Ryan Fedurco is a third year co-op student in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management program. He completed a successful work term with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) this past summer.

 

As a first year Co-op Student there are a few points you can do to prepare for the co-op program and work force. First and foremost keep up your grades. Find your program’s minimum Co-op GPA requirement and do your best to attain the required grade by the end of the year. If you are struggling to keep up your marks ask questions and seek help as there are plenty of academic resources at Carleton to assist you.

Second, start building your resume- not in the conventional sense- but through gaining experiences to put on your resume. The pre-requisite COOP 1000 course will teach you the technical resume and job application skills, so it is better for you to ensure you have relevant skills and experiences to put on your resume. Get involved with the hundreds of clubs and societies on campus, join a sports team, volunteer, find a part-time job. Any sort of extra-curricular activity will show initiative, and will allow you to develop skills for the work force. It will also make you more competitive in the workforce and make your university experience more enjoyable.

Third, look into what sort of job and work field interests you may have. Do some research into what kind of student jobs would give you relevant skills for the career path you are interested in. Take advantage of the great opportunities the Carleton Career Services has to offer. There are resume reviews, seminars, job fairs, networking opportunities and many other events to help you begin your search. Knowing what area you want to work in is a huge advantage because once you begin the Co-op program you will already know what kinds of jobs interest you, what kinds of skills and experiences you need for those jobs and how to tailor your applications to those jobs.

So, keep up your grades, get involved and find out what career area interests you. Also if you have any questions stop by the Career Services and learn what we have to offer.