Build your resume while you study!
Getting some experience while being a student will greatly increase your chances of finding a job after graduation while helping you decide what career area might be most suitable for you. On this page, learn more about some of the ways you can gain valuable experience on campus, and how the UTM Career Centre can support you in preparing for these opportunities.
Types of Opportunities
Here at UTM, there are many different ways that you can get involved on-campus and build valuable skills and insights into your future career. For the purposes of this resource, on-campus opportunities are categorized into one or more of these categories:
Academic opportunities provide students with hands-on learning that is integrated into their program of study. These experiences often involve coursework, research, or placements that contribute to students’ skill development and may offer academic credit or formal evaluation.
Paid opportunities offer students the ability to develop transferable skills, gain exposure to professional working environments, and build a connection with the UTM community. These are often part of the Work Study program or casual contract positions.
Volunteer opportunities allow students to contribute to an on-campus initiative, gaining valuable experience that may directly or indirectly relate to their career aspirations and/or personal interests, and help students with building a network.
On-Campus Opportunities Booklet
Explore the various ways that you can gain experience with our On-Campus Opportunities booklet, providing you a list of departments/programs that typically recruit students for academic, paid and volunteer opportunities.
There may be other opportunities not listed in this booklet, and exact opportunities and recruiting timelines are subject to change. We ask students interested in any of the opportunities listed to please check out the department’s website for up-to-date information on opportunities and how to get involved.
How to Prepare with the UTM Career Centre
It’s important to consider how you can effectively exhibit your skills and knowledge when applying to on-campus opportunities, just like any other paid/volunteer role. Like many employers, departments recruiting students for academic, paid and volunteer opportunities will be looking for students who can clearly articulate their relevant experience, transferable skills and overall interest in the opportunity. A thoughtful, well-prepared application can make a strong impression and help you stand out.
The UTM Career Centre offers resources and guidance to support you through each stage of the application process. It’s important to review the specific opportunity (i.e., job description, program website) for any specific instructions for applying, as each will have different recruitment practices.
Our trained Career Assistants, who are fellow students who’ve been where you are, are here to help! Whether you're exploring career or program options, preparing for job or internship applications, or considering grad school, they offer quick tips, introduce you to helpful resources, and provide personalized guidance to help you move forward with confidence.
We know that exploring resources can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone! Drop by the Career Corner to chat with one of our friendly Career Assistants, who can walk you through the tools and help you find what’s most useful for your goals. We're located behind the Student Services Hub Hello Desk in Davis, and open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm.
You can also book a 30-minute individual appointment on CLNx to get further support.
We offer the following self-bookable appointments to support you with your job search:
- Cover Letter Critique
- Employment Practice Interview
- LinkedIn Profile Critique
- Resume Critique
These appointments are designed to provide students with personalized feedback and help them prepare for specific work and volunteer opportunities. Students are required to upload a copy of the document they want reviewed (or provide a link to their LinkedIn profile) alongside a job posting upon booking an appointment.
Check out our Appointments webpage for more information.
The Career Centre offers a variety of drop-in sessions and structured workshops that focus on answering students’ questions on job search, covering topics such as:
- Resume & cover letter writing
- Building a strong LinkedIn profile
- Networking to find jobs, internships, trainee programs or professional connections Job search tips, including support specifically for international students and/or first-generation students
Check out What’s Happening at the Career Centre for more information.
Currently enrolled UofT students and recent graduates (up to two years post-graduation) can register for Career Centre events, fairs, and workshops through the Career Learning Network (CLNx). Please note that the availability of specific Career Centre programming is subject to change per academic year.
Develop a job search plan with an Employment Strategist and receive ongoing coaching to keep you motivated and focused while finding work/volunteer opportunities.
To book, call us at 905-828-5451 or send us an email at careers.utm@utoronto.ca. You can also book in-person at the Career Centre in the Student Services Hub, Main Floor Davis.
Our Get Hired Fair is an opportunity to speak with reps from various organizations and learn about a wide range of job opportunities - internships, full-time jobs, summer jobs, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and tech co-op placements – with both on- and off-campus employers in attendance.
We host the Get Hired Fair in September and January annually. Check out the Get Hired Fair webpage for more information on the next upcoming fair and how to prepare.
In the Field connects a group of students or recent graduates with professionals working in a variety of occupations within one organization. During these visits, participants have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the work environment, daily tasks, skills and education required for each occupation. Participants can also learn about available positions and how to apply for industry or occupation specific jobs.
For more information on this program, check out the In the Field webpage here.
The Job Shadow Program is an opportunity for students to visit a professional (job shadow host) in their workplace. Job shadowing will help you gain insight into an industry or career, better understand how classroom learning can be applied to work outside of school, and learn more about the skills and educational requirements needed to follow your career interests.
For more information, check out our Job Shadow Program webpage.
My Career Centre Online is a self-directed set of modules for students to explore different areas of their career development at their own pace. You can decide what you would like to experiment with, learn about, and focus on based on your unique career needs.
Learn more about My Career Centre and enroll in our Quercus page here.
Many international students have questions about work eligibility, study permit conditions, and how many hours they can work during the academic year. You're not alone — and there are dedicated resources to support you.
