Steps to a successful work term

​Quick links:

• Work term guide by week
• Skills for the workplace

Work term guide week-by-week

Check your university-assigned email regularly for messages from Co-operative Education.

We'll let you know about changes in co-op procedures and policies and other things of possible interest to you during your work term.

Week 1-2

• Workplace orientation.
• Discuss expectations with your supervisor.
• Set goals and objectives for the work term.

Week 4

• Think of a work report topic.
• If you want, discuss your work report topic with your supervisor.
• Follow the work report guidelines of your academic program or faculty.
• If your work report is confidential, check with your faculty to ensure it’s acceptable.

Week 5

• Review and revise your learning objectives if necessary.

Week 7

• Ask your supervisor for a mid-term evaluation before your work term consultation.
• Your work term consultation with your student advisor usually happens between weeks seven and 12. They will talk to you about your performance, goals, and objectives.
• Student advisors will not see every student on a work term; sometimes work term consultations will be conducted by phone or email.

Week 9

• Discuss with your student advisor and supervisor the opportunity to return for your next scheduled work term. If you’re invited to return, you’re expected to go back. If when applying to the job, the job description indicated a two-work term commitment, you must fulfill this requirement.
• Benefits of returning for a second work term:
  • shorter learning curve
  • increased knowledge
  • more responsibility
  • reduces employer's recruiting and training costs
  • increases productivity
• Review the performance evaluation form with your supervisor. The form must be completed before the end of your work term. You and your supervisor usually complete the evaluation form in the last couple of weeks of your work term. 

Week 13

• Complete the first draft of your work report.

Week 15

• Confirm with your supervisor the last day of your work term.
• Complete your work report.
  • If you’re in Mathematics and Applied Health Sciences, you must submit your report to your employer as well as to the university.
    • Your employer will complete and submit an:
      • employer work report evaluation form for students in Mathematics, or an
      • employer work report evaluation form for students in Applied Health Sciences.
• If you’re not returning for a second work term, revise and update your résumé to prepare for the next round of interviews.

Return to campus

• Confirm that your performance evaluation form was submitted to Co-operative Education.
• Sign-up online for your return to campus interview with your student advisor, if they’re expecting to meet with you.
• Confirm your work report due date.
• Verify your work term status on JobMine, for your next work term. 

Skills for the workplace

Interpersonal skills

• maintain positive attitude
• listen and communicate
• accept constructive criticism
• exercise your teamwork and leadership skills

Competence

• ask questions
• show initiative
• improve skills
• admit your mistakes and learn from them

 Time Management

• prioritize tasks
• be punctual

Compatibility

• limit socializing during work
• dress suitably for a professional work setting

Responsibilities

• be productive and responsible
• comply with workplace policies and regulations
• Be prepared to work over-time to meet commitments
• Seek advance approval for time off and offer to make up the time
• Volunteer for committees or projects