Welcome! Co-op Faculty Coordinator Mechanical and Industrial Engineering College of Engineering Karen Kelley Faculty Co-op Coordinator Northeastern University

Page 2 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Continuous Reflection Practices Enhancing Career Development from Sophomore to Senior Year Mechanical, Industrial & Mechanical Engineering Technology Programs

Page 3 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/ Students per Semester 1800 Employers 55 Co-op Faculty Coordinators, Aligned by Majors All Majors Participate Program is Over 100 Years Old Northeastern Co-op Overview

Page 4 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 The Cooperative Education Learning Model Preparation Activity Reflection Preparation Reflection Activity Integrating Cooperative Education and Academics

Page 5 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Academic and Co-op Schedule Length of semesters: The academic calendar for full-time undergraduate and most graduate programs consists of 15-week semesters in the fall and spring and two 7 1/2-week half-sessions in the summer. Semester calendar: Fall semester runs from early September to mid-December; spring semester runs from early January to late April; summer sessions run from early May to mid-June and early July to mid-August Typical Five-Year Co-op/Class Semester Schedule FallSpringSummer ISummer II FreshmanClass Vacation SophomoreClass VacationCo-op MiddlerCo-opClass Co-op JuniorCo-opClass Co-op SeniorCo-opClass

Page 6 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Stages of Continuous Reflection at Northeastern Students Complete Three 6 Month Co-ops during the 5-Year Bachelor of Science Program 1.Sophomore: Preparation – Intro to Co-op Course 2.Sophomore/Middler: After First Co-op – Reflection Seminar 3.Middler/Junior: After Second Co-op – Reflection Seminar 4.Junior/Senior: After Third Co-op – Professional Isssues Course

Page 7 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 1. Sophomore: Preparation Learning Objectives- Introduction to Co-op: Communicate interests, skills, needs and future plans to their Co-op Coordinator Understand the value of their previous work experiences and transferable skills Assist students to conduct self evaluation of their past work behaviors and develop an understanding of how they may improve Summarize skills and verbally communicate to students mock employers/future employers Identify and describe their skills and work values and how they relate to their career choices

Page 8 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Implementation: Create a resume by reflecting on previous experiences Discover and summarize skills & values using inventories Listen to upper-class presentations in Professional Issues course Write career goals Evaluate feedback from upper-class students through mock interviews Create Professional References Develop Mentee/networking relationship with upper-class Professional Issues students 1. Sophomore: Preparation

Page 9 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Learning Objectives: Allow students to develop skills necessary to evaluate professional skills and accomplishments Help students assess and summarize their previous work experience Develop a broader understanding of their chosen field Advance communication/presentation skills Compare and critique their work performance and career interests with that of their peers Assist students to develop a realization of their own career potential 2.Sophomore: After First Co-op

Page 10 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 2. Sophomore: After First Co-op Implementation: Students required to present at Reflection Seminars to peers Summarize their organization and where they fit Describe their chief accomplishments/responsibilities at work Utilize the self assessment form to verbally summarize improved skills with specific examples Begin developing a professional resume

Page 11 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 3. Middler/Junior: After Second Co-op Learning Objectives - Professional Issues Course: Reflect on work and academic experiences as a whole Lead students to make connections between their past work experiences, academics, interests to arrive at conclusions regarding their future Develop an understanding of their skills, talents and value they bring to a job Develop ability to summarize experiences, both verbal and written Recognize career growth and progress Develop mentoring skills and mentoring relationships Further develop their job search skills

Page 12 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 3. Middler/Junior: After Second Co-op Implementation - Professional Issues Course: Present previous co-op experience to sophomore Intro to Co-op classes Prepare for and deliver “Elevator Speech” to potential employer –Create a well written “professional summary” of previous work experience –Conduct a targeted a job search by researching & evaluating potential “dream” job descriptions and judge qualifications –Revise and improve professional resume to include a written “professional summary”, customized to their “dream job” –Compose a convincing cover letter applying to their “dream job” –Verbally present a “professional summary” based on their “dream job”

Page 13 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 3. Middler/Junior: After Second Co-op Implementation, cont.: Conduct a mock interviews of sophomores ( Intro to Co-op ) students –Reflect on personal interviewing experience –Reflect on personal work experience to describe to candidate –Develop a list of criteria or skills most important for success at your firm (utilize self-evaluation and the skills highlighted in Reflection Presentation) Identify with current sophomores and recognize career growth and individual achievements through co-op Mentoring relationships developed as a result of mock interviews

Page 14 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 4.Junior/Senior: After Third Co-op (Seeking Full-time Employment) Learning Objectives: Apply job search skills learned in class Continue to use reflection practices as part of their professional/career development Encourage independence Implementation: Utilize skills developed in Professional Issues class Transition to Career Services Independent job search/networking

Page 15 of 14 Kelley/Mountain, 10/17/05 Continuous Reflection and Moving On… Moving In, Moving Through,