Quote:
Originally Posted by airclimber
How did your second and third Co ops go? Was it a lot easier getting the positions after having that first Co op experience?
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Didn't do a 2nd or a 3rd. That co-op was 8 months so I had a few semesters left... the next summer I landed a summer internship on my own (not through co-op) and stayed part time afterwards until I graduated and transitioned to FT afterwards (I'm still there). The internship was in a completely different field of work so I'm taking some online courses and going BCIT in Jan to catch up academically.
I don't really care about the co-op title on my transcript so I didn't bother doing the required 3 or 4 work terms....
It was immensely easier once you have that first co-op. Even if the position and tasks are different its easy to tie in transferable skills to convince the employer that you're either capable or adaptable. It's a lot harder to convince the employer (both on the cover letter and in the interview) that your experience as a sales associate or barista will help you succeed in the co-op job you're applying to.... besides communication skills, there really isn't all that much you can talk about and relate to. Having that first job also provides solid references and gives your future employer reassurance. And lastly... think about competition... even though a job might say 'no prior office/professional experience required', you're probably up against candidates who have done co-op, internships or other related work, which
might put you at a disadvantage already.