Students

For an Algonquin College co-op student, HireAC is an excellent, effective, and key platform for job searches. However, the opportunities on HireAC are still limited, especially during the pandemic. For the students struggling to find co-op work placements, it’s insufficient to rely solely on HireAC. Other platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, the Government of Canada Summer Jobs, the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), and Outcome Campus Connect are excellent ways to apply and secure placements. The following tips introduce these platforms and provide instructions for students.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a convenient platform for job searching and professional networks. Your LinkedIn profile shows your educational and professional experiences, connect you with industrial peers and potential employers, and help companies find you. Once you set up your LinkedIn profile, the platform will automatically recommend jobs for you based on your profile. Also, your connections on LinkedIn can offer you inspirations and opportunities. You can also search for companies you are interested in.

2. Indeed

Indeed has abundant job listing resources worldwide. It aggregates job listings from thousands of recruitment websites and company webpages. Students can search for specific positions based on their needs, such as location, job title, salary range, etc. The website offers a comprehensive listing that shows all available results from specific keywords, levels of experiences, and industry field. Once you store your resume, it will become searchable for the hiring managers. You can also check out the reviews on the company web pages from Indeed.

3. Government of Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program is an excellent opportunity for youths between the ages of 15 and 30 who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons whom refugee protection has been conferred. This program provides full-time work experiences from May to August in Canada for a minimum of 6 weeks. Students looking for a Spring/Summer co-op can apply directly from the Government of Canada’s Job Bank website.

4. Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

You are eligible to apply for the Federal Student Work Experience Program if you meet the following criteria: You are a full-time student. You are a returning full-time student. You meet the minimum age requirement in the province/territory of work. If you are an international student, you could also apply for this program. Visit the Government of Canada’s website to apply for FSWEP jobs. After you submit your application, your resume is placed in the Government of Canada’s student inventory. When there are job openings hiring managers will search through this inventory and if your application matches the manager’s search criteria, you may be contacted for a test and/or interview. Over 8000 students were hired through FSWEP from 2018-2019.

5. Outcome Campus Connect

Outcome Campus Connect is an alternative source of job opportunities that you can view directly on HireAC. The College has partnered with the Outcome Campus Connect, a job posting service in collaboration with Magnet and Orbis, to assist the matching of working integrated learning experiences between students and employers. The job opportunities on Outcome Campus Connect are not vetted by the Co-op Department. So you’ll need to make sure that the jobs you applied to satisfy the criteria required for a valid co-op job (paid, full-time hours, and related to your program-of-study). You can access the job postings by logging on to HireAC, going to the ‘Co-op Job Postings’ page, and clicking the link ‘Outcome Campus Connect Opportunities’ at the bottom of the page.

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. For students, finding a work placement and experience in their field after graduation has become more challenging than before, due to the economy shutdown and the social distancing rules. While students are getting more and more used to online learning and networking tools like Zoom, some may still find it awkward to connect with people virtually. The following are 5 tips for virtual networking, which can help students establish professional profiles, keep effective relationships and reach their career goals.

1. Build your social media profile

Employers often use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to find potential candidates. Your profile connects you to the peers and authorities in your industry. A professional profile includes a formal headshot with a confident smile, a summary of your past educational and work experiences, and emphasizes your technical and soft skills. Using hashtags related to your field can make your profile more visible. You can also share your insights and engage with your followers. The more popularity and authority you gain, the more likely the recruiters will give you opportunities.

2. Stay connected with existing contacts

If you have existing contacts such as professors, the employment support centre, and the co-op office, you can connect with them through email methods. If you need professional help these are great contacts to ask for advice. You may share your progress and update your career status with anyone you feel connected to, such as former co-workers, supervisors or your LinkedIn followers. Filter out those unresponsive contacts and invite the active ones to video chat. Doing so keeps these relationships fresh. The people you connect could lead to career opportunities and inspiration in the future.

3. Find relevant online communities for professional help

Online communities are great platforms for students to find people with similar interests. Some of these communities, like Reddit forums, are free, while some others may require membership fees, such as GitHub. In these communities, you can get relevant information and insights into your field, share your experiences and knowledge, ask for professional support and be friends with industry peers.

4. Research before virtual meetings/interviews

Before going to a virtual meeting or interview, you should think of the event’s purpose and prepare for the questions. Sitting in front of a screen makes you more nervous and awkward than usual if you were unprepared. If you were going for an interview, it is necessary to research the company culture and background. Websites such as Glassdoor and Fairygodboss gives you an insight into the companies from the employee’s perspective. You can brainstorm and write the ideas and future questions on a piece of paper. You will give the people you meet a great impression if you show them your dedication to the meeting.

