Field placement FAQs
How does the field placement work?
You will research and apply for a variety of placement positions during the first semester of the program. These postings have been organized by the program coordinator. Once you have been accepted for a placement position, you will work with them every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the second semester in order to complete the minimum requirement of 224 hours. There will also be assignments within the field placement course, such as a learning contract, bi-weekly reports, an online portfolio, as well as a presentation at the end of the term.
Do we have to find our own placements or does the College assign them?
The program coordinator leverages industry connections in order to provide a wide variety of opportunities for field placements. The opportunities are posted and students formally apply with a resume and cover letter. The organization will then choose candidates they wish to meet and interview and they will make an offer to the best fit and/or most qualified candidate. This process mirrors what happens during the job search after graduation, and much like a job interview – a field placement offer is not guaranteed.
You are also welcome to find your own placement, but you must provide the contact details as well as a full description of your role. Your program coordinator will assess and decide whether or not to approve this opportunity as your placement.
What kinds of organizations participate in field placement?
We have had students working in every type of organization including large corporations, small businesses, non-profits, arts organizations, as well as municipal and provincial government offices.
Do we have to do a placement in London or can it be somewhere else, for example, Toronto?
Your placement can be outside of London, although we don’t recommend it. You will still be in classes Mondays and Tuesdays during the second term, and you have to attend those classes, and you would have to look after your own travel and accommodation costs. Keep in mind that there are many opportunities with great organizations right here in London.
What kind of jobs will I be doing at my placement?
This will vary from one organization to another. Each placement organization will have different needs and strategies. It is, therefore, important to carefully choose the right placement for your interests. The placement opportunities available to you will be as varied as the public relations and corporate communications field itself.
Some of the duties that students have performed in the past are: editing documents, writing articles, performing interviews in the field, managing social media accounts, preparing communication plans, updating websites, contacting donors, printing and preparing documents for release, doing competitor analysis, looking at industry trends, planning events, etc.
Is the placement paid?
Typically, field placement is not paid as it is part of a course in the overall program. There are, however, some instances where a placement has been paid or the organization offered a stipend or honorarium, but that must not be an expectation. The point of the placement is to gain experience, network, achieve the required hours, and complete the associated course work in order to graduate.