What to expect in EDGE

The EDGE program is an optional, free experiential education certificate designed specifically for undergraduate students who are not enrolled in co-op and meet the program requirements. EDGE helps set you up for success after graduation by

• helping you build career skills through professional development courses, focused on skills such as responsible digital innovation and research in the workplace.
• providing hands-on work/volunteer experience, and
• allowing you to explore potential career paths before entering the workforce.

Professional development

After registering for EDGE, you’ll participate in professional development workshops and courses designed to improve core skills like résumé building, job search strategies, interview techniques, and networking. These workshops will provide you with the tools to succeed in finding jobs and thriving in the professional world post-graduation.

Hands-on work experience

You’ll gain real world work experience through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities. These hands-on experiences will help you gain relevant skills and work experience to add to your résumé and prepare you for the professional world. 

Reflection

After each experience, you’ll reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve developed professionally. All students completing an experience will also receive feedback from supervisors, helping you better understand your strengths and areas for growth. This process encourages you to think critically about your growth and helps you articulate your skills to future employers.

Flexibility

EDGE is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate each student's goals. You can complete the program at your own pace, without changing your degree plan, by fitting the workshops and experiences around your classes and schedule. You’ll also have more freedom in choosing your work and volunteer experiences, which allows you to tailor them to your interests and career goals.

Networking

Your experiences in EDGE will introduce you to professionals in your field and help you create meaningful connections that can help you later in your career. Through supervisor evaluations, mentorship, and collaboration with peers and industry or community partners, the EDGE program encourages you to actively engage with mentors and peers, allowing you to build and expand your professional network before you graduate.

Career exploration

If you’re unsure about your future career path, EDGE offers an excellent way to explore different fields without a long-term commitment. The flexibility of the program allows you to try out a variety of different roles for varied durations through courses, student role, jobs, or community experiences, to help you discover what you enjoy and excel at before fully committing to a specific career path. Assignments throughout your EDGE experiences help you reflect on the skills you have gained and how those skills and experiences relate to future jobs.

EDGE may be a good fit if you: 

• are in a regular (non-co-op) undergraduate program and want work or volunteer experience before graduating, 
• want to build career skills such as résumé writing, interviewing, and networking but are not sure where to start, 
• are unsure about your future career path and want to explore different options without making a long-term commitment, 
• want flexible opportunities that can fit around your classes and other commitments, 
• are looking for guidance, feedback, and support as you prepare for life after graduation. 

Ultimately, if you’re in a regular stream (non-co-op) program but still want to gain hands-on experience and develop career skills before entering the workplace, EDGE is a great option. Take advantage of the resources available at Waterloo and give yourself a competitive edge with the EDGE program!