Equity Internship Program

Last updated on April 30, 2024

The Equity Internship Program coordinates paid internships within the BC Public Service for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit, and other community members (LGBTQ2S+). All internships are 12-months long and run from the beginning of September to the end of August the next year.

The Equity Internship Program aims to:

Encourage BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ people to consider the BC Public Service as a place to pursue a rewarding career
Support BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ individuals to develop their career paths and leadership skills
Help address social and economic barriers that exist between BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ people and other British Columbians

The Equity Internship Program welcomes BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ applicants who have experience in managing projects or project components.

Who is eligible to apply for the Equity Internship Program?

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Secondary school graduation (Dogwood, GED)
Two years demonstrated leadership skills and experience gained through work, community, or volunteer opportunities. Experience may include:
- Managing projects or project components
- Supporting the design, delivery, and/or evaluation of projects or programs
- Searching, gathering, and examining information and summarizing the research findings
- Developing presentations, and/or support materials for meetings or events
- Organizing and prioritizing your and/or other people’s work
- Communicating effectively using word processing and spreadsheets, preferably in Microsoft Office Suite
An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

Timelines

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January to February

Ministries submit applications to the Equity Internship Program to host an intern for the upcoming September.

March to April

Job profiles are created for each role and posted on the job boards
Applicants apply for positions that will begin in September

May to July

A hiring process is conducted to select applicants for the open positions
The hiring process includes:
- Screening applications for job requirements
- Evaluating the applicants’ skills through an assignment and interviews
- Completing past work performance reviews

July to August

Selected applicants are matched with available internship positions
Host teams participate in learning and coaching sessions to prepare for the arrival of interns

September to August

The internship runs.

What do Equity Internship Program interns gain?

Through the program interns will gain:

Paid experience working in the BC Public Service
Opportunities to learn about different roles within government and potential career paths
Peer support and inclusion in a cohort of other BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ people
Networking with other professionals and BC Public Service employees
Access to potential further employment opportunities in the BC Public Service
Experience leading projects to remove barriers and biases

Project leadership

A key component of the internship program is an opportunity to lead the design, development and/or implementation of a project to remove barriers and biases. This project will help interns to further develop their leadership skills, which will set them up for longer-term employment.

The projects will differ for each position, but they will all involve:

Collaborating across varying teams
Developing and managing project work
Conducting research and creating reports
Developing communication materials

How the Equity Internship Program benefits supervisors

Hiring through the internship program means:

The hiring process is done for you from the creation of job profiles to the evaluation of applicants
You are supporting equitable hiring practices and the development of a workforce that accurately reflects the clients we serve
You’ll receive ongoing support throughout the 12-month internship
There will be opportunities to network with other supervisors and teams that are participating in the program

Hiring process

The hiring process for the internship program includes three phases that align with BC Public Service hiring practices:

Resume and questionnaire
Written assignment
Interview

Applicants that are screened in (i.e., meet the eligibility criteria) receive more information about what to expect at each phase. Successful applicants will be matched to available internship positions based on interests, education, and experience.

The BC Public Service is committed to ensuring hiring processes are equitable. All efforts will be made to make the phases accessible to all candidates. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point, you are encouraged to request one.