What’s it really like to intern at Interac?
From day one, our interns are embedded in real work, from collaborating across teams, building meaningful skills, and gaining hands-on experience that helps shape their careers.
To bring this experience to life, we sat down with five of our summer interns to hear, in their own words, what surprised them most, what they’ve learned, and what advice they’d share with future candidates.
Here’s what they had to say:
Aman Musa, People and Culture Intern
What surprised you the most about working at Interac?
The environment stood out immediately. While many corporate spaces can feel rigid, Interac felt welcoming and familiar from the start. Everyone is approachable, and it’s easy to build connections. Even small moments show how supportive and considerate people are.
What skills have you learned or strengthened since starting your internship?
I’ve strengthened my listening and communication skills. Being in meetings where I’m still learning the context has pushed me to be more present, ask thoughtful questions, and engage more confidently in conversations.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an Interac internship in the future?
The advice I’d give to someone starting an internship at Interac is to be yourself. There’s no need to put on a persona – being genuine helps you connect with others more naturally. When you’re authentic, people respond to that, and it makes the experience more comfortable and rewarding.
Describe your internship in 1–2 words.
Colourful. I’ve met people from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and personalities – but everyone finds a way to connect and be welcoming, both in and outside of work.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your internship?
I wish I had been more confident from the start. It’s easy to feel like you might not fit into a corporate environment, but Interac is very open and supportive. Being more outgoing earlier on would have helped me make even more connections.
How would you describe the culture at Interac in a few words?
Homey and supportive – like a team that genuinely wants to see you succeed
“Being yourself makes the biggest difference – people connect with you more when you’re genuine.”
Melanie Bennett, Legal, Compliance & Regulatory Intern
What surprised you the most about working at Interac?
What surprised me most was the balance between work and wellbeing. Things like wellness days and summer flex hours weren’t something I had experienced before, and they’ve given me dedicated time to recharge, spend time with family, and focus on personal interests.
What skills have you learned or strengthened since starting your internship?
I’ve developed both technical and soft skills. On the technical side, I’ve gained experience in data handling, compliance, and contract review. On the soft skills side, I’ve strengthened my time management and adaptability, especially balancing multiple projects and shifting priorities.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an Interac internship in the future?
The advice I’d give to someone applying for an internship at Interac is to lean into your network and be yourself. Building connections through simple conversations and coffee chats can open doors, and what helps you stand out is showing what makes you unique – whether that’s your academics, experiences, or perspective.
Describe your internship in 1–2 words. Explain.
Welcoming and intentional. From day one, people were supportive and encouraging, which made it easy to settle in. There’s also a strong sense of intention – both in how teams connect with each other and in the work being done.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your internship?
How important networking is. Simple check-ins and conversations can lead to meaningful opportunities, and being proactive about building those connections makes a big difference.
How would you describe the culture at Interac in a few words?
Balanced and engaging. There’s a strong focus on delivering meaningful work, while also making time to connect and have fun as a team.
“There’s a real balance here – strong work, but also time to connect and recharge.”
Anjali Sondagar, Agile Project Coordinator Intern
What surprised you the most about working at Interac?
The openness of the environment. Everyone is approachable and willing to connect, whether it’s reaching out for a quick Teams chat or setting up a coffee meeting. It makes it easy to learn from others and build your network.
What skills have you learned or strengthened since starting your internship?
I’ve strengthened my communication skills and developed a deeper understanding of agile practices. I’ve also built my facilitation skills by supporting team implementations and helping coordinate across different groups.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an Interac internship in the future?
The advice I’d give to someone starting an internship at Interac is to not be afraid to ask questions. Everyone is there to support you, and no question is the wrong one. It’s also important to connect with your fellow interns; those relationships really shape the overall experience.
Describe your internship in 1–2 words. Explain.
Innovative and open. There’s a strong openness to new ideas, as leaders are genuinely interested in hearing from interns and are willing to explore suggestions and different ways of working.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your internship?
I wish I had stressed less. Since this was my first internship, it felt intimidating at first, but the environment is very welcoming. Being yourself and staying adaptable makes the experience much easier.
How would you describe the culture at Interac in a few words?
Goal-oriented, forward-driven, and friendly.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because no question is the wrong question.”
Michael Salib, Product Design and Research Intern
What surprised you the most about working at Interac?
What surprised me most was how homey it feels. Coming in, I expected it to feel like a large, intimidating company given the impact Interac has across Canada – but it’s actually the opposite. The teams are close-knit, people know each other, and it feels much smaller and more personal than I anticipated. That made it easy to settle in quickly.
What skills have you learned or strengthened since starting your internship?
I’ve gained hands-on experience in UX research – running user tests, synthesizing insights, and contributing to a research readout for Interac Verified. It’s been a great way to see how research and design work together.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an Interac internship in the future?
The advice I’d give is to do your research. Going beyond Interac Debit and Interac e-Transfer, understanding products like the Interac Verified solutions or Konek can really help you stand out.
Describe your internship in 1–2 words. Explain.
Holistic. I’ve had the chance to work on real projects while also connecting with people across the organization – it’s been a well-rounded experience.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your internship?
To be more proactive. Rather than waiting for tasks, looking for where you can add value makes a bigger impact.
How would you describe the culture at Interac in a few words?
Open and inclusive.
“Don’t wait for tasks. Look for where you can add value.”
Julian Yu, Innovation Intern
What surprised you the most about working at Interac?
I was really surpised with how accessible people are. When I approach people, they are open to answering my questions, and people are always happy to help.
What skills have you learned or strengthened since starting your internship?
I’ve strengthened my communication skills the most – whether it’s with my manager, other interns, or people outside my team. Learning how to express ideas clearly has made it easier to connect and collaborate.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an Interac internship in the future?
The advice I’d give to someone starting an Interac internship is to show how you think. You don’t need to have all the experience, because what matters is how you approach problems. That’s what managers are really looking for.
Describe your internship in 1–2 words. Explain.
Energizing. Coming into the office feels motivating because you’re constantly being challenged and pushed to grow.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your internship?
I wish I had more confidence in taking ownership early on. Whether it’s a project, meeting, or conversation, approaching it with confidence and seeing yourself as part of the team makes a big difference.
How would you describe the culture at Interac in a few words?
Collaborative. People are open, supportive, and genuinely willing to work together.
“You don’t need all the experience – what matters is how you think.”
