What to expect in co-op

What is co-op at Waterloo?

Simply put, co-op = paid work experience. 

Back when the University of Waterloo was created, the founders wanted the first class of 57 students to apply what they were learning in the classroom to real-life situations. Today, with more than 26,000 co-op students, co-op is one of Waterloo’s defining features.  

Co-op provides the opportunity to spend four-month work terms with employers and transfer the information you learn in your classes to a work setting. You can then take all that practical experience you learned on your work term back into your classes. 

Much like in the real world, in order to get a co-op job, you’ll go through an application process to prove you’re a good fit. Luckily, Waterloo has one of the most robust co-op programs in the world, so you’ll have tons of resources and support throughout this process.  

What are the benefits of co-op?

Earn money! 

One of the best parts of co-op is the money! Co-op work terms are paid experiences. Not only are you getting real-world work experience, but you are getting paid to learn. 

You can expect to earn between $9,600 to $22,500 per four-month co-op work term in Canada. You can use this money to pay for tuition and costs of living.  

How much you make varies depending on your employer, your program of study, your work term level, and your overall work experience, so be sure to review the average earnings for Canadian work terms for further details.

Adapt to different workplaces and grow in confidence, knowledge and certainty 

You’ll get the opportunity to work in several different workplaces where you can learn, grow, make meaningful connections and gain a variety of unique experiences. You’ll gain professional development opportunities including the entire job application process. Along with learn skills like building a résumé, job searching, and interviewing.

By the time you graduate, you'll be an expert and have a strong advantage over other new grads without the same experience! 

Gain real-world skills and work experience. 

The experience you get through co-op truly sets you up for success after graduation. Nowadays, employers are looking for much more than just a degree. Co-op allows you to get up to two years of meaningful, relevant experience in your field before graduating. This will be sure to help you stand out against the thousands of other graduates applying for the same jobs as you without co-op experience.  

Are co-op positions guaranteed? 

The short answer is no. While there are tons of resources and support to help you find a co-op job, securing a position ultimately depends on your efforts and the job market conditions. The good news is there’s a 95.9 per cent co-op employment rate and a 96.9 per cent first work term employment rate so the chances of not getting a co-op are very low.  

You can increase your chances of getting a co-op by communicating with your co-op advisors so they can provide guidance, review your application materials, and offer strategies to improve your job search. The Centre for Career Development, CareerHub, and your co-op advisors are all here to offer support in your job application process both with virtual and in-person workshops, one on one sessions, and professional development events. 

Can I switch into co-op? 

It’s possible to transfer into co-op but it’s much more difficult than applying straight from high school. Your academic advisor can help you learn about the process for your program and see if it will be a possibility—but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out! Waterloo has tons of amazing programs besides co-op that can provide you with many of the same benefits. For example, the EDGE certificate is special program designed for students who aren’t in co-op to help them develop professional skills, explore their career options, and learn how to market themselves to employers.