With access to 8,000 employers, Waterloo co-op students work for an amazing range of organizations.
Explore some of the incredible experiences Waterloo co-op students have had in a vast variety of roles and fields.
Analyst, Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) Investments
At CPP, Sophia investigated the relationship between climate change and portfolio construction. She harnessed the skills gained in her biotechnology specialization to combine tech and business to create real change.
Having been recruited as part of the Discover Capital Markets Program as a woman in STEM, Sophia received mentorship in investment management, financial management, and technical schools.
Human Resources, Desire2Learn (D2L)
As a Legal Studies major and Philosophy minor, Ciara didn't begin her search for co-op jobs expecting to find a passion for human resources (HR). Now, after three terms working in HR, she's developed skills and knowledge preparing her for a life-long career.
By developing D2L's brand by creating resource guides, blogs, and marketing materials, Ciara has left a lasting impression of D2L as a choice employer.
Staff Accountant, KPMG
By working for KPMG in their audit practice, Nathan learned how numbers tell stories and how to find the facts in financial statements.
He learned transferable skills, created a foundation in accounting and finance, and formed lasting professional connections.
More co-op experiences in business
- Marketing intern, American Express
- Operations specialist, University of Waterloo
- Planner, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Researcher, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs
My favourite thing about co-op is being able to make mistakes and learn about yourself. You're able to try out different roles, prove yourself to companies, and learn with other people.
Health care and research
Photo credit: Kevin Van Paassen
Researcher, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Across four work terms, Alessia developed targeted therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease. She led independent studies and assisted with grant proposals and research publications.
Her direct involvement in experiments familiarized her with cutting-edge technology at the intersection of biological science, technology, and medicine.
Administrative assistant, PhysioMira Physiotherapy
While working at a local physiotherapy clinic, Sarah realized her passion for health care by creating personalized exercise programs, assisting with physiotherapy routines, and ensuring the clinic was well-organized and hospitable.
She honed her skills in patient care and inventory management by streamlining the clinic's inventory system and by caring for a client recovering from surgery. Sarah's research into rehabilitation routines allowed her to develop an exercise program that helped the client's rehabilitation.
Research assistant, Odette Cancer Centre
Across two work terms at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Jaspreet researched on prostate cancer with a focus on improving treatment outcomes. She presented her research abstract on men with prostate cancer brain metastasis at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), one of the largest prostate cancer events in the world.
Jaspreet presented case reports, led projects as the main investigator, co-authored several manuscripts, and shadowed her principal investigator during clinic hours. These experiences enhanced her understanding of patients' needs and how her contributions improved their lives.
More co-op experiences in health care and research
- Anatomy program assistant, School of Anatomy
- Clinical research assistant (oncology), Mount Sinai
- Occupational health and safety student, Markham Stouffville Hospital
- Student kinesiologist, Compass Community Health
I took the lead on most of my tasks, including addressing safety concerns and coordinating with various departments in the hospital. This experience helped me build confidence and develop stronger communication and problem-solving skills.
Jobs in education and with NGOs
Science tutor and lab assistant, Centennial College
To prepare for medical school, Dayyan wanted to apply his studies in a health care setting. At Centennial College, he tutored and assisted nursing students by conducting physiology and anatomy labs, supporting course instruction, and working one-on-one with students.
Dayyan learned the importance of connection and building trust with students and peers. As a tutor, he put theory into practice while working with real patients, contributing to his understanding of how to support students in real, high-pressure scenarios.
Special projects assistant, Food Bank of Waterloo Region
In a period of increasing food insecurity, Vanessa learned the nuances of non-profit organizations through her work for a food bank. She brought the unique perspective of a Waterloo student to marketing, fundraising, events, administration, and I.T. across four work terms.
As a marketer, Vanessa considered the current economic and social climate to convey what the food bank offers. She gained confidence in her communication skills and expertise in the food bank's history and mission. Her work helped ensure that thousands of people received meals in their time of need.
Project coordinator, United Way
Recognizing the parallels between his Health Sciences degree and United Way's humanitarian mission, Zeeyaan contributed to the charity's efforts to address issues such as food insecurity, poverty, and racism.
He worked for United Way toward the end of the pandemic and amidst increased economic needs. Zeeyaan's role exposed him to the struggles of vulnerable individuals, improving his ability to address such issues in his studies and future career.
More co-op experiences in education and non-profits
- Business-math tutor, Sheridan College
- Co-op for Social Good, Co-op for Community program, and Global Citizen Internships
- Online Learning Assistant, University of Waterloo
- Research and teaching assistant, Stellenbosch University
Regardless of a student’s career path, having the opportunity to work in a not-for-profit can be life-changing and help to develop key competencies for the world of work.
Technology jobs
Digital marketer, BMW North America
As a marketer for the digital agency Critical Mass, Saskria focused on creative marketing for their main client, BMW North America. Her experience creating a new logo and identity for a design team at Waterloo helped her enhance BMW's brand.
Saskria strategized creative marketing campaigns and boosted brand engagement and awareness. Her perseverance and research helped her excel in her role and has brought her a big step closer to her dream career.
GenAI developer, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
During her work term at RBC, Linda played a pivotal role in reshaping how internal HR inquiry cases are processed for over 90,000 employees. By developing and patenting an AI-powered system that streamlines responses to employee inquiries, Linda has reduced the time and resources required to address employees' concerns.
Linda demonstrated the utility of GenAI in more than just client-facing applications and learned to apply her studies in real-world industry amidst budget and time constraints.
Software developer, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
To help prevent delays in responding to information technology (IT) requests, Franklin worked with MPAC's development team to create tools that would expedite the company's IT processes.
Franklin led the development of a chatbot retrieval augmented generation project that pulled information from MPAC's database, saving the IT team time manually searching for answers. MPAC's emphasis on continuous learning encouraged Franklin to improve throughout the term, preparing him for future jobs.
