With a co-op work term coming up, many of us are worried but also excited about the accompanying recruitment and application process. I know I speak for many people when I say this: Applying to your first co-op job can be daunting — but trust me, you’re not alone!
A great thing about the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) is how they are always there to support students. At the beginning of September, SAF even organized a professional development conference called Co-op Ready to prepare second year AFM, Math/CPA, and Biotech/CPA students going into their recruitment term. Conference events included a walkthrough of WaterlooWorks (the online system created to help students at Waterloo find work), a one-on-one résumé critiquing session with an upper-year student, a mock interview with an industry professional, and various other workshops. Usually held in-person, this year’s events were held online. I attended and had a great experience!
They covered every single aspect of applications, and I received some great tips, including strategies for submitting applications, standing out on cover letters, and succeeding in virtual interviews. My favourite part was when they talked about the importance of having a digital presence (especially in today’s virtual world), and how I could take my LinkedIn game to the next level!
Attending Co-op Ready brought me one step closer to getting a co-op job, and y’all can see that for yourself when you go into your own recruitment term!