Co-op on both sides of the economic development industry
Skyler Duggan (he/him) is in his third year of Political Science with a minor in International Studies and International Trade. Throughout his co-op experience he has been working in the public and private sector in the economic development industry.
Skyler's co-op journey:
Work term one: For his first work term, Skyler worked at the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. In this role he planned international missions for the Minister, handled logistics, wrote policy briefs and engaged with investment offices all over the world.
Work term two: In the role of a business development officer at the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation, Skyler helped attract companies to Waterloo and expand their presence in the region. His role was research-heavy and client-facing. He was able to experience the same industry in the private and public sector to see the duality of things, which broadened his perspective.
Q&A with Skyler:
What skills have you developed through co-op?
“Public speaking and being sociable.”
"When you first get into a position where you’re dealing with senior level people such as CEOs or public officials, you’re usually nervous because you hold them to a high degree."
"However, once you start interacting with them you realize that they’re just like you.”
"I also improved my communication skills a lot and know how to write policy briefs and employee profiles.”
“Business development is also a skill that I’ve learned, like how to attract companies and keep up to date with the industry.”
"Working for the Region of Waterloo has also made me more aware of what’s going on locally and this is a transferable skill which will help me in school as well.”
What did you enjoy most about your last co-op?
“I think my favorite part was being able to interact with people all over the world. Being connected internationally was really rewarding and it allowed me to experience different business dynamics and environments. I also got to see how we could relate what’s happening in Ontario to what’s happening in other countries. This gave me insight to help companies expand. I also enjoyed being able to engage with people in positions of authority and power because it taught me how to conduct myself in a professional manner.”
How do you feel now compared to when you first started co-op?
“Going into my first co-op job I was very nervous because I had never worked a job where I was engaging with a client or working in a corporate environment. So, I was definitely overwhelmed at first. After my first co-op I was much more comfortable speaking professionally to different people and my awkwardness during interactions was gone.”
“I am also better at time tracking, managing my own tasks, written communication and research. These were all things that I was nervous about at the beginning but now I’ve honed these skills.”
What advice do you have for other students?
“The one piece of advice I can give to any student is to be honest and be personable. How personable and unique you are in the cover letter matters. Companies don’t want all the best skills or the best work experience - it’s a co-op position. You need to show that you’re enthusiastic about the role. Why do you want it? How are you a good fit for the role? Make connections between the company or the role to the real world and yourself. Show them that you want the role, and it will improve your chances.”
What’s next for you?
“In terms of co-op, I want to explore different avenues. I’ve worked in public service and the private sector and now I want to explore different things.I want to try to be a legal assistant. The best part about co-op is that it lets you explore so many different fields and I want to take advantage of that before I’m done with school. In the future, I hope to go to law school.”