5 Reasons to apply to a co-op program

Posted on Monday, October 29th, 2018

Hands-on and practical learning is an important part of a college education. Co-op is a powerful way to gain this experience, giving you exposure to industry while you study and making you more employable upon graduation.

Here’s what you need to know about co-op programs!

Get relevant experience

Students going through a co-op work placement are able to gain valuable, on-the-job experience working in their respective field.

During co-op, you can:

  • Develop new skills to help you excel in the workplace.
  • Learn how to conduct yourself on the job. Professional behaviour is important in any business or workplace setting and is invaluable in your transition from school to the workforce.
  • Decide whether you want to continue in the industry. A co-op placement gives you the flexibility to ensure that this is the industry you want to work in, without having to make a long-term commitment.
  • Find out which areas you need to improve on. You might realize there are some skills required in your industry that you need to develop.

Get paid

While some student internships and placements are unpaid, all co-op work placements through Algonquin College’s co-op programs are paid positions. Many of the businesses that we partner with realize the value of hiring a co-op student and pay the market rate for the position, rather than just minimum wage.

Co-op students can often earn $10,000 during their work term. This money can help pay for tuition and fees while you’re at school or help with other living costs!

Graduate and earn a higher salary

Within the first two years of graduating, you could earn $2,000–$8,000 more than graduates without co-op experience. That’s because employers value the time you’ve already spent on the job — and pay you accordingly. So not only are you earning money during your co-op work placement, but you’re in a good position to have a higher income when you graduate, too.

Make industry contacts

Have you ever heard the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Nowhere is the saying truer than when on the job hunt.

Networking is an important skill to have, and co-op opens opportunities to interact with professionals in your industry that you otherwise might not have encountered.

Because of these networking opportunities, more job offers may present themselves to you down the road — especially if you keep in touch with your co-op contacts.

Get a leg up on competition

In today’s job market, you need every advantage you can get. Having co-op experience on your resume is an easy way to make you stand out from the crowd.

Employers value prior work experience over solely having academic credentials, and most companies look more favorably on candidates who have worked in the field before.

You become a more well-rounded applicant once you have experience in your respective field, and it will give you much more confidence when applying and interviewing for jobs.

Graduates these days need to have employable skills right from the first day and doing a co-op placement is the perfect opportunity to help you hit the ground running.

This blog post was originally posted on the Cooperative Education blog.

If you have questions about our co-op programs or opportunities,
connect with the Co-op Office.


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