More co-op experiences in technology
- Information technology systems engineer, Alberta Newsprint Company
- Product marketing manager, Microsoft
- Software development engineer, Tesla
- Tech support assistant, Campus Wellness
You’ll never again be at a company for a short period of time when they want you to absorb everything. So do it. Be a sponge. Absorb everything you can, and I promise it will do you good.
Engineering and science jobs
Biomedical engineer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
In collaboration with Google and MIT's Tadesse Lab, Jarett explored how to improve diagnostic tools to identify bacterial infections. Using machine learning alongside Raman spectroscopy, Jarett's team created a tool to extract a pathogen's unique chemical footprints, enabling cost-efficient and low-cost diagnostics.
By improving the models' adaptability in real-world settings, he demonstrated to MIT the value of machine learning in the medical technology industry. His accomplishments led to the publication of an academic paper which recognized him as the first author.
Lab assistant, Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
As a CSA co-op student, Luke contributed to astro material curation in anticipation of receiving Canada's first asteroid sample from NASA – making Canada the third country in the world to have one.
Luke was entrusted with independently running the lab, allowing him to use a variety of rare and expensive equipment. His involvement in such a prestigious project has prepared him for a future working at the intersection of various scientific fields.
Software developer, Rocket Innovation Studio
Taylor landed a job as a full stack developer on web applications. She worked on both the front- and back-end of web development and UI/UX projects where she collaborated with the design team. Taylor also took part in daily standups, sprint plannings, team retrospectives, and completion of user stories.
The skills she developed at Rocket Innovation Studio have influenced her trajectory, leading her to take more business courses to prepare for her future career.
More co-op experiences in engineering and science
- Control software engineer, Sanctuary AI
- Researcher, University of Toronto
- Student technician, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Systems engineer, Ford Motor Company of Canada
Doing something I love while making a difference is the goal. Combining my passions and technical interests in engineering to create medical products that help people live better lives is something co-op helped me realize I might want to do in the future.
Government co-op jobs
Junior policy analyst; Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED)
In ISED, Daisy worked in telecommunications and the internet policy branch on the industry analysis team. She captured data from national mobile carriers and created an automated price scraper through Python to streamline collecting pricing data. This tool continues to improve the work of ISED. Daisy's lasting impact has opened doors to future work terms, and possibly a career, with the government.
During her work term, Daisy was encouraged to expand her learning through free courses offered by the Canada School of Public Service.
Transit planning researcher, City of Ottawa
After four work terms as a planner in the City of Ottawa, Planning student Jeffrey knows how to put his studies into action.
As a transit planning researcher, Jeffrey worked on numerous projects, including station designs for light rail transit and improving the accessibility of bus stops. These experiences helped him hone skills in the specific aspects of planning which interest him, while the connections he made have secured him a job in planning after graduation.
Internal audit intern, Ontario Internal Audit Division
Moving to a different city for her first co-op was challenging, but Amrita's experience working for the Ontario government has been worthwhile. Amrita created and managed Excel sheets to track tasks focused on strategic analysis and risk management.
By sitting in on briefings, taking minutes, creating a SharePoint blog to facilitate communication, and using Power BI to ensure the quality of ministries' auditing processes, Amrita gained confidence and knowledge. Reflecting on these experiences, Amrita discovered an interest in pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant designation.
More co-op experiences in government
- Atmospheric boundary layer research assistant, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Business development officer, Waterloo Economic Development Corporation
- GIS technician, Region of Peel
- Policy and research analyst, Policy Horizons Canada
Throughout my government experiences, I was encouraged to ask questions and contribute to the overall conversation. I felt like my work was purposeful, as the teams made an effort to relate how my work fit into the overall project or initiative.
Environment and sustainability jobs
Event planning assistant, Faculty of Environment
While planning ENVigorate, Waterloo's annual sustainability festival, Charlotte realized that solving problems on the scale of climate change begins at the community level.
Charlotte demonstrated that sustainability is accessible and fostered community, conversations, and relationship building between students, staff, and faculty. ENVigorate became the foundation of Charlotte's transferable skills, professional portfolio, and the connections that led her to later co-ops and extracurriculars in sustainability.
Corporate sustainability coordinator, Purolator
By developing emission reduction strategies, Hoang contributed to Purolator's goal to become Canada's greenest courier. Hoang led the creation of a data analysis framework to meet emission reduction goals by structuring data and proposing sustainability developments.
His strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills allowed him to complete transformative work, including improving Purolator's customer emission calculator and submitting their application to the Canadian government's Net Zero Challenge. Hoang's passion for sustainability in business has reshaped and continues to impact Purolator's approach to sustainability.
Waste collection and diversion student, Region of Waterloo
In her work for the region of Waterloo's landfill and recycling facilities, Avery put her passion for educating people about garbage disposal processes into action. Avery's role included a variety of opportunities, including sitting in on meetings with external contractors, using testing tools to record methane emissions, and studying Waterloo's organic waste program and gas monitoring projects.
Taking full advantage of her role, Avery made valuable connections, independently completed a report on organic waste, and developed an understanding of the value of mentorship which she applies in leadership positions.
More co-op experiences in environment and sustainability
- Communications and engagement assistant, Sustainability Office
- Environmental advisor, Toronto Transit Commission
- Environment, social, and governance consultant, IberAmerican Lithium Corporation
- Water research assistant, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Sustainability doesn’t just encompass Environment majors, it's a collaboration between different stakeholders as well. I was very fortunate to be able to meet and network with them, which will really help with my professional development.
Learn more about co-op
Sign up for insider advice on topics including how to choose a program, what it's like to be a Waterloo student, the differences between high school and university, and more.