By: Katie Rieger (she/her)

Through work terms with the Government of Canada, you can apply your transferable skills, gain hands-on experience and explore new career possibilities.

Stefan Venceljovski (he/him) is a third-year student in the Faculty of Arts majoring in Political Science and History.

Stefan Venceljovski smiles at the camera in a library.

Stefan Venceljovski, Faculty of Arts co-op student

Venceljovski has made the most of his co-op work terms. “The most rewarding thing [about co-op] is having the opportunity to figure out what I want to do and don't want to do.” Venceljovski worked for Waterloo International in his first term and the Government of Canada in his second and third work terms. His varied experiences taught him how to market his skills in new environments.

“As an Arts student, you’re learning how to communicate, research and write for different audiences. Learning how to market these skills to employers has been my competitive advantage,” Venceljovski reflects.

This strategy led Venceljovski to the Government of Canada where he used his skills in different departments over two terms. At the National Research Council, he conducted research for internal and client use. At Policy Horizons Canada, he worked on a research team to develop briefings and workshops.


How to market your skills to employers

Venceljovski shares three tips to market your transferable skills to employers during a co-op work term.

1. Rethink your classroom skills

Venceljovski has found success marketing himself to employers by rethinking his classroom skills. He focuses on continuous learning and highlighting his transferable skills in the workplace.

“In each of my work terms, I talk to my supervisor and co-workers about how they have used their degrees and adapted them to the workplace. What experience do they use? What classes were useful? What elements of their degrees do they leverage in their daily work?” says Venceljovski. “People from different backgrounds are challenging the narrative by rethinking their academics. The opportunities are endless and I’ve tried to prove that with my work terms.”

You have to look at the skills that you learn in the classroom in a different way. I have strong media literacy, presentation, public speaking, writing and research skills – all of which apply to the workplace.

Stefan Venceljovski, Faculty of Arts co-op student

2. Stand out from the crowd

Venceljovski draws attention to the things that make him unique. He highlights his academic research, extra-curricular activities and volunteer work on his résumé. “The biggest thing I try to do is highlight my professional achievements,” says Venceljovski. “I highlight the extra stuff I'm doing. I published a few papers for the Economics Society on campus and I work with the History Society. I want to show that I’m not just a student focused on academics but someone with goals, interests and the ability to channel that into professional settings.”

Small details make a big difference. During the interview cycle, Venceljovski knows that first impressions can make a big difference in building connections with employers. “I also try and stand out with my personality, the way I dress and the way I carry myself. I keep it professional. The way you dress is often the first thing that people see, so it’s important that I make a great first impression.”

He also prepares for the interview to stand out. “I learn about the organization I’m applying to so I can ask good questions in the interview and tailor my answers to the specific job,” says Venceljovski.

Stefan Venceljovski in front of art themed icons

3. Believe in yourself

Venceljovski encourages students to believe in themselves. In his first work term, Venceljovski struggled with imposter syndrome. “When I apply for jobs and see all the different qualifications and asks, I start wondering if it’s worth applying. I used to think I was wasting my time because I might not be the best fit, so I missed out on a lot of early opportunities and experiences.”

Venceljovski deals with imposter syndrome by using what he calls “the philosophy of no”. He knows the worst thing that can happen after applying for a co-op job is rejection, so he motivates himself by being okay with that outcome.

“If I apply for a job, the worst thing they can do is not interview me and I’ve learned to be okay with that,” says Venceljovski.

With a few work and study terms left before graduation, Venceljovski is exploring public service and research roles. By rethinking his classroom skills, standing out from the crowd and believing in himself, his future is full of opportunity.


Interested in working for the Government of Canada?

Working for the Government of Canada as a co-op student offers an exciting chance to kickstart your career while making a difference.

The Government of Canada posts jobs on WaterlooWorks under specific departments. Jobs are open to all co-op students, in all faculties and year of study. Most jobs are posted on the Full-Cycle Service job board however, some departments post co-op opportunities in advance of the recruiting term on the Employer-Student Direct job board. There are positions available across the country and globally. Many jobs are unilingual English/French - meaning only English language skills are required.