1. Co-op Contact Information Co-op Email: co-op@brocku.caco-op@brocku.ca Phone: 905-688-5550, ext. 4325 Staff: Cindy Dunne, Director Gloria DiDiodato, Associate Director Heather Azar/Rayanne Brooks, Administrative Assistants Julia Zhu/Dana Tonus, Relationship Managers, Business Prgms. Cara Boese/Amanda Etherington, Relationship Managers, Arts & Sciences Programs John Paul Goldsworthy, Relationship Manager, Accounting Prog. Alejandra Wichartz, Relationship Manager, Business/Accounting Sarah Kitsemetry/Alesia Dane, Career Advisors – all programs

2. Agenda Job Search Process Access to the Job Board How to use the Job Board (Applying to Jobs) Job Search Tips & Basics Work term Deliverables Setting Learning Objectives Worksite visit Work term Report Performance Evaluation

3. The Employment Process – The Basics Employer job descriptions are posted in a password-protected web-based system All co-op postings will appear on the co-op job posting board www.brocku.ca/co-op www.brocku.ca/co-op Students will have access four months prior to your work term start date Students apply to positions of interest and skill match through the Co-op Job Board and submit documentation as required Employers select students for interviews Final employment decision rests with employer

4. Who Finds the Jobs? Ultimately the student is responsible for their success in this program and co-op employment Co-op Relationship Managers (RMs) actively promote our programs and secure employment postings from participating companies Flexibility in terms of what and where to apply Minimum application requirement (minimum five per month)

5. Job Board Co-op job postings are exclusive to registered co-op students and the web site is password protected. All activity on the job board is monitored and sharing access with non co-op students may result in removal from the program.

6. Access to Job Board Job Board access given to students only after resume has been approved by Co-op office For work terms that starts in September, students whose grades fall below the minimum required GPA at the end of the school year will be adjudicated out Job Board access is not to be shared with students outside of Co-op

7. Applying To Co-op Jobs Keep an open mind and be flexible when reviewing and applying to positions Evaluate the job for its ability to enhance your skills and relate to your career goals Your dream job may be just that… Check job board daily for new entries – deadlines are usually 48 hours after posting – don’t miss the deadline Limited experience? Apply to 40 or more jobs Job Board Activity will be monitored

8. Co-op Job Process Very competitive market for all work terms, especially summer term Economy is picking up, however it is still not what it was prior to 2008 Use contacts, network to try to develop individual opportunities Employment is not a guarantee

9. Co-op Job Process Always include a cover letter with resume Address it to an actual person if possible – not “Dear Sir/Madam” or “Hiring Manager” “Dear Hiring Manager (or Recruiter )“ is appropriate for online job applications Tailor! Tailor! Tailor! Emphasize the skills that you have that relate to the requirements of the job Provide contact information and politely ask for an interview

10. Co-op Job Process - Interviews Usually employers will contact Co-op Office with short list of candidates selected for interviews – we will notify you (Note: If you are notified directly, please inform RM) Make sure to book a mock interview if it’s your first interview Interviews may be on-campus or at employer’s location You must provide your own transportation Offers are generally made through the Co-op Office but may be made directly (48 hours for response )

11. Co-op Job Process Jobs postings begin 4 months before the scheduled beginning of your Co-op work term, e.g. January for a May start – Know your program’s sequence – Go to www.brocku.ca/co-opwww.brocku.ca/co-op – Select “Current Students” – Access job board with student ID – don’t share! – Read “Job Posting Process” instructions carefully

12. Co-op Job Process Remember… All resumes for upcoming first work terms should be submitted and in revising mode. (September starts will be in Jan/Feb) No resume will result in an “incomplete” for ON90 and inability to continue in Co-op - NO exceptions Missing an interview will result in removal from Co- op – medical reasons will require documentation – no exceptions

13. Co-op Job Process Phone calls/emails from the Co-op Office MUST be returned promptly and within 24 hours or we will assume you are no longer interested in Co-op and you will be removed Sequence changes will be considered only in extreme circumstances

14. Final Tips for Job Search Process Tailor your cover letter to every job!! Consider and apply to as many positions as possible, especially for first work term BE OPEN AND FLEXIBLE! Don’t forget to register your work terms once you secure them (not before). (Late fees may apply if you don’t) Please self-identify to Co-op Office if you are an international student requiring a Co-op Work Permit

