 |
 |
 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It's an educational program that combines classroom studies with paid, productive work experience in a field related to your major or career goals.
What do you mean by productive work experience?
Real jobs with employers who have tasks or projects that need to be done. Since this is a plan offered by your college, the co-op or faculty coordinators on campus approve work positions that they believe will involve real work and will enhance your learning.
What are the chief benefits of co-op?
Students are enthusiastic about the opportunities co-op offers--to explore possible careers, to apply learning in real work situations, to gain relevant work experience and business contacts that can assist in getting a good job after graduation, and to earn money to help with college and living expenses.
What if I don't have a major or career plan yet?
You can talk with your academic advisor and with the co-op office to explore your interests and skills. Lots of students are just beginning to think about what they want to study or might want to do after they finish college. Co-op is a great way to see what it's like to work in a professional or occupational field.
What kinds of employers or work sites might I find?
A broad range. Some are large multinational corporations, representing a wide scope of career fields such as technology, manufacturing, financial services, sales and communications. Many students work in smaller businesses, gaining important entrepreneurial experience. Others are employed at nonprofit agencies and government offices. The 50,000 employers nationally who hire college co-op students cover almost every field of work.
Will I have enough of the skills that employers might expect?
You will work with a co-op coordinator on campus to develop or review your resumé. Co-op employers realize that students are developing their skills as they continue their education. They plan work levels that are appropriate. In a few programs students start co-op during their freshman year, while at most colleges you begin in your sophomore or junior year, so you have already had courses that are relevant for your professional field.
How do I find out how to write a resumé or do an interview?
A co-op coordinator on campus will assist you. Most colleges offer workshops on these kinds of job search skills.
Will this extend my time in college?
It depends on the college. The first co-op programs started in engineering and developed a five-year plan where you would graduate with a degree and at least a full year of work experience. There are also four-year plans that use some of the summer time to fit in the courses and the work experiences. Community college students who participate in co-op are usually able to complete their degree in the expected time. Keep in mind that nationally, a large percentage of students take extra time to complete their degree by stopping for a semester or a year until they have a better idea of what they want to do. Co-op can help students explore their fields of interest while they continue their education.
Why would I want to do co-op instead of an internship or just finding my own job during college?
In general, co-op differs from internships because most co-op programs are designed to have more than one work experience and they are real jobs--they are typically paid and the employer recognizes the student as a true employee while on co-op. So, you are developing a resumé of progressive responsibility and relevant work experience. As a co-op student, you have a coordinator on campus who provides career exploration and job search information. Co-op differs from other student jobs because co-op positions are approved by the college as relevant to your goals and as providing new learning opportunities. Some students are able to find their own co-op positions, but these are reviewed by the college to see if they are appropriate for new learning. Finally, co-op graduates are in a stronger position for obtaining a job in their field after they graduate because they have the kind of prior, related experience sought by employers.
Do I get a grade or credit for the work experience?
Co-op is a learning experience that may or may not involve course credit. Colleges offer different types of recognition for participation in co-op. Some offer academic credit, some offer co-op credit, and some don't offer course credit but have a notation on the transcript. There are also programs that require participation in cooperative education as an element of the degree. The most important benefit is not credit, it is the learning, improved skills and real-world experience you get.
Do I have to stay with one employer?
No, although many employers are interested in the students they believe will stay with the company. After all, part of the reason many companies or organizations participate is to help identify and train future employees.
Will other co-op students be working there?
It depends on the employer. Smaller businesses are less likely to have other students, but they offer a great opportunity to learn a lot about the enterprise. Many larger companies employ multiple students each term. Regardless of whether or not there are other students there, good college programs approve work positions that will provide productive tasks and supervision for students.
Will I be working close to home or school?
You should talk with your co-op coordinator to help you decide. Colleges have information on work sites in a variety of locations. If you are thinking about a more distant location, they can often help with information about places students have worked before. Some employers assist with the travel and living arrangements for distant locations. Or, you may be put in touch with other students who will be living and working in the area. Explore it with your co-op office.
Can I earn enough to pay for college?
Many co-op students find the salary they earn is a great benefit. Wages depend on your field of study, prior experience, your level of education or training, and what other employers are paying. Studies have shown average annual earnings of $2,500 (for students earlier in their college program or in typically lower paying fields of employment) to $14,000, but you need to explore your field, credentials and the job market to figure out how much you might expect. Most colleges can show you salary ranges. While some students earn a significant amount of money on co-op, the skill development and chance to learn practical applications of their classroom studies are primary reasons for participating.
How does the work relate to my academic program?
Colleges vary in the ways they link them. Most have a learning plan that you develop, often with your future employer and a faculty or staff person at the college. Ask at the co-op office. Some departments have seminars or papers, while others rely on student and employer evaluations to indicate what you have learned.
How do I pick a college with a good co-op program?
Identify colleges that offer co-op in the area or areas of interest to you. Look for the Directory of College Cooperative Education Programs in your guidance office or at the library. Most of all, ask questions of any college you are considering so you can find an institution that offers the kind of structure and guidance you want.
What if I have other questions?
Ask at the Cooperative Education Office at the college you are considering or attending. The contact numbers for many of them are listed in the resources described above. And, if you are already in college, don't wait to explore the great learning and earning opportunities. Many colleges work with students early in their college program, even before they may be ready to go on a co-op experience.
In developing this page, NCCE gratefully acknowledges the assistance of co-op directors and the prior article by Matthew J. Trupiano on this topic
 |
 |
 |
