1. What is field placement?

Answer: It's a course in Semester 3 which gives you the opportunity to demonstrate to an advertising agency or other approved marketing communications company all the knowledge and skills you have learned about Account Management. If you take it in an alternative semester you may not be eligible for OSAP. You must pay tuition for the Placement semester for it to be recognized as a course.

2. What are the benefits of taking field placement?

Answer: During your field placement interns learn the day-to-day operations of account management and gain hands-on experience that you can highlight on your resume. Placement is a great time for you to work hard and impress your agency with your dedication and work ethic. Many students are offered full-time or contract positions while on placement.

3. What credits or courses do I need in order to be eligible for field placement?

Answer: Completion of all courses in Semester 1 and Semester 2.

4. How do I register for placement?

Answer: Field placement is a tuitioned course similar to your previous semester courses. Your field placement occurs in the summer and tuition for the semester will not be included on your fall fees statement. You will receive a separate fee statement in March/April for your placement semester. Please observe your fees deadline. When Web-registration opens for summer semester, be sure to visit myCentennial and build your timetable as you would for other semesters. If you do not register for placement, you will not be allowed to report to your agency.

5. Why do I pay for field placement?

Answer: Your field placement hours are part of your program and contribute to the mandatory hours required to complete your program, as approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. Payment for your entire program is distributed over the number of semesters you attend.

Mandatory non-tuition fees are also included in your fees for placement semester. These fees are reviewed and approved each new academic year by several committees and your Student Association.

During your field placement you are still considered a student of Centennial College with all associated privileges and responsibilities. You will have access to the campus computer labs, college libraries and your Workers' Compensation is covered by the college

6. Will I be paid while on placement?

Answer: Field Placement is your final semester term, during which you apply your skills, without pay, in a professional environment. You should start budgeting and saving for your placement early. Some agencies will let you leave an hour or so early to get to your part-time job. You must negotiate this with the agency when they offer you the placement. See your Coordinator for advising if you have extenuating circumstances.

7. Will the program find me a field placement?

Answer: The Advertising Account Management program does not find you a placement. Our experience has been that our students want to be in control of what agency they work at and what department they work in. The experience of securing a placement is very valuable and we will give you all the necessary interview skills.

8. If not, how will I get a placement?

Answer: The faculty in the Advertising Account Management program will give you support such as:
• Internship postings. We will send you via e-mail and post in the office all opportunities that agencies give us. Some years our postings exceed the number of students looking.
• Agency tours. We will visit small, medium and large agencies. The agencies will talk about their business, clients, philosophy and give you other insight to help you make your decision.
• Past recommendations from grads.
• In class discussions about agencies.
• Guest speakers from ad agencies.
• One-on-one counsel from faculty.

9. What will my placement hours be?

Answer: Agency hours vary and even within an agency, different departments vary. You should plan on working roughly 9am - 5pm, five days a week. When you are interviewed make sure you ask the hours and get permission to leave early for work if you need to. Also make sure that your college placement supervisor has an e-mail with your request to leave early. If you are planning to take any time off, you must inform your agency at the interview/offer time and also inform your college placement supervisor. Requests made after this date are looked at as very unprofessional. Any time taken off must be made up at the end of placement.