15. Questions?

16. Work term Deliverables There are 4 deliverables necessary to complete your work term: – Learning Objectives – Worksite Visit (in person or by phone) – Work term Report – Work term Evaluation

17. What are Learning Objectives Learning Objectives are goals to be accomplished during the course of the work term Objectives can be both professional/work related and personal and may combine elements from the supervisor's expectations, the job description, and the student’s aspirations

18. Learning Objectives Meet with your supervisor in first month of the work term to discuss and determine the Learning Objectives. It is not the responsibility of the supervisor to set all the objectives for you. When designed in partnership, work term objectives help create a more meaningful, focused work term for everyone involved. Regular follow up meetings over the course of the work term will help students perform to the best of their abilities and get the most from their work experiences.

19. Learning Objectives Be S.M.A.R.T when setting your objectives: Specific ► Focus on specific results rather than general or vague actions. Be clear about what you want to accomplish. Measurable ► How will you know when you have been successful? What are the indicators of success? You should be able to monitor and gauge progress. Attainable ► The best goals are challenging, realistic, and achievable. They focus on significant contributions required to meet the goals. Be realistic about how much you can accomplish in a given work term.

20. Learning Objectives Relevant ► Goals must align with and support the goals of the team and the organization as a whole. You may also include a more personal goal if you feel you would like to work on perfecting or enhancing a particular soft skill. Timely ► You should set a specific target date for achieving each goal. Time frames ensure a proactive approach toward achieving results. You should be able to track progress against specified time frames.

21. Learning Objectives There is no set # of objectives, but typically 5 – 10 are common. Additional information and a goals template are available on the current students section of the website. Learning objectives are to be submitted within the first 4 weeks of Co-op Employment. They will be used as a basis of discussion during the work site visit and will be discussed with both you and your supervisor.

22. Worksite Visits Work site visits occur after the mid-point of the co-op work term (half-way to three-quarters of the way through) A Relationship Manager will contact you or your manager to arrange a time to meet with you both – (May not be the RM you are used to working with) Important that current contact information is sent to your RM/ Front Office Staff while you are on work term, OR make sure to check your Brock Email Account. During site visit, you will discuss learning objectives as part of a larger questionnaire. RM spends about 30 minutes with student, 30 minutes with your manager

23. Work Term Reports And Work Term Evaluations

24. Work Term Report - Purpose Allows us to understand the experience you have acquired and how it fits in with your academic studies Allows us a chance to evaluate the employer and the quality of their co-op placements Allows us an opportunity to incorporate real world experiences into our curriculum to benefit non co-op students

25. Work Term Report - Subject Description of the company Job title and description History of company and products and services provided Corporate culture Description and organization of the department you work for

26. Work Term Report – Subject Major activities of the department and your contribution Your overall contribution to the productivity of the department What were your learning objectives and were they met? What effect has this work term had on your career planning? How well did your academic program prepare you for this placement

27. Work Term Report - Elements Must be typed 1 1/2 spacing Must have a table of contents, executive summary, discussion, conclusions and recommendations Must number pages Minimum 5 pages, maximum 8 pages One for each four-month period; no exceptions

28. Work Term Report - Evaluation Marked by co-op coordinators Employers may be given copies of reports (if requested) Must receive a grade of satisfactory Due 2 weeks after you return to academic session

29. Work Term Evaluation Prepared by the employer and reviewed with the student prior to your leaving the work term Graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory Should be viewed as an opportunity to receive recognition, but also an opportunity to understand weaknesses and developmental needs

30. Requirements Must achieve a satisfactory evaluation to remain in co-op Unsatisfactory evaluations will remain on your transcript permanently You may appeal a work term evaluation to the Director of the Co-op Programs Office in writing Keep track of your own performance and document successes and possible areas of concern

31. Submitting Your Evaluation Evaluations will be downloaded BY YOU from the Co-op Website (Current Students section) during your work term and provided to the employer. It is your responsibility to ensure the evaluation is completed and returned to the Co-op Office within 1 week after the end of your work term Evaluations not returned will automatically result in an unsatisfactory notation on your transcript and removal from the co-op program Evaluations must be completed by your immediate supervisor

32. Work Term Evaluations Must be submitted within 2 weeks after completion of work term One evaluation needs to be submitted after completion of each 4 month work term Evaluations must be submitted for summer work terms More information can be found in the Undergraduate Handbook on the Co-op website

33. Questions?