Heading into his third year in the Business Administration program at Trent University Durham GTA, Stephen Melissis began to really think about his future.

“How could I differentiate myself from the thousands of others who would graduate with the same degree as me?”

It was at this time, that the internship program offered at Trent University Durham caught his attention.

“A huge benefit of an internship is that you get to try things out and learn a lot about yourself and what you truly want in a career,” said Mr. Melissis.

Mr. Melissis was hired to complete an internship with the Durham Workforce Authority (DWA). It was through this opportunity that he was able to figure out the type of career he would like to pursue once he graduated.

Throughout his internship with the DWA, Mr. Melissis proved to be a valuable addition to the team by contributing directly to a project. In return he was able to make connections within the organization. Proving that internships are beneficial for both the student and the employer.

“We appreciate students unique perspective – they are young, ask questions and provide insight that we may not have. These insights are helpful to ensure that our work is relevant,” said Heather McMillan, executive director DWA.

Shortly after Mr. Melissis graduated from Trent University Durham in 2019, a position at the DWA came up that he was interested in pursuing. Since he had impressed his supervisors during his internship the DWA were excited to see a familiar name apply, which led to him landing the position as their community labour market specialist.

Mr. Melissis thinks that all students should take advantage of this great program offered at Trent Durham.

“Textbooks and lectures can only teach you so much; it’s that hands-on field experience and those real-world connections you make on the job that will ultimately elevate your career in the long run.”