by Tiffany Liu
I chose the University of Waterloo because of the co-op program. I was drawn to the possibility of experiencing the workplace as a student and I wanted to develop professional skills in hopes of expanding my opportunities. My fear of being unemployed after graduation largely influenced my decision to choose co-op. These factors made Waterloo the obvious choice.
The road to my final co-op term was not easy. I was unable to find a job for my first co-op term. I sent out many applications with no results. Many around me had an equally hard time securing a job and ended up switching into the regular stream. My parents and friends encouraged me to do the same so that I could focus on my studies. Though tempted, I didn't want to give up and decided to try one more time because co-op was why I originally picked Waterloo. Despite being unemployed during my first co-op term, I was determined to succeed the next time.
When the second co-op term came around, I had the same résumé as last time. If the first time yielded no results, my résumé wasn't going to this time either. I made an appointment with a Career Advisor at Centre for Career Action to have a 1-on-1 résumé critique. It landed me six interviews and my first co-op job. From then on, I was able to build my workplace skills through some amazing opportunities!
I'm Tiffany, I'm in my fourth year of Health Studies and I'm spending my last co-op term here at
Co-operative Education (CE). In my role as a co-op student experience associate, I hope to increase transparency between the student body and CE by answering any questions you may have. You can expect to see posts about the roles at CE, how to achieve an “outstanding” work evaluation and much more!
Today, I am extremely happy that I stayed in the co-op program. From working in the public sector for the federal government to a multinational manufacturing automotive company, I have made amazing connections and developed invaluable skills. During my work term in CE, I wish to continue to expand my skills and meet new people!
