Exploring new jobs

Monday, April 8, 2019
by Kyrie H., Grade 11 HS student blogger

Expansion and Experience

Kyrie looking at a bulletin board in the Tatham Centre
Having to stay in the same job for all my co-op terms was a concern when I first looked into co-op. With co-op, I would be able to experience different ways of working based on environment and the way my employer runs operations. In co-op, you have the opportunity to explore different job roles and find positions that are best suited to your strengths and interests. For Waterloo programs, co-op students can get 4 to 6 co-op work terms totaling to 16 to 24 months of real-world work experience. Every co-op job provides new learning opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge but also to help you learn if a specific job or industry is something you would like to pursue as a career. Therefore, if I do not enjoy a co-op job, it is not a big deal. I have at least learned that the job responsibilities or career path for the role or the industry are not what I want to eventually do as a career. I can apply for jobs in a different field the next term. If I find that I like my job or prefer a previous job, I can re-apply for the job. Many employers will give the opportunity for co-op students to return to the same role for their next co-op work term. Provided the employer was happy with the quality of work that the student had shown during their co-op work term. I would also get the chance to experience working within multiple industries and with multiple employers if I change my job every term. If you want to expand your work experience within the workplace, try a new co-op job every work term to find the best career path for you.