The first time working in a corporate environment is an exciting time for anyone. It was the first time I began to see the benefits from the countless hours I spent with my face in books begin to pay off, and I finally realized why I spent so much time studying. It is that excitement and motivation that makes junior co-op students a valuable but often underused resource in many companies.
I spent my first co-op term as the Marketing Coordinator at Learnography, a for-purpose organization that develops creative learning solutions. My supervisor, Communications Strategy Specialist Kate Salmon (BA ’11), intentionally hires first term co-op students because she loves how easy they are to teach. “Junior co-op students are a tabula rasa - a clean slate eager for instruction,” Kate explains. “It’s a hands-on supervisor’s dream.”
Kate also enjoys contributing to the growth of her students. The Marketing Coordinator role changes for every person who fills it, and Kate loves to find and harness whatever makes the student most engaged. “Any co-op role should be seen as a learning journey for both the employer and the student,” says Kate. “They learn from us, but we also benefit from their fresh perspective.”
Throughout my work term I had a chance to explore different marketing tasks that balanced skill development with my existing interests, while still allowing me to provide key support to the Learnography team. Because of the diverse challenges that Learnography faces, Kate sometimes assigns me specific tasks I’ve never dealt with before, but often outlines several options for me to choose from. I get the chance to learn from new assignments while still being able to direct my own development.
The dedication and excitement to learn offered by junior co-op students like me is a win-win for any office willing to invest in its students. And if you aren’t willing to invest in your students, why are you doing co-op at all?
Tatianna Brierley, 2B Environment and Business
Kate Salmon (BA ’11), Rhetoric and Professional Writing Alumni
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