5. Be professional and confident in front of your camera

While your personality and attitude are the most important, people want to look the best in front of the camera. If you are using Zoom for most of your online meetings, there are several tips for making you appear nicer. This blog from the Zoom website talks explicitly about the setups and functions of the Zoom App. It will be useful to look at and apply.

On July 24, 2020, the Co-op Department hosted industry employers from various fields to talk about tips and strategies to help students land their co-op interviews. Panelists included co-op employers:

• Lea Catana, Solutions Project Manager, Technology Modernization, Information Technology Services, City of Ottawa

Lea has worked for the city for almost 15 years. She started as a summer student and worked her way through the organization. She now works on a team called Technology and Modernization and is responsible for the Innovation Solutions Unit, where they bring innovation to city services to optimize operations.

• Rania Zammar, Branch Manager, RBC Royal Bank of Canada.

Rania has been working in the banking industry for 17 years and has been working in the role of branch manager for 14. Coaching is a priority in her role at RBC. Currently, during the pandemic, a large part of her job is making sure her team feels both physically and mentally safe and healthy to work.

• Ken Thompson, Manager, Mechanical Design, MDS, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Ken is the MDS Manager within the Mechanical Design Department of Gas Turbine Solutions. In his role as manager, he has two main priorities: administrative functions such as overseeing his team, hiring, budgeting, and mentoring and the technical functions such as ensuring all engineering drawings and models meet all applicable standards and supporting mechanical engineers with investigating equipment, procurement, and site surveying.

• Chris Cormier, Architect, M.Arch., OAA, RAIC, John Donkin Architect Inc.

Chris is a licensed architect and one of three employees working at the firm John Donkin Architect Inc. Chris is a project architect, most of the projects the firm completes are infill residential construction but Chris’s role also consists of handling administration needs such as hiring and assisting John in managing the firm.

• Ranjan Banerjee, Manager of Robotic Process Automation, Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Ranjan has worked at the federal government for over 22 years in various capacities. Ranjan is currently responsible for building the Robotic Process Automation Team at the Canada Border Service Agency. Ranjan is on three Algonquin College Program Advisory Committees to help adapt the content and learning outcomes to reflect the talent needs of government agencies.

The panelists were asked seven questions on various topics and provided their perspectives on each. From their answers, we have created a summary of tips and strategies to help you with your next co-op interview.

1. Tell us about your typical interview style?

“I really want to know authentically who you are. I will start the interview by asking a less intimidating question like, “tell me about yourself” to get the candidate talking and comfortable.” – Rania, RBC

“I always look for STAR technique answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result). From there I will dig down to specifics so I can help you to reach that authentic answer.” – Rania, RBC

“I’m not interested in a perfect answer. I would rather you tell me this is what I did and it was wrong. I made a mistake, here’s what I learned and this is what I would do next time. Learned lessons are something that you carry with you throughout your career. What is important is that we learn from it and don’t keep making the same mistakes.” – Ranjan, CBSA

Key Takeaways:

• Be authentic
• Be prepared with examples
• Incorporate learned lessons

2. What are the top two or three attributes you are evaluating during an interview and how can a student excel in this area?

“Being able to have a good connection with not only your co-coworkers but your clients is absolutely critical.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“If I am talking to you face-to-face and spending time interviewing you it’s because you have the qualifications and I want to make sure you will fit in the organization. Being able to show you are curious, eager, and actually want to work for us are the key points.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“Read a little bit about the company, understand their mission and mandate and align yourself to that mandate. We want to make sure your values and what you are passionate about aligns with our values, this is what will set you apart.” – Lea, City of Ottawa

“We will rate you on how well you are able to present yourself, communicate, and share your stories. So make sure to be clear and concise with every answer so that you can get full marks” – Lea, City of Ottawa

“We know that you’re not going to have much experience, most co-op students don’t really have any experience working in our industry. We want to know that you have a general interest in our company and work and you want to be part of our team. We will show you the tools and train you on how to do the job.”– Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Key Takeaways:

• Show your interpersonal skills
• Show enthusiasm for the job and the company
• Do your research
• Communicate clearly
• It’s okay if you don’t have job experience in your field

3. If the job you are interviewing for requires specific technical skills, what type of questions would you ask to determine if the candidate is qualified and/ or experienced with the skill?

