unique Top 5 CliftonStrengths,” and “Leveraging Your CliftonStrengths at Western.” Note! These modules will not open in Firefox but will in Edge and Chrome.
- Take screenshots of your Top 5 strengths and the modules’ certificates and upload them to OWL Brightspace.
Bias and Microaggressions Training: Complete the Bias and Microaggressions: Impact, Prevention, and Intervention training in OWL Brightspace.
- You can also access the link from the Bias and Microaggressions: Impact, Prevention, and Intervention page on the EDI Learning site. Upload the certificate of completion to the AHIP site in OWL Brightspace. Click Assessments in the navbar, then Assignments, and Internship Preparation.
Application Review: Read Western’s Careers & Experience’s resume and cover letter resources, then have your resume and cover letter reviewed by a Peer Advisor from Western’s Career Education Peer Advisor Program.
- The checklists that the Peer Advisor will use to evaluate your cover letter and resume can be found in the linked resources above. You may either visit in person (the hours and location are listed on the Career Education’s Peer Advisor Program webpage) or send your cover letter and resume to cepa@uwo.ca.
- If the review is in person, ask the CPA to sign these documents, listing their name and date of review, and upload a digital version to Brightspace. If you submitted your materials to cepa@uwo.ca, upload a screenshot of the email sent by the Peer Advisor and your Assessment Checklists to Brightspace.
- Note! The Peer Advising Service is closed during the Fall and Spring Reading Weeks, the December and April exam periods, and the December holiday period.

A student's Western Connect application will NOT be approved until the required internship preparation is complete. Until that time, your application will appear as "Conditionally Approved".

Step 3: Attend Workshops (Recommended)

We strongly recommend that students become competitive applicants by participating in relevant workshops offered through Careers & Experience. For offerings, go to the Events and Workshops website page on Western’s Career Education website and visit the AHIP News & Events page.

Step 4: Check Western Connect Regularly for Updated Internship Postings

Students can search for internships on Western Connect or external job boards (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.).

Western Connect Postings: Opportunities are posted on Western Connect throughout the year. Check regularly, even in the summer months, for new postings and follow the application process outlined in each job description. You will be notified by Careers & Experience or the employer if you have been selected for an interview.
External Postings: Internships from external job boards must be approved by the Experiential Learning Specialist. Students must submit the job posting and complete the Student Found Internship Proposal for internships found through external sources.

To search for an internship on Western Connect:

Log in to Western Connect
Click "Internship/Co-op" on the left purple menu, and then click "Intern/Co-op Jobs"
Under "Quick Searches," click "For My Program" to see the postings for Arts and Humanities.
When you click on a job posting, you will see the term, length, start and end dates, job description, and job function. Under "Application Information," you will see the application deadline.
Click the black circle at the bottom right corner to save, shortlist, or indicate your disinterest in the internship. This will help you create a list and keep track of the positions that interest you.

Note! While we are happy to help, the student is ultimately responsible for finding their own internship, whether through Western Connect, an external job board, or the student's network.

Warning! Job Scams

Always exercise caution with emails offering job opportunities, as many are fraudulent. Legitimate companies will always identify themselves, have a legitimate business email address, and never ask for a fee to apply.

If the job opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you are unsure whether a job opportunity email you've received is legitimate, contact ahintern@uwo.ca.

Step 5: Apply for Jobs and Interview

To apply for an internship posted on Western Connect:

Follow the "Application Procedure" outlined under "Application Information" in the specific internship posting. To keep track of internship postings you intend to apply for, click "I intend to apply for this position."
You will be instructed to apply through Western Connect or the employer's website or email address. Each posting is different, so read them thoroughly.
To view the internships you've indicated that you intend to apply for, click "Internship/Co-op" > "Intern/Co-op Applications." You will see them under the "Status of applications" section.

Employers will contact only those students chosen for interviews and extend offers. Ongoing, accepted, and declined interviews are listed in Western Connect under "Intern/Co-op Interviews" on the left-hand menu.

To articulate your skills, experiences, and interests during interviews and become more comfortable with the interview process, we recommend that students visit Western’s Interview Preparation and Interview Warmup for practice questions, preparation tips, and more.

Questions? Contact ahintern@uwo.ca.

Internship Expectations

It is expected that each student will:

Provide accurate and appropriate information about their qualifications and interests.
Notify Western's Careers & Experience and the Experiential Learning Specialist at least 24 hours in advance if an interview must be rescheduled or cancelled.
Follow the prescribed procedures for accepting job offers.
Notify the Experiential Learning Specialist if a job offer is extended directly by the employer.
Honour the acceptance of the offer since it is a contractual agreement with both the Employer and the University.

Once a job is accepted, it is binding. Students must . . .

Not apply to other positions or accept interviews once a job has been accepted unless you can fit more than one job into your schedule.
Not decline more than two job offers. Students who apply for and decline more than two offers will be withdrawn from the internship program.
Not back out of a job that has already been accepted. Doing so may result in withdrawal from the program and a failure in the internship course.

Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally. On the job, the intern must . . .

Be responsible and accountable.
Respect safety and the environment.
Demonstrate ethical and professional judgment.
Be punctual, resourceful, adaptable, and productive.
Recognize and respect the employer/employee relationship by communicating progress and areas of concern with the employer. If the employer does not satisfactorily address an intern's concern, the intern should immediately notify the Experiential Learning Specialist.
Adhere to the employer’s policies regarding proprietary rights of research and technology.

All students MUST adhere to Western’s Code of Student Conduct for the duration of their internship.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Accessibility

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Western University is committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments that value diverse perspectives and experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. We recognize that students can be marginalized based on social identity characteristics such as, but not limited to, Indigeneity, race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, age, language, religion, and socioeconomic status. Understanding this, we strive to facilitate equitable experiences and inclusion during all internship opportunities by respecting and integrating multiple ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Accessibility in the Arts and Humanities Internship Program is a priority. If you require accommodations during the internship process, please contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca.