Your career begins with co-op

What will my future career be like? How can I best prepare myself for entering the workforce? Many Faculty of Arts students ask themselves these questions. Well, co-op is here to help provide some answers, and mostly – hands on experience. 

The Faculty of Arts Co-operative Education Program helps students launch their career while still in university. By adding co-op to their degree, students alternate academic terms with four-month work terms (three work terms in total). During the work terms, students work full-time in their desired industry, gain a diverse range of work experience, build professional and technical skills, and network – all while earning credits toward their degree. 

Lu, an international student who worked with Turning Leaf and Manitoba Health, shared that working for different organizations helped her determine which career she would like to pursue. During her second work term, she found herself drawn to Human Resources and is now pursuing further education to expand her knowledge in this field. 

Looking to support refugees and newcomers, Jock worked with N.E.E.D.S and Manitoba Justice. Jock said both employers made her feel empowered. “They see students as eager learners and capable contributors,” said Jock. Her supervisors trusted her with meaningful tasks and responsibilities as if she was a permanent employee. She is currently applying for a full-time, permanent position within the Government of Manitoba. 

Co-op work placements also offer networking opportunities that have long term value. Abby Procter shared that the connections she made while working at the Canada Water Agency are what brought her to her third work-term position at Environment and Climate Change Canada. After her final work-term had ended, she was offered a part-time job with ECCC while she completes her degree. Procter is now utilizing what she learned through co-op, planning to attend law school and hoping to launch a future career in government. 

While securing each work placement is the student’s responsibility, the Arts co-op office offers a tremendous amount of support - from LinkedIn workshops to resume reviews and mock interviews – the co-op team is there to support co-op students in the job search process and throughout each work-term. “I am proud to share that more than 75% of our graduates secured placements with one of their co-op employers,” said Co-op Coordinator Laura Basilious. “Some students also use their co-op experience as a valuable foundation for graduate studies, receiving strong support and reference letters from their former co-op employers. Co-op experience is not only experiential learning; it is a real opportunity to enter the professional world, gain hands-on professional experience, complete 12 months of professional exposure, and enter the labour market after graduation with confidence, enthusiasm, and awareness.”

Students who attended the information session shared why they’re interested in applying for co-op: “I want to explore the field I am planning to be a part of and build connections with experienced professionals, in my case – clinical counsellors,” said Camilla Romano, a psychology student. Arts student Oleksi Petruchek (undeclared) shared that they “hope to gain valuable experience that will help boost my application to law school.” 

Do you want to get ahead of the game with your career aspirations? Adding co-op to your Bachelor of Arts degree might be what you are looking for. With a dedicated team to help you along your journey, great job opportunities and countless professional learning experiences available, adding co-op to your degree helps you build a strong foundation for your future career.