by Max McKee
Every term, Co-op 101 events are held across campus for students new to the co-op process.
“The goal is to better prepare junior students who will soon be looking for their first co-op work term,” said Janice Bruin, faculty relations manager at Co-operative Education (CE). This term, Bruin helped the faculties of Science and Health adopt a new strategy.
“We decided to build off the success of the Kinesiology 101 student panel from last year where senior co-op students were on hand to answer any questions junior students had,” said Bruin. “These sessions were the first time this was offered faculty-wide.”
The response was very positive, and feedback from participants highlighted the value of having senior students reflect on their own experiences. One student said Co-op 101 was “eye-opening in terms of preparing to present myself better for interviewers.”
Bruin is pleased with the outcome, and hopes to incorporate student panels into more training opportunities.
“Based on the feedback, they’ll be a staple at future events,” she said. “The student panel and event facilitator, Taryn MacLean, from the Centre for Career Action (CCA) were instrumental in making these events a success.”
