Apprenticeships | Queen's University Faculty of Arts and Science

Careers start with experience.
Experience starts with opportunity.
Opportunity starts HERE.

Are you graduating this year? Wondering how you’ll gain meaningful employment? Launch your career this May through Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston (QCA:K).

This innovative program aims to match soon-to-be graduating Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences students with leading local employers to provide a great first work experience. You’ll gain a one-year, full-time, paid, career apprenticeship in beautiful Kingston, Ontario, along with mentorship and networking opportunities to ensure your success long-term.

Why QCA:K?

QCA: K is an opportunity to invest in and build your professionalism while contributing to the growth of a local organization.

Paid experience: apprenticeships pay a minimum yearly salary of $38,000.
Exclusive opportunities: exclusive access to a pool of professional roles.
Mentorship: be paired with a mentor to receive guidance and support during your first year in the workforce.
Skill building: develop skills and competencies that build your resume for the next role.
Networking: build valuable connections with individuals and organizations to support your professional development and obtain your first professional reference.

Why Kingston?

Ranked the best city in Canada for young, talented workers
3^rd best place to live in Canada
Offers diverse opportunities to people of all background
Kingston's culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is thriving and bringing with it new people, big ideas, and a fresh outlook on how to drive economic development in the community
QCA:K looks to integrate a new generation of young, skilled professionals who will bring a new and exciting approach to employers within Kingston.

2023 Opportunities

View postings and apply in MyCareer

Apply to multiple roles to increase employment offers. Applications are due March 1, 2023.

Eligibility

To apply for positions under the Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston (QCA: K) program, students must be:

Completing their final year of undergraduate studies and have applied to graduate in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Registered in a Bachelor of Arts degree and majoring in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences disciplines.
Willing to commit to 12 consecutive months of full-time employment in Kingston starting in May 2023.
Eligible for full-time employment in Canada at the time of submitting their application.

If you are unsure if your major will qualify for the program, please reach out to the Experiential Learning Coordinator at asc.el@queensu.ca.

Program Timeline

February 10, 2023 – deadline for employers to submit positions

February 26, 2023 – Application deadline

March 1 - 3, 2023 - Review of applications

March 6 – 24, 2023 – Interviewing window

April 3, 2023 – Deadline to submit rankings

April 10, 2023 – Selected students receive position offers

May 1, 2023 – Apprenticeships commence!

Career Readiness Resources

Put your best foot forward! Access free support for writing your resume and/or cover letter, polishing your interview skills, and more.

QCA:K Provides:

employment readiness support thought Career Services workshops
1-1 advising with a Career Advisor for resumes, cover letter, and interview preparation

Check the calendar to sign up for the workshops through MyCareer (under the Events/Workshop Calendar tab)!

Recommended Workshops:

Ramp up Your Resume
Conquer the Cover Letter
Winning Interviews, Fundamental Strategies
Exploring Career Options, Networking and the Job Search

These sessions are open to all students. Register in MyCareer (under the Events/Workshop Calendar tab) ASAP to secure your spot!

Past Apprentice Profiles

Will Shields (ArtSci ’21)

Nour Mazloum (ArtSci '19)

Justin Karch (ArtSci '18)

Carmen Song (ArtSci '18)

Previous Opportunities

For a list of employers and positions that previously participated, please see below.

Employer	Position
Aureus Solutions Inc.	Environmental Technical Writer
Axon Properties	Office and Accounting Assistant
Cher-Mère Canada	Digital Media Coordinator
Chris James Kingston	Administrative and Communications Assistant Shopify Administrator Womenswear Manager
Creative Display Technologies	Media Sales
Downtown Kingston! BIA	Marketing and Events Assistant
Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation	Business Advisor
Habitat for Humanity	Community Outreach Associate
Historic Inns Kingston Group	Grant Writing and Communications Manager
HR On Demand	Inside Sales Administrator Administrative Assistant
Improbable Escapes	Operations Assistant Video Content Creator
Kinarm (BNKIN Technologies Ltd.)	Communications Apprentice
Leahurst College	Marketing and Business Operations Associate Coordinator of Enrichment Studies and Administrative Support
Little Giant’s Rockin’ Dog Town	Manager of Operations and Social Media
MaxSold	Content Writer
Skeleton Park Brewery	Marketing Coordinator and Front of House Manager
Sherlock’s Escapes	Operations Manager Digital Media Coordinator
Snapcab	Marketing Assistant – Community Engagement
Thousand Islands Playhouse	Marketing Intern Marketing and Development Assistant
Telecom Metric	Account Coordinator Technical Solutions Specialist
Troon Technologies	Account Manager Product Manager
VIVA Productions	Digital Media Coordinator
Sun Life Financial	Administrative Assistant
Kingston Economic Development Corporation	Research Assistant
Rogers & Trainor Commercial Realty Inc. Brokerage	Executive Assistant
Thousand Island Playhouse	Company Coordinator
Kingston Institute of Psychotherapy & Neurofeedback	Clinic Administrator/Receptionist
CPDonline	Marketing and Operations Coordinator
Canada Royal Milk	Assistant to the General Manager
KEYS Job Centre	Program Assistant
Kingston Laser and Cosmetic Clinic	Patient Coordinator
Imperium Social	Project & Client Success Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation	Administrative and Projects Assistant

FAQs

Is the program open to distance learning student graduates?

Yes, being a distance learning student does not exclude you from the program. If employers wish to facilitate phone appointments or skype interviews, this will be at their discretion. Most employers we have found are willing to be flexible.

Is program open to students that graduated this past Fall?

For this year, we will accept student applications from those that are graduating with an undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Science degree with a major in the Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, or Humanities during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Does this program include all university programs, including 'direct entry' or just BA / BSc - for instance, could Fine Arts or BMus or KINE do this?

The program is focused on students in the liberal arts, humanities, social sciences programs and therefore open to students studying Arts, Fine Arts or BMus. Students graduating with a BSc. will not be considered at this time.

Is there a fee to apply?

No.

Where do students apply?

Please sign in to your MyCareer account and select the Queen’s Career Apprenticeship: Kingston (QCA: K) module. Please review the application details as described in each job posting.

Will this show on their transcripts and/or diploma?

No.

If I have completed the QUIP program, may I apply for this program?

Yes, this is an additional opportunity after graduation.

Is this an apprenticeship program like a trades apprenticeship?

This program is a learning opportunity, just as trades apprenticeships are, but this is a unique program designed for new university graduates to accelerate their first year employed post-graduation.

What other important information should I know before submitting an application?

All candidates must be eligible for full-time employment in Canada at the time of submitting their application.