Co-op Blogs

In this article, Software Systems student, Frank shares about doing a co-op at Sage in an interview style post. 

Walking into my first day of work for my co-op term at The Right Shoe, all I expected was just another retail job. But upon arriving at work, I quickly realized how much more informative and applicable to my degree the experience would be. What I thought would be just another retail experience turned out to be one of the most interesting, informative and relevant experiences of my life.

Communication Co-op student Kit Crowe gives you 5 good reasons why you should accept that co-op work term extension. 

"In all of my years, I worked to be well known, respected and network with many people.  Those networks proved to be worth-while as I worked my way up the ladder.  It pays to make good connections that has strategically helped me out when I needed them." 

In my work term with BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA), I had the opportunity to help plan and organize the company’s biggest event of the year, and it just so happened to be BC’s biggest and longest running technology awards celebration.

Noah did his co-op at PMC-Sierra. In this article he introduces the engineering term “ramp up” and identifies five ways to get up to speed when you start a co-op.

Understanding the importance of applying classroom knowledge to the workplace, Tessa decides to apply for a co-op position with Live Well Exercise Clinic. Read about their journey and find out what you can't learn in a classroom!  

For some employers today, a degree has become the minimum requirement for most entry-level jobs. Having spoke with this year's winner of the SCOY Award of Merit, Terence Chu, the solution to this conundrum, for me, became apparent.  

Consider the benefits of doing an international co-op and exchange.

Learn how communication is one of the most important skills to develop at work. 

What’s your dream job? Like many students, Christina Guan has some big dreams.  But her dreams actually became a reality this summer.  Find out how this SFU student was able to utilize her skillset and land an internship of a lifetime.

Moving through your work term, it is valuable to consider what you will take from your co-op experience that will benefit your future career. Kimberly Blair recommends keeping three things in mind: portfolio, contacts, and resume.

Applying for jobs can seem tedious and through my experiences, I have compiled six tips that can help you improve your results and get noticed!

I am a Lefty, a techy, and as my coffee mug says, a “hawt geek”. This is what I can proudly say after finding myself through my first co-op placement. On day one, I thought I signed up for work, but what I really signed up for was a second family at Left of the Dot Media Inc. 

Meet Lindsay Wainwright, 32, who has already completed her second year of medical school at UBC even though she is just graduating with her SFU B.Sc. this June.

Moving away from home is a life changing experience. It is a combination of exciting and scary, happy and sad, and everything in between. Throw in a new city and a new job and everything just intensifies. One of the first questions that come to mind are what do you do and where do you start?

Before finding his first co-op placement, Shem Navalta found himself frustrated that his “ideal” job wasn’t available to him. In this post, Shem talks about his experience with searching for his first co-op job and provides advice on how to be open to opportunities that will help you grow. 

How do you land a co-op when you’ve only flipped burgers or only possess experience in an entry level position. Madison lists 5 helpful tips that she learned from the process of applying to co-op positions with little to no true professional experience.  While it’s definitely harder, what’s life without a little challenge?

Kelly shares how her experience with SFU YWIB helped her in her career.  Find out what 5 lessons she learned, and what lessons you should know!

I spent a year working in a special needs kindergarten classroom and learned endless career and life skills to help me work towards my goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist.

Thinking about doing a co-op? Read about Carlie's co-op journey and how this experience has taught them the value of connections. 

What is the role of a technical writer? And what do you do working as one? Communication Co-op student Brent Restivo answers these questions, outlines the workflow of a typical technical writing project and takes you step-by-step through an actual on-the-job scenario.

Two Beedie undergraduate students, Luming Zhao and Xiwen Zheng, successfully secured full-time roles at the prestigious PwC Shanghai office after completing their co-op work terms there. Read to learn more about their experience, how they did it, and how you can too! This article was previously published in SFU News on June 8, 2015.

You might have noticed some amazing co-op stories written by your fellow peers on the OLC, but have you ever considered sharing your story?  Here are five reasons why you should write for the OLC.

Follow Soloman on an adventure to Los Angeles as his company "throws" him out to sea on a large vessel to test out filming at sea. Here's the story.

