Co-op Placement
A co-op program or work term allows you to gain experience and earn money while studying. Most co-ops tend to be more commonly available for specific subjects, typically engineering and computer science. However, other faculties are discovering the benefits of co-op and you can find them in a wider range of subjects. Check with individual universities and colleges for co-op opportunities.
And you can top up your funds by working during vacations, and in your free time. The career services centre of the college or university you attend will have listings of part-time jobs on campus and in the local area.
How does a co-op program work?
A co-operative educational path is usually completed over more than one semester. It includes work assignments in organizations and/or businesses related to your academic and career interests. The typical program involves alternating terms of full-time classroom study with terms of full-time, discipline-related employment.
This allows you to integrate your academic studies with work experiences in an employer’s organization. The time spent working in the employer’s organization provides you with not only a credit toward your degree/diploma but also with the opportunity to:
- make some money,
- gain experience,
- network, and
- try out your career path.
What good is a co-op program?
A co-op program helps you:
- clarify your career plans,
- apply the theories you are learning in school,
- learn how to promote yourself,
- gain work experience and exposure,
- expand your network, and
- finance your education.
How do I get into a co-op program?
First you have to find out if your school has a program, then you have to apply. Once you are accepted, you will have to:
- prepare a concise resume,
- view posted job descriptions,
- apply to the jobs that interest you, and
- go through the interview process.
Does everyone in a co-op program get a job?
The vast majority of students in co-op programs do get jobs. For the few students who don’t find a co-op job through the interview process, the options could be:
- find your own discipline-related employment,
- return to school for another academic term, and
- find unrelated employment in order to earn next term’s tuition.
Need more information?
Want to find out, which schools offer co-op programs?
Try Uni-search-ITy, an online database featuring a searchable list of Canadian schools offering IT programs.