Four Things We Learned About Co-op and Job Hunting from Co-op Manager David Hall on CBC Ottawa

Posted on Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

This past weekend, CBC Ottawa aired a segment featuring an interview with David Hall, the manager of the Cooperative Education Department at Algonquin College. In the interview, David discusses the benefits of co-op for students, and shares some helpful advice for students and recent grads embarking on their own job searches.

Co-op has huge benefits on students’ educations and careers.

By participating in co-op, you get access to hands-on learning beyond what’s possible in a classroom. Co-op also gives you an opportunity to build a network in your field. Once you graduate, you’re perceived as more qualified by employers, meaning you’re likely to make more money in your first year postgrad than those who didn’t do co-op—$2,000 to $8,000 a year more.

Pay attention to detail on your resume.

David also shared some great ways to create a strong resume. Be sure to include both your industry skills and your transferable skills when you’re writing it, because these kinds of skills are what will set you apart. Be diligent about not having typos or grammatical mistakes on any of your written documents.

Your social media presence is important.

David explains that employers are likely to search you online, and will use social media to confirm their decision to hire you. Because employers will probably be searching for you during your job hunt, it’s important to ensure that your social media profiles—from Twitter to Instagram to LinkedIn—portray you positively.

The secret to a good interview is to practice.

Finally, David also shares some key advice to prepare for interviews. From answering behavioural interview questions to practicing beforehand, he gives students some ways to really feel confident walking into that interview.

To get all this and more practical advice for job seekers, you can watch the whole segment below!

If you would like to learn more about the Algonquin College co-op program, please visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623. You can also follow us on Twitter @AlgonquinCoop.


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