Co-operative education and internships
In today’s competitive job market, setting yourself apart from other candidates with a defining quality or experience can make the difference in securing a job.
What are co-ops and internships?
A co-op program allows students to combine academic study with work experience by spending one term on campus followed by another term working full-time in a position related to their field of study. Work terms are usually four months long. Upon degree completion you will have the same number of academic terms as anyone else, and you will also have up to two years of valuable career-related work experience. An internship is defined as a supervised practical training period for a student or recent graduate. The amount of time spent at an internship tends to vary, depending on the program and the job. Co-ops and internships provide you with some of the practical experience you will require when facing the job market after graduation.
Benefits to students and to employers
Students who take advantage of co-ops and/or internships clarify their career goals and can determine their working-style preferences before they even get their first full-time career job. A strong benefit of these work terms, as you look beyond graduation and think of your future career, are the business networks that are created. The contacts made during the work terms, both within the organization and externally, can become a significant asset in a job search later on. This includes advice, references, job leads, and may even lead to a job offer if you manage to impress the employer.
As well, students benefit from co-op and internships by:
Employers also benefit from a co-op or intern by getting a fresh outlook on their business projects from someone who is trained in the area. Sometimes the match is so good that it could lead to a full-time job offer after graduation.
How do co-ops work?
There are a variety of ways that co-op and internship opportunities work. For specifics, inquire directly to the school to which you are applying. Some co-op and internship options are included in the choice of degree when you first apply, while others are an option to which you apply upon completion of your first year. When there is a co-op or internship option within your degree, there are a variety of different schedules for the periods you are studying and working. When completing a degree with a co-op option, an example of a standard first and second-year structure might be to study through the fall and winter semesters in year one, with a co-op job in the summer semester. Year two would then have study periods in the fall and summer semesters, with a co-op job in the winter semester.
Depending on the school that you are attending, there may be a required introductory course that will explain your responsibilities on the job, the atmosphere to expect and the process of gaining employment. The process of gaining employment in a certain field of study depends on the institution and how they organize and attain the co-op opportunities. At some institutions, co-ops and internships are offered only to certain programs, so organizations are approached accordingly. When a school has a good reputation within the community because of its co-op and internship students, organizations might also approach the institution to sponsor a student.
In both co-op and internships, some students find their own employment opportunities. If the work term is counted toward a degree, a student must gain approval from their co-op or internship advisor to ensure that the work meets the program requirements. In other cases, sponsoring organizations are sought by the co-op program, and a job bank of available positions is created. Students go through the process of reviewing job opportunities, applying, and interviewing before receiving an offer. The types of jobs that students have been placed in at AUCC member universities across Canada range from marketing coordinators, purchasing assistants and data analysts to museum assistants, urban designers, and technical writers.
What happens at the end of the work term?
If the work term counts towards your degree, there is often an evaluative component that will have to be completed by the end of each work term. This may be a written submission outlining what you have learned from the placement. More recently, some schools have begun asking for a learning portfolio instead of a written submission. This tool allows students to document what they have learned from their work experience. It provides a chance to see how far you have come, especially in instances when students have completed more than one work term.
What are the admission criteria?
Depending on the program, some students will apply to a co-op program straight out of high school. Once accepted, students generally start their first work term after their first year of studies. Each school is different, however, and specifics need to be found from the school itself.
Co-op and internship programs are very competitive, so typically there is a minimum average students must maintain to stay in the program. They must have strong communication and interpersonal skills to find success in their interviews and placements.
Will I get paid?
Whether or not you get paid depends on the program you are enrolled in and the sponsoring organization of your work term. A lot of times students will get paid, making a co-op or internship option attractive for students who finance their own education. In general, the salaries for a co-op or internship student range from 0 to 0 per week depending on the program and placement.
To gain experience in an unusual field, some students take unpaid work terms. In other cases, instead of being paid regularly, a student may be given an honorarium at the end of the term.
Students should be aware that there are also fees associated with some co-op or internship programs. These fees vary by institution, and go towards covering the operating costs that are associated with running a co-op education or internship program.
What next?
Follow up with universities you are considering to get more detailed information on available programs, and talk to friends and family who have done a co-op or internship to hear about their experiences. Postsecondary education prepares students with the necessary tools for the job market, and co-op and internship programs are an excellent way for students to gain relevant experience and get a glimpse into the future towards a successful career.
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