I am going to be completely honest here, I planned my entire university career and future success around the opportunities and experiences that I will gain as a co-op student. I only applied to programs that had co-op options because I was surrounded by people that advocated for the importance of gaining experience while being a student, and co-op was the best way to do it.
One day during the summer going into second year, I was making my timetable. When I couldn’t register in the co-op course, I realized that I was no longer eligible for co-op. Days later, I received an email officially stating that my GPA was not high enough to remain in the co-op portion of my program and that I could reapply when my grades were high enough. When I finally checked, I was shocked to find that I had an 8.6 and all I needed was a 9…my heart sank and I started to panic.
But I was determined to get a job in my field of study the summer after second year like the rest of my peers in co-op starting their first co-op term (and I was no longer willing to spend another summer lifeguarding aquafit classes or crazy camp swims).
I began attending networking events, applied to dozens of jobs, completed all types of application processes, and numerous interviews. So today I’m here to share my top tips from all of those experiences and hopefully prepare you for your job search if you’re not in co-op like me.
Finding a Job
1. Go to networking events
Networking opportunities can be in many different settings, from general club meetings, which allows you to meet like-minded or upper year students, or at a job fair, where you can speak to industry professionals. When you go to any type of networking event it is important to be open-minded and willing to speak to strangers. This was extremely intimidating to me at first, but after attending a few events I became a lot more comfortable.
2. Look for hidden postings
Sometimes your dream job may not be found on mainstream job search sites such as Indeed… Try going to the website for the company that you’re interested in!
3. But, still use websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.
Job search sites are great when you’re open to different types of jobs, in different fields! It shows you all of the options available within your search. Sites such as LinkedIn even send you suggested jobs that are currently available that align with your interests on a daily basis!
4. Use school resources
Career Services, mySuccess Portal in Carleton Central and the numerous on campus networking events are great resources to find out about jobs on campus or off campus!
Applying for Jobs:
1. Stay on top of deadlines
Depending on the jobs that you’re applying for, you may need to apply months in advance or maybe only a couple of weeks. Therefore, it is better to start doing your research early! Do not miss the application deadline for a job that you had your eye on because you didn’t check early enough!
2. Look at the requirements
Some applications require additional documents or projects such as preparing a pitch for a given topic. Some student jobs require a copy of your transcript, which can take up to 2 days to receive from Carleton, so it is important that you look at the application requirements in advance and not the day before the application is due!
3. Apply efficiently
If there is a long application process, try to use things that you’ve written for other applications in the past (as long as they are still relevant, of course). This can help cut down the time it takes for your application, which is beneficial if you’re applying to multiple jobs at a time!
4. Change your resume and cover letter for every job
Look at the company’s mission or values and try to align your resume and cover letter to it. Seeing a like-minded applicant may be more attractive to them! Also, every job is different, they may be a smaller company that entails more individual work so they will look at your time management skills, organization and ability to work under minimal supervision. In contrast, a larger company may be more interested in your teamwork skills, communication and understanding the chain of command.
You got an interview! (First of all, congratulations!)
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare
Reflect on all of your past and current experiences! Think about what skills you’ve gained from those experiences and how it can apply to your *hopefully* future job. If you don’t have a lot of experience in your field, don’t worry, try to highlight how your current skills are transferable! This includes any volunteer work or even skills that you have acquired in a class.
2. They are looking for competencies
In particular, behavioural competencies such as leadership, integrity, adaptability and teamwork. It is important to identify if you have this competency and be able to explain how you demonstrated it.
3. Be a STAR
Yes, you’re a star, but I mean use the STAR methodology to respond to questions about your experiences!
S: Explain the situation
T: Your tasks – your position, roles and responsibilities, etc.
A: Action – things that you did! (It is important to refer to the work that you did, using the first person… Although, there may have been others involved, this interview is about you!)
R: What was the end result? – Always finish your response with, “As a result…” and explain how the situation ended.
Always be as prepared as possible before your interview. Get lots of rest and avoid drinking caffinated drinks beforehand so your mouth doesn’t get too dry while speaking. Good luck!