Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in February 2018 and has been completely revamped, updated and republished here.
For young people looking to get started with their professional careers or who want a high-quality summer internship to add some value to their resume in 2021, the Adecco Group CEO for One Month program might be exactly what you’re looking for. The best part is that it’s all done virtually this year, so you’ll have access to an internship opportunity near you from anywhere in Canada.
Student programs in Canada are hard to come by during the pandemic, so for those who are worried about health and safety while looking for new graduate jobs and opportunities, the virtual CEO for One Month internship is a perfect choice.
Professional Development Opportunities
One of the most important benefits of doing an internship as a student or a young professional is the endless list of development opportunities. Being in a work environment with career professionals from your industry or area of interest gives you the chance to learn hands-on skills and gain insider knowledge on how things work and what people do on a daily basis. If you’re still a student or a recent graduate, an internship is a great way to bridge your student experience with further employment so that you can get a head start on your professional career.
Where many college and university internships have you making daily coffee runs and bringing donuts to company meetings, the Adecco Group’s CEO for One Month program exposes you to the inner workings of our Fortune Global 500 organization. You’ll get to shadow high-level executives throughout Canada, attending and participating in meetings to get the insider scoop on how we work. Through meetings with departments all over the country, you’ll gain exposure to the staffing industry from the branch level all the way to the corporate level.
Real-World Work Experience
Internships not only let you learn about an industry or a company, but they also provide real-world work experience that university programs and courses may lack. The day-in-day-out reality of being in the trenches with other professionals is impossible to rival when it comes to work experience programs for students. If you’re still unsure about which path you want to take in your career, a summer internship could even give you enough insight to decide which specific area of an industry you would like to develop your skills in.
When accepted to the CEO for One Month program, you become part of the Adecco Group organization. You will be given real projects and the chance to contribute to high-level decision-making just like a regular member of the executive team. Through your work with us, you’ll add to your transferable skills, strengthening your resume and career prospects, whatever your long-term professional goals. The experience you gain from your month-long internship will set you apart from every other candidate for years to come! Not only does the program offer a unique way to learn about the staffing industry, it also gives you an opportunity to learn how to navigate the upper levels of an organization and communicate with top executives and senior-level management, something that other internships don’t offer.
If you’re wondering how an intern gets to do all of this, read about last year’s CEO for One Month intern Danny Elnatour and his incredible experience!
Valuable Connections
As well as professional development and hands-on skills, internships are an extremely effective way to quickly build your professional network as a student or young professional. Working in an industry-leading organization will allow you to connect with decision makers, recruiters and leaders.
The best ways to develop your network when interning are: accept every invitation to collaborate, offer your help to others, be friendly and polite to everyone you meet, and exchange contact details with co-workers when you move on to your next work opportunity. Follow those steps and you’ll have a network to rival that of any seasoned worker!
Looking for a great reference through your internship? What better reference than Adecco Canada’s president! As CEO for One Month, you’ll be working alongside Janelle Bieler, President of Adecco Canada, and making connections with the senior level management of one of the top staffing solutions organizations in the world. Network your way to valuable connections that will last the rest of your professional life!
Amazing Work Opportunities
Internships provide a great opportunity to gain real world experience and build your skills. The welcoming environment of the Adecco Group is an added bonus! Let’s hear what our very own Marketing Co-Op student, Mariana Gomez, has to share about working at the Adecco Group:
Interning at the Adecco Group has been a life-changing experience. Without question, it has been one of the most challenging, transformative and rewarding opportunities of my life.
Quite frankly, I never imagined a virtual internship would become a turning point in my career and journey as an immigrant – well, it didn’t take me long to come to this realization. Since day one, I was appointed captain of major strategic projects and was invited to participate in several meetings with colleagues, the leadership team, and top executives. I cannot stress enough how welcoming and supportive everyone was. They always encouraged me to use my voice, ask questions and share my opinion. The way everyone trusts and values each other’s input is certainly a life lesson.
The last 3 months have been nothing short of exceptional: from being able to build rapport with my manager and colleagues, to getting exposed to all sort of industries, to learning how strategic decisions are made at the core of a Fortune 500 company.
If you are looking to take your career to the next level, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and growing as both an individual and professional, I highly encourage you to apply for internship opportunities at Adecco — you need to see it for yourself!
– Mariana Gomez, Marketing Co-op.
The opportunities provided by CEO for One Month are virtually limitless. To start, the boost to your employability from the experience you’ll gain will help you throughout your career. Plus, there’s the potential of being hired to work within Adecco’s corporate head office once the internship is completed. Finally, the top 10 performing interns from all over the world will go on to compete for a chance to shadow the global CEO Alain Dehaze for an additional month! This is an opportunity of a lifetime you won’t want to miss.
Compensation
If you thought all the benefits we’ve already mentioned were good, wait until you find out about the pay. Yes, the Adecco Group’s CEO for One Month internship is a paid position! Forget compensation for bus passes or credit for school, the successful CEO for One Month candidate will receive a full month’s salary of ~$8,500 CAD. Use it as you please, because you earned it. Not bad for a summer internship!
How do I apply?
Applying for the Adecco Group CEO for One Month Program is easy! Head over to the application website, click on Apply Now, fill out your personal details, and make sure to select Canada as your country. Make sure to apply by April 16th if you want to get your foot in the door of the best internship in the country! After your application is sent, you’ll be asked to participate in a few online assessments and will be notified of the next steps by your program coordinator.
It’s that easy to apply and take part! So, apply on time, give it your best shot, and remember that this could be the springboard that launches you and your career to great heights. Good luck, we’ll be rooting for you!