“In the Architecture field, we will request a portfolio of your work and/or school work to show that you have the technical skills for the job such as using AutoCAD, etc.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“We will ask and show you samples to see if you have a good understanding of what you are looking at and do you have the inquisitiveness to ask and try to make an explanation of what you are seeing. Our drawings typically have welding symbols. We will show our samples and allow the applicant to explain what they know about it. What we’re really looking for when we are asking these questions is do you have a start and base we can develop throughout your co-op.” – Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Key Takeaways:

• Create a portfolio of your work or school work
• Prepare by reviewing your class notes and textbooks

4. What are some tips on how students can best demonstrate their soft skills?

“Be prepared with self-reflection and understanding of what makes you uniquely you. What are your core strengths? Once you know your core strengths think about the times where you achieved success attributed to that soft skill. In your interview by providing specific examples of a situation when you achieved success by utilizing your core strengths.” – Rania, RBC

“Soft skills have very little to do with work experience. They have everything to do with you as a person and your ability to manage issues.” – Ranjan, CBSA

“We don’t want you to rhyme off the soft skills you have, we want you to provide examples. At the co-op student level, we will always throw a lot of tasks your way until you can’t catch anymore. We will ask how you actively manage your time. Give us an example of how you manage this in your day-to-day are there any tools you use?” – Lea, City of Ottawa

Key Takeaways:

• Know your strengths
• Explain in detail a problem you were faced and the steps you took to overcome it
• Be prepared to describe your time management and tools you use to track this

5. Do you have any suggestions for how to prepare and do well in virtual interviews?

“You are competing with applicants from all over the world. I want to see that you have spent some time researching our company. We want to see that you are excited to work for us. The more research you do the calmer you will be because you are more prepared.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“Make sure what is behind you is not distracting. If you are a successful candidate you could be working from home, is this what the client will see when they are working with a client.” – Rania, RBC

Key Takeaways:

• Test the technology in advance
• Making sure the room is very well lit and tidy up behind you
• Make sure you are ready before the interview starts
• Take a second before you log in, take a deep breath
• Be comfortable
• Be in a room where you won’t be disturbed
• Make sure your voice is clear
• Don’t forget to look right into the camera

6. A ) What are some good questions students should ask at the end of the interview?

“Always have at least one question prepared. A question shows that you are engaged, excited, and enthusiastic.

Some great examples could be:

• What is your expectation of the role?
• Why are you hiring?
• What are you hoping this role to accomplish?

These type of questions will allow you to get an idea of what is expected of you from day 1.” – Lea, City of Ottawa

B) How do you feel about questions related to salary and benefits?

“How can you know whether you want a job or are willing to accept the job if you don’t know what you are going to get out of it? There has to be a baseline of expectations both ways to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s absolutely something you should ask and shouldn’t feel intimidated by.” – Ranjan, CBSA

7. If students are interested in asking for feedback after the interview, how should they do this?

“Seeking feedback after an interview is key and something you should always do. Even if you are not seeking specific feedback, checking in a week after your interview is always a good idea.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“At the end of your interview ask: “Is there anything that we have covered that has left you with any doubt that I would be a good fit”. This will allow the interviewer the opportunity to voice any concerns and will give you a chance to address them on the spot. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take feedback and learn and grow from it.” – Rania, RBC

Key Takeaways:

• Email your questions to HR or interviewers on the panel
• Ask for a follow-up meeting or debrief
• Ask for feedback at the end of your interview

Interviews can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking no matter who you are. One important thing to note is that interview styles and trends are always changing so research is key, prepare in advance and consult with industry professionals in the field. As always, the Co-op Department is here to help in your co-op job search and interviews. If you would like to practice your interview skills, you can book a mock interview at any time with your Co-op Student Advisor.

Working remotely takes some getting used to, especially if this is new to you. This is why we have created a list of essential tips to stay focused and positive while working from home.

1. Set up a workspace

Having a designated workspace in your home is important in keeping the time you spend on work and assignments separate from your everyday life. If you have a consistent workspace, each time you go to this space it will be easier to get into the right state of mind to keep productive. If you don’t have a separate room try to find a space with minimum traffic and distraction so that you can concentrate. If possible, only go to your designated workspace during work hours so you can maintain a regular workday and productive schedule. If finding a quiet space is an issue consider working with noise-canceling headphones to stay focused.

2. Set goals

Organizing your day and setting clear, SMART and realistic goals for yourself is important to keep you motivated and on track. At the end of the week make sure you re-evaluate the goals you set and look at what you can do better to improve them for next time.