In a country filled with monks, crazy drivers, and frequent power outages, things were different living in Burma. After four months, it started to feel a bit like home. Here’s a glimpse into my unique experience as a political intern for the Embassy of Canada to Burma (Myanmar). 

You meet a lot of intelligent people working in research, but intelligence isn’t going to get you far as a researcher. The ability to communicate with your peers and to external viewers is critical to being successful. Read on as Charlies shares his experience working amongst research lab groups and why it’s a valuable skill to be able to communicate to those both in and outside your field.

Whether you’re pursuing a career in writing or not, excellent writing and communication skills are often at the top of the list for job qualifications. Here are five simple steps to drastically improve your writing and set yourself apart from other applicants in a highly competative job market. 

Puppy Therapy, Laughter Yoga, and Knitting Club... Read about Megan's co-op experience at SFU's Health and Counselling and the valuable lessons learnt in this 8-month journey. 

Have you ever wanted to live and work abroad but could “never” find something career related? Well, in my opinion, what you “could not find” might actually be right in front of your eyes. There are countless opportunities for students to live abroad while teaching English. You just might be surprised at what occupational skills you might be able to extract from such a position. Have a read of my article to find out.

Why working in the industry is really valuable to grad students - my six months at Oracle Labs, Vancouver.

Kenneth Moy is a Kinesiology student who spent his co-op placement at Thompson Community Centre. Read on to find out what he learned after four months as a fitness professional.

Getting accustomed to a new workplace with new people can be daunting. MBB student Janelle shares her experience working for the fast-paced industrial lab, Maxxam.

Getting accustomed to a new workplace with new people can be daunting. MBB student Janelle shares her experience working for the fast-paced industrial lab, Maxxam.

If you are a business student looking for an opportunity to get some work experience, Co-op is a great start.

Read about Kikuko's role as a chiropractic assistant at Mckenzie Chiropractic. During this co-op experience, they were able to assist with laser therapy, spinal decompressions and so much more!  

Being a Communication major, people tend to automatically assume you have this gargantuan, larger than life personality, and that you’re just a natural people-person. But what about those of us who are, what some might call, introverts?

Seasoned co-op student Courtney McKinnon spent eight months as a Fundraising Coordinator and did a co-op with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Read Courtney's story to find out how you can make the most of your co-op!

Nervous heart palpitations, a piercing adrenaline rush, and a case of the stutters; like many Co-op students on their first day at work, I had just been asked to present an introductory speech in front of my colleagues.

Pamela Plantinga, BPK Behavioural Neuroscience student, took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to a paid trip abroad and augmented it into a self-directed short-term dual internship experience in Nashville, Tennessee before going further abroad to Europe.

Worried about the difficulties you may face while trying to communicate in a foreign country? I hope these 5 tips can be of some sort of encouragement! 화이팅!

Samantha went to Japan through the Canada Japan Co-op Program and worked at Kao Corporation as a co-op student. Find out what it took for Samantha to settle into her life in Japan.

Do you feel like you have control over your life? Do you feel empowered as you walk out the door to conquer whatever comes your way? I have a secret to share with you and the good news is that it’s incredibly simple. In this article I share how to be productive, how not to focus on being busy, and why that is important.

You have an excellent layout and consistent format to your resume.  Your design elements are eye catching while still being subtle and appropriate for the job.  All of this will be of no use if your content is not reflective of someone who has taken the time to fully explain his or her skills and experiences.

When I had the opportunity to attend the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC/BC’s) Communication Planning 101 Workshop, I jumped at the chance to learn a little more about strategic communication and writing a communication plan.

Jennifer Johnson is a 4th year business student concentrating in Marketing with a Corporate Social Responsibility Certificate.  She reflects on what it was like to work at CGA-BC and CPABC as a Marketing Assistant where she worked on large scale event planning.

Job searching? Starting out in an industry? Switching careers? Exploring your options? There are many reasons we need to do company and industry research in our professional lives. You may need these skills when exploring new industries or fields, creating a job application or preparing for an interview.

Have you ever considered working for a small firm?  Nick Pochailo, a fourth year business student spent eight months working in a small firm and realized he reaped many benefits from a small firm that he might not have at a large firm.  Read on to find out why you should consider a small firm for your co-op.