The UTM Career Centre offers employment coaching appointments specifically geared to answer questions you may have, including resume, cover letter and LinkedIn critiques, practice interviews, and other questions related to your job search.
Book an appointment with an Employment Strategist, International on Folio. You can also check out Resources for International Students here.
We offer various online resources specifically dedicated to supporting students with resume and cover letter writing. Have questions about components to a resume/cover letter, or how to format these effectively? If you’re new to applying for jobs or simply curious about how to create an effective resume or cover letter, this is a great starting point.
We offer a variety of other online resources throughout our website, covering topics such as conducting company research, preparing to provide employment references, and learning about employment laws that protect your rights.
Check out some of our other tip sheets here.
UTM CC100: Career and Work Readiness Program is our very own 12-week career development experience designed to help you build confidence, sharpen your skills, and gain clarity for your future. This cohort-based program offers a supportive, collaborative environment where you can explore your career interests and create a personalized career and job search plan.
For more details, please visit UTM CC100: Career and Work Readiness Program | Career Centre.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Work Study program here at UofT, check out our Work Study Information for Students webpage.
You can also book an appointment to speak to one of our staff members about how the Work Study program can support you with your career development.
What to do if I don't get the opportunity I want?
If you’re interested in learning more about the Work Study program here at UofT, check out our Work Study Information for Students webpage. You can also book an appointment to speak to one of our staff members about how the Work Study program can support you with your career development.
There are still many meaningful ways to get involved, build your skills, and strengthen future applications throughout your time at UTM. Below are just some examples of how you get involved:
The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) is designed to help students find opportunities on campus beyond the classroom and to have their skills and experiences captured on an official document. The CCR program offers hundreds of opportunities to get involved. Learn more about CCR through the Centre for Student Engagement.
Many students create their own opportunities to showcase their skills, explore their passions, and build experience through self-directed projects. Whether it's starting a blog, podcast, online store, or social media channel, or launching a small business, community initiative, or artistic portfolio, these projects can help you develop valuable skills in communication, creativity, project management, marketing, and problem-solving.
For students interested in entrepreneurship, we encourage you to check out the resources and programs offered by ICUBE.
The Experiential Education Unit (EEU) hosts their annual Experiential Education Fair in September for students to learn more about experiential learning opportunities through various academic units, campus partners and external organizations.
For more information, check out the Experiential Education Unit (EEU)’s website.
The International Education Centre (IEC) offers students the opportunity for you to gain experience outside of Canada, such as through the Exchange program, UTM Abroad Academic Experiences and Co-Curricular Experiences.
For more information, check out the UTM International Education Centre (IEC).
Many academic departments offer independent research courses that allow students to gain valuable experience by conducting an in-depth exploration of a selected topic. These courses may involve reviewing academic literature, completing laboratory or fieldwork, or pursuing an original research project under the supervision of a faculty member. While these can be intensive and require strong self-direction, they can be a great alternative to structured programs like the Research Opportunity Program (ROP). These courses typically require students to obtain departmental approval and secure a faculty supervisor.
For details, consult your department’s course calendar or speak directly with your academic advisor.
The UTM Career Centre would like to ensure that everyone is aware of the rise in potential scams, fraud, and questionable jobs/job offers. Please review our Job Fraud Tips on protecting yourself during your job search.
You can also find academic, paid and/or volunteer opportunities within the Mississauga community (or your local community if you live outside of Mississauga) beyond UTM.
The Career Learning Network (CLNx) give U of T students and recent graduates access to hundreds of paid and volunteer postings. You can also choose to utilize job search sites. The UTM Career Centre does not specifically endorse any individual job board or agency, but we have provided some starting points if you’re new to finding opportunities on the Jobs Resources & Links page and our Applying for Jobs Online tip sheet.
You can also have your work experience recognized on your Co-Curricular Record (CCR) if you work in a paid position off-campus during the academic year (35 hours or more) through the Work Counts program. For more information, check out the Work Counts program webpage or contact the UTM Career Centre.
The PART program offers introductory training on participating in research here at UTM across all fields and disciplines, giving you confidence in areas such as research ethics, methodologies, data analysis and communication, helping you prepare for the Research Opportunity Program (ROP), graduate studies or research in general.
Learn more through the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC).
Social Innovation Projects pair a team of student volunteers with a community organization that has identified a real-life challenge or problem within their organization. The team of UTM students will work together with the organization over the course of 16 weeks to develop and present an achievable solution to their problem. This program provides valuable insights into organizations within your community and allows you to apply your skills in real-life situations.
Check out the Centre for Student Engagement (CSE) for more information.
Learn new skills and build a network of link-minded people through UTM’s wide variety of existing student groups & societies – or start a new group if you can’t find a group that addresses a key interest.
Learn more about Student Groups & Societies here at UTM through the Centre for Student Engagement (CSE) as well as the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU).
The Institute for Medical Sciences offers this program annually from June to August to help undergraduate students as well as medical students get involved in biomedical research projects; working with faculty members, develop practical knowledge of research methodologies, and receive mentorship.
For more information, check out the Institute for Medical Sciences.
Some professors accept volunteers to assist with research. Students interested in gaining laboratory experience are encouraged to contact their professors to inquire about the professors’ current research projects. You can meet with an Employment Strategist to help you learn how to reach out to faculty members.