Waterloo alumni from Google to Roche Canada share their advice on co-op success
By: Katie Rieger (she/her)
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Co-op Student of the Year Awards, past award winners reflect on their time at Waterloo to offer valuable insights to today’s co-op students.
Every year, the Co-op Student of the Year Awards honours one student from each faculty who has made a significant impact during their co-op work term. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards.
Our Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) team reached out to alumni to talk about their co-op experiences and how their work terms shaped their careers. These previous Co-op Student of the Year Award winners share their best advice to help inspire you to make the most of your co-op journey and set yourself up for success in your career path.
Faculty of Arts
Ingrid Kaffka (she/her) (BA '23)
Program: English-Rhetoric, Media and Professional Communication
Current role: Senior proposal writer, Aercoustics Engineering Limited
“Document everything you do on your work terms, both qualitatively and quantitatively. I recommend doing this throughout your work term and updating your résumé before your next recruiting term. This documentation allows you to speak to the things you achieved and build strong impressions with co-op advisors, supervisors and future employers.”
“Then, when you are ready to graduate, you’ll have this documentation of all the things you have done and a list of people who can advocate for you. Reach out to your network and let them know you’ve graduated and are ready for work. Ask them to refer you to their network. It’s the LinkedIn grind.”
Ingrid Kaffka, senior proposal writer, Aercoustics Engineering Limited
Rupa Vemulapalli, Software developer, Bell Canada, and founder of Mantisflow, NEXT Canada
Faculty of Engineering
Rupa Vemulapalli (she/her) (BASc ’23)
Program: Computer Engineering
Current role: Software developer, Bell Canada & Founder, NEXT Canada
“My biggest piece of advice is to start now – focus less on the how and instead start asking questions, learning new perspectives and talking to people. On my co-op terms, I always opened myself up to new opportunities by doing my role with excellence and looking outside of my job description for experiences that interested me.”
“For students in co-op, it’s okay to try new things. Engage in different experiences and see what’s right for you. And run towards the things that you would most regret not trying!”
Faculty of Environment
Jessica Peixoto (she/her) (BES ’15)
Program: Environment and Business
Current role: Sustainability project manager, JLL
“My biggest piece of advice is don’t just write off a job because it isn’t your ‘dream job’. It’s always worth applying. You never know what you’ll actually enjoy.”
“In my first work term I took an IT job ─ it was unrelated to my degree. But I made sure to get soft skills from the role. I learned about collaboration, networking and project management.”
“Co-op is a great time to be open to trying new things and take jobs outside of your comfort zone.”
Jessica Peixoto, sustainability project manager, JLL
Rachel Almaw, visiting scholar, Griffith University
Faculty of Health
Rachel Almaw (she/her) (BSc ’23)
Program: Health Studies
Current role: Visiting scholar, Griffith University
“I know it is easy to feel intimidated or timid when you start working somewhere new, but I encourage you to get involved at work. In the same way that doing extracurricular activities at school is important, doing more than just your assigned work at work is also important.”
“Talk to people and learn more about the work they do. Allow people to see your personality and get to know you outside of your deliverables.”
“I think work-life balance is important. I have emphasized this by joining social committees and having fun at work so that it doesn’t all feel like work. Make time to get your work done, have fun and take care of yourself – co-op taught me that.”
Faculty of Mathematics
Alister D’Costa (he/him) (BCS, ’17)
Program: Computer Science
Current role: Principal bioinformatics software engineer, Roche Canada
“Don’t forget the reasons why you applied to a co-op program and sell those to an employer. Not every moment is going to be rainbows and sunshine – there will be tough times in your recruiting and work terms. Use those moments to show your resiliency. Talk about problem-solving in future interviews and emphasize how you pushed through it to end up in a better place with new learnings.”
“I’m going to be blunt – the job market is tough right now. But as a Waterloo co-op student you have a competitive advantage. When you graduate, you are going to have completed something that most people take years to do – you will have up to two years of work experience on your résumé. Be proud of the work you have done, take that momentum and apply it to your post-graduate job search.”
Alister D'Costa, principal bioinformatics software engineer, Roche Canada
Diljot Chhina, measurement lead, Google
Faculty of Science
Diljot Chhina (she/her) (BSc ’13)
Program: Biotechnology & Economics
Current role: Measurement lead, Google
“A rejection is not a function of your current skills. It is a function of the systemic challenges of the market right now.”
“We all battle imposter syndrome and self-doubt. I think rejection is one of the hardest things to face, especially as a new graduate.”
“My biggest piece of advice is to focus on what you can control. There are so many factors shifting priorities in the marketplace. Think about your intention and make a plan. Try and focus on what you love, network with people who can get you there and then give it time.”
We’re here for you every step of the way – through both recruiting and work terms. Reflect on the advice from alumni, book an appointment with a career advisor or chat with your co-op advisor.