What is Co-operative Education?

Co-operative education is an educational model that formally integrates academic studies with relevant work experience. Co-op students alternate terms of school and work in appropriate fields of business, industry, government, social services, or the professions. Work terms are usually four months long. When you're finished your degree, you'll have the same number of study/academic terms as a non-co-op student, plus up to two years of work experience.

Why choose co-op?

It helps you to:

* Clarify your career plans and preferred working style so you can pinpoint the type of job you want after graduating.

* Apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom.

* Continuously improve your interview skills and learn how to confidently promote yourself to an employer.

* Gain up to two years of relevant work experience.

* Learn workplace etiquette.

* Improve your organizational and time management skills.

* Earn a salary to help finance your education.

* Develop a professional résumé with a solid work history.

* Get hands-on experience with the latest tools or methods in your field.

* Build business contacts to assist in finding employment upon graduation.

* Set yourself apart from the rest of university graduates - you will not only have a degree from the most highly regarded university in Canada, but nearly 2 years more work experience than your peers.

* Be constantly challenged by something new because of the mix of school and work.

* Try working in your chosen field without a long-term commitment.

How does co-op work?

Prepare a concise résumé. It is best to do this before coming to campus. For help with your résumé once you are in co-op at Waterloo:

* Review the résumé section of the Career Development eManual.

* After completing the résumé module in Co-op 101/PD1/GENE 010 you can make an appointment to have it critiqued.

Take the online course "PD1", or if you are in Engineering, a combination in-class and online called "Co-op Fundamentals for Engineering."

This required course for co-op students prior to the first work term will help you to understand the co-op employment process and how it fits with your career development. Read the posted job openings in JobMine and apply to those that interest you.

Take part in interviews with employers who select you based on your résumé and record.

Rank the interviews you had in order of preference - a computer will try to match you with one of the jobs for which you had an interview and were selected as suitable for employment.

Continue the application and interview process if you are not matched until you secure employment.

Complete your work term, during which you will write an analytical work report. You must work a minimum of twelve weeks, at thirty-five hours a week, to receive credit.

Image Credits:

1. Batmoo

2. Keith Little

3. Batmoo