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Internships have become an important factor in students gaining valuable experience to help them land that dream job.

That’s what Bram Gonshor hoped when he began his internship for a popular talk show.

Gonshor started his search months in advance and ended up working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for several weeks, wrapping up in May.  As a Radio and Television student, internships were a required part of his program and he says something in his head clicked when he was watching Jimmy Fallon one evening.

After a few Google searches and a straightforward email to the music co-ordinator of the show, Gonshor was thrilled to find himself on set in New York’s Rockefeller Centre.

“I was given such a rare and unique experience and without the internship program, I wouldn't have been able to do it,” says Gonshor, who has just graduated. “Everyone who wants to work in the entertainment industry has to at least do one [internship] at some point in their career.”

Gonshor’s gig allowed him to work with the likes of Elvis Costello and The Roots and with the music co-ordinator doing sound checks and camera blocking as well as gathering props for sketches for the shows. He believes the combination of his RTA degree and position of music intern on the comedy show has kept him competitive in an industry he admits is tough to break into. He is now working in customer support for a content distribution company.

Arlene Dougall, the internship co-ordinator at Ryerson’s School of Interior Design says she has seen many students graduating with employment at firms where they interned.

“It’s completely invaluable. That experience is incredibly helpful for [students] moving forward when they are looking for a full time position,” says Dougall. “There are things we can’t possibly teach them in school that they are learning in the field.”

Dougall says internships for interior design students allow them to see how the design process moves to the production phase and have an advantage over other candidates because they have been trained in the routines and systems of a particular company.

Gaining inroads in the job market makes a difference as many graduates are feeling the heat of a rough and competitive job market. According to Statistics Canada, the youth unemployment rate is 14.9 per cent – similar to the rate a year ago and more than double the overall unemployment rate.  

This year, many Ryerson students enjoyed valuable learning placements in marketing, politics, journalism, television production, education and design. Some more notable placements include students working at Queen’s Park, with designer Debbie Travis’ branding company and with a non-government organization in Malawi.  

Like Gonshor’s internship, many of these positions are unpaid, but some students say it’s worth it. Internships help hone their strengths and interests. The experience can also enhance a resumé instantly.

This summer, Matthew O’Mara, a fourth-year journalism student, is interning in the press gallery at the Ontario legislature.

O’Mara’s days begin bright and early at 8 a.m. He is responsible for attending and transcribing press conferences and scrums as well as working closely with journalists as administrative support. O’Mara says meeting the party leaders like Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty have been a highlight of his internship, which finishes at the end of August. His internship is paid, but the experience is the real draw.

“Internships in journalism are extraordinarily important. It’s the stepping stone to making real contacts in the beat,” says O’Mara.

Internships not only provide practical experience, but they are also an excellent place to make contacts. O’Mara says his internship is a great way to network with journalists and he has already been offered freelance work.

An intern’s job isn’t usually glamorous. They aren’t interviewing award-winning actors or changing policy at legislature, but it gets a student’s foot in the door. 

“You never know when Elvis Costello needs a black coffee run or Tom Morello needs a turkey sandwich - someone's got to do it!” says Gonshor.

Check out our photo gallery to find out what some Ryerson students are up to for the summer.

*Jeyan Jeganathan also has a great summer job as the Ryerson Today publications assistant. The journalism student is getting a lot of experience related to his field. He’s writing articles, shooting videos, choosing photos and posting news items online.