S.M.A.R.T.

• Specific – Know exactly what you need to accomplish and what you hope to gain from doing so, whether it’s simply finishing an assignment, writing a cover letter for a co-op job application or finishing some research for a larger project.
• Measurable – Make sure you can easily evaluate whether or not your goal was met and how beneficial it ultimately was to you.
• Achievable – Be realistic when setting goals. This can help you avoid missing deadlines and getting behind, as well as giving you a more accurate overview of how much time you have to invest in other tasks throughout the week.
• Results-Focused – Have very clear, distinct outcomes for meeting your goals, and hold yourself to them.
• Time-Bound – Set a deadline for each goal or, for more complex tasks with multiple steps, establish deadlines for each major stage of the process.

3. Stay on track

Now that you’ve set the goals you want to achieve you’ll need to come up with a plan to keep up and track your tasks. Thankfully, there are hundreds of apps and tools that can help you stay on track. Free project management tools like Asana or the Momentum Chrome Extension can be a lifesaver when you have multiple projects, papers, and exams on the go. You can create projects, set tasks with deadlines and even communicate with fellow students.

4. Use video to communicate

Communication is an important factor in staying on track. Whether you have an upcoming interview, group assignment, meeting or just want to stay in touch with your manager, colleagues, and classmates, video communications can be a great source.

Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts are great and free tools to help facilitate potential co-op interviews and touch-base phone calls with classmates.

The Co-op Department will also be offering workshops, one-on-one mock interviews, and resume appointments online too. Be sure to book an appointment in advance through HireAC.

5. Take breaks

It’s too easy to get stuck in the house all day when you live, sleep and study there. Taking regular breaks from the screen or your books is important, not only for your health but also for productivity. Be strict with yourself and make sure you actually take them.

Make sure you also take some breaks off-screen so your eyes get a chance to relax. Get up and walk around the house, play with your pet or catch some fresh air by walking around the block for 5 to 10 minutes. If you are truly stuck inside, even a few simple yoga stretches and postures can help.

And remember, don’t stress! Monitoring and taking care of your mental health is important. If you need extra time on an assignment or you need to take a day to yourself, make sure you let your co-op supervisor or faculty know. At any time should you have any questions about co-op you can connect with your Co-op Student Advisor. If you are experiencing feelings of distress the College has many resources that can help including:

• College Libraries Ontario’s Learning Portal has a great website full of stress management tips and techniques. Learn more at https://tlp-lpa.ca/study-skills/stress-management
• Students can speak to a counsellor by contacting the Welcome Centre by email at welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com
• If it is an urgent need students can call the Distress Line – 613-722-6914 or 1-866-966-0991 or go online at https://crisisline.ca/
• Or they can contact Good 2 Talk – A professional counselling and information and referral telephone service for post-secondary students, which is reachable by calling 1-866-925-5454.
• There is also a Crisis Text Line available by texting GOOD2TALKON to 686868, or online at https://good2talk.ca/

Updated on September 20th, 2021.

The Co-op Department is committed to helping students find relevant and valuable work experience that will help you to hit the ground running after graduation. You’ve made the right choice by enrolling into co-op and now its time to find a co-op job! With over 3,000 Algonquin College co-op employers there are many different industries and a variety of job opportunities to choose from.

One of the best ways to find a co-op job opportunity that’s right for you is by meeting and talking to professionals in various industries. Networking is an opportunity to ask questions about an organization’s work environment, potential roles and future learning and career paths available to you.

The Algonquin College Co-op Department is happy to host our employers on campus throughout the year. At these events, students will have the opportunity to speak to professionals in their industry and discuss potential co-op job opportunities available to them.

You’re invited!

We are hosting an information session for students to explore the world of analytics and cloud computing at Global Affairs Canada.

When: Thursday, September 19, 2019, from 1pm-3pm

Where: ACCE Building Room CA105 and Minto Hall

Register now!

Employer profile:

Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the country’s international trade and leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance.

Sign-up for co-op workshops and events:

Visit our co-op calendar to find more networking events and workshops this term.

You’ve signed up for a networking event, now what?

Make sure you are prepared before you show up at the event. A little bit of planning will go a long way and can help to set you apart from other attendees.

1. Make a game plan for what you want to get out of the event.
2. Do your research on the company and make sure you come with a list of questions.
3. Read our blog on Survival Skills: Three Ways to Survive a Networking Event.