Co-op or regular? Whatever you choose, get career-ready skills and experience.
Our co-op program provides great experience and skill development. And you can also find great opportunities to develop your skills and experience in our non-co-op (or regular) program.
Don't believe me? Here are two students' real résumés that prove it.
(Jump right to our quiz: How to choose — co-op or regular?)
Regular (non-co-op) program
NOTE: Students in the regular system of study don't have access to the “Hire Waterloo Co-op” job board, but can access thousands of part-time, full-time, and summer job opportunities through our "Other Jobs” and “External Job” boards. They can also access 1-on-1 support and workshops through the Centre for Career Development.
More about Oumar
Career goal
Medical school
Education
Fourth-year Kinesiology (regular)
Skills
- Responsibility
- Communication
- Seeing the bigger picture
- Good judgement
- Self-advocacy
Hobbies
- Hiking and backcountry
- Intermural soccer
- Weightlifting
- Type racing (I can type about 150 words per minute)
- Self-taught unicycling
- Self-taught guitar
- Dragonboat racing
Relevant work and volunteer experience
Student assistant — Westheights Medical Clinic and Pharmacy
Worked with medical clinic and pharmacy staff to chart, document, and organize patients' medical records in an online system.
Community tutor — House of Friendship
Taught children of all ages from local low-income communities math and English.
Anatomy Lab Teaching Assistant — University of Waterloo
Mentored and supervised first-year anatomy students to ensure they understood course material and were successful in the course.
Faculty of Health Student Ambassador — University of Waterloo
Supported large-scale event days, prospective student tours, and email inquiries.
Peer Mentor — University of Waterloo
Mentored upcoming first-year students during their transition from high school to university.
Orientation Leader — University of Waterloo
Supported the planning of Orientation, led various activities, and participated in a well-attended student panel the week of the event.
Co-op program
All about Krista
Skills
- Communication
- Time management
- Collaboration
- Organization
- Leadership
Hobbies
- Baking
- Hiking
Career goal
Physiotherapist, chiropractor, or researcher
Education
Third-year Kinesiology (co-op)
Relevant work and volunteer experience
Student kinesiologist — Compass Community Health
Assisted physiotherapists and a diabetic kinesiologist with their clients, managed scheduling, gym supervisions, and exercise prescription of roughly 30 clients.
Visitors Centre Associate — University of Waterloo
Gave tours to visitors and supported large-scale event days.
AHSUM Kinesiology Representative — University of Waterloo
Advocate for the undergraduate Kinesiology student body to ensure their voices and concerns are heard by the department.
CCCare Start-Fit Volunteer — University of Waterloo
Guided participants through personalized exercise programs in small group settings.
Anatomy Lab Teaching Assistant — University of Waterloo
Mentored and supervised first-year anatomy students to ensure they understood course material and were successful in the course.
Both co-op and regular are great options that offer practical, hands-on experiences — they're just different.
- In co-op, you have a competitive, structured job process built into your degree program.
- In regular, you'll have more time to gain experience through part-time jobs, extracurriculars, clubs, and volunteering — but it's up to you to take initiative and make sure you get these experiences.
If I don't choose co-op, can I still get hands-on experience?
Sure can! Here are some examples from each of our programs.
More ways to get hands-on experience in our regular program
- Check out the EDGE program, an experiential education certification available to all Waterloo students.
- Although students in our regular program don't have access to the WaterlooWorks co-op job board, WaterlooWorks has other job boards with thousands of opportunities that all students (co-op and regular) can access. Theses additional job boards contain full time, part time, and summer opportunities.
- Students in regular can also access free appointments, drop-ins, and workshops through the Centre for Career Development to get help with things like career planning, interview prep, and job searches.
Related articles
Powerful work terms in Therapeutic Recreation
Networking helps Sport and Recreation Management student land impactful co-op roles
The Waterloo experience: Exploring careers and building skills for your future