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Cooperative Education is Great!

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Cooperative Education and Internships

by J. Benton Howie

AboutUsBentonI want to preface this article by officially stating....I am a huge, seriously over-the-top, fan of pre-degree work experience.  This is my view, based on nearly forty years working with people entering a wide variety of professional, administrative and technical fields..and directing the recruiting of thousands of prospective employees for a number of domestic and international companies. 

Now that I have gotten that out of the way, as much as I tried to make this a short article, this is a big topic with lots of variables.  So, I hereby offer it in small bites. 

Cooperative Education and Internships...

  • What are they?  How are they similar..and how are they different?  

  • Why can they be beneficial?  Why should students consider participating in these programs..even if it might stretch out their graduation dates?  

  • What students should look for when evaluating prospective colleges and universities relative to their ability to offer cooperative education and internship programs?  

  • What students should expect from these programs? 

  • What should students do to get the most out of their internship and coop experiences?

Cooperative Education Programs...exactly what are they, and how do they work?

The important word here is "programs" not just assignments.  The best Cooperative Education Programs are formal programs managed and administered by the Universities. There are dedicated departments to administer the Coop Programs for the Universities or Colleges.  Some universities have multiple Coop Departments to support different Colleges within the universities...i.e. Engineering, Computer Science, Business/Finance, Medical..and in some cases Graduate Programs.   

Students are required to register with the Coop Departments and to abide by the regulations which govern the programs.  Most programs will not allow students to register until they have completed their freshman or sophomore years of study. The university Coop Departments will recruit companies to advertise their opportunities through the university and will collect and present students' resumes for these positions. Usually, the assignments must be related to the students' course of study.  They are not simply opportunities for students to work outside the school.  These are called "summer jobs"...not to be confused with Cooperative Education.  Some universities offer course credit for Coop Participation.  Students are often required to maintain a minimum grade point average to stay in the program.   

Traditional Coop assignments are rotational by semester...students work alternate school and work semesters.  Although there is a trend away from this...integrating Coop assignments with summer break, sometimes offering a two-semester work assignment (summer/Fall or Spring/Summer).  Formal Coop Programs usually require students to work two, three, or more semesters with the same company, although the students can request to move to another company if they wish.  Some universities offer the opportunity for students to engage in "parallel" work programs whereby the students work and attend classes at the same time.  Work is usually limited to 20 hours per week.  These programs are often more appropriate for graduate students since graduate programs offer more flexibility. 

Not all Coop assignments are paid.  Some companies will only offer unpaid assignments. Some assignments will be local to the universities...others will be in other cities.  Some companies offer relocation and housing allowances, although this is rare.  Students are usually left to their own devices about how to get there and how to live when they arrive.  This is part of the Coop experience.  As hard as they might try to avoid the issue..students will have to live on their own when they graduate.  This is good practice.  

And.....not all universities have formal Coop Programs...and not all formal programs are created equal.  Some universities work very hard to offer top level programs.  Others are not as effective.  The most robust programs tend to be in the engineering disciplines, but other colleges are waking up to the importance of sponsoring formal pre-degree work experiences.   If the opportunity to participate in a Coop Program is important, students should evaluate this aspect of the university just as they would the academic programs offered by the university.  Students should not be afraid to go to the Coop Departments and check them out, or to talk to students who are participating in the program.  However, in general, the top university programs are pretty well known.

Internship Programs...how are they similar to Cooperative Education Programs..and how do they differ?  

The terms Intern and Coop are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two very different programs.  Although both offer pre-degree work experiences.   

Even though some universities have Internship Programs, these programs usually do not have the same requirements or formal structure as Coop Programs.  Whereas there may be an internship office, the recruiting and program requirements are not as formalized as with Coop Programs.  

Internships are frequently unpaid.  They are often for only one semester, and the prospective interns may have to be more involved in the job searches. 

Internships look a lot like summer jobs, and it is frequently the responsibility of the interns to determine whether the prospective job is degree related and will support their career interests.  

Having said this...good internships can offer excellent pre-degree work experiences.  

Why do it?  

Incorporating two, three, or more "work experience" semesters into an already packed university education can stretch out graduation dates. Is it worth it?  In my opinion...absolutely yes....for a lot of reasons.  

Students get an opportunity to "test drive" their prospective careers.  Since Coops and Interns literally start at the bottom..it's an excellent opportunity to find out where the bottom is and what the job actually entails.  I have known students who have returned from their first Coop or Intern assignment and immediately went to the guidance office and changed their majors. Or who have returned saying they would rather get hit with a rock than work for company XXX.  Others have returned excited about their career choice.  This is good information to have before investing four or five years in pursuing a degree only to find out after a year of work that this career is not for you. 

The Coop or Internship assignment can be a multi-semester job interview.  It is not at all unusual for students to accept a job with one of the companies they worked for as a coop or intern.  Many companies actually view the assignments as a chance to review the students for future employment.  For some companies, this is their primary college recruiting program.  One of the major disadvantages of the regular college recruiting process is that after spending four or five years and thousands of dollars getting a formal education, students have about 30 minutes to get a job!   Coops and Interns have many months of interviewing to get a job.  This extended interview process works both ways. Students also have chance to interview companies to determine if that is a place they would like to launch their careers.

Pre-degree work experience gives students something to put on their resumes.  It makes them more employable.  Looking for a job is a competitive process.  It's often about comparative advantage.  Grades, university standing, personal attributes...and related work experience are the comparative elements.  Other attributes being equal, students with related work experience stand out and have a huge advantage over those who don't.  

 ...And last, Coops and Internships offer students the chance to maybe make some money and take a first step towards living on their own.  Look at this as "training wheels" for THE big bike ride after graduation.  However, students should not discount unpaid internships if the assignments are the best way for them to take advantage of the other benefits of pre-degree work experience.  Sometimes, the best internships are unpaid.

What makes for good coop and intern programs? Students should get the answers to these questions... 

First...is it a formal program?  Does the university have a dedicated Cooperative Education or Internship Department? 

Do the programs have structure, both for students and companies.  This is particularly important for companies since the students need some assurance that the assignments will be para-professional, degree related.  Students do not want to end up locked in some file room or chained to a copy machine.....or getting coffee or doing other fetch and carry jobs.  This does not mean that students will not be engaged in very entry level assignments such as data collection or data entry, regression analysis, repetitive testing, or other "bottom rung para-professional" duties, or even arranging catering for customer events.  All jobs have them..and the less experienced the employee the more these activities comprise a greater portion of their jobs.   However, the good news is that companies take advantage of expertise and will stretch students..especially those who do repeat semesters of work at the same company.  This is another good reason for doing more than one semester at the same company. 

Is the university known for its commitment to Cooperative Education or Internships?  This is pretty easy to find out with a little research.
Who are the companies that regularly recruit coops and interns from the university?  How many students are actively engaged in coop and intern assignments? 
Are Coops and Interns usually paid?
Do students receive any class credit for Coop assignments? 
Are there formal "Graduate Student" Coop or Intern Programs? 
How many students are employed each year by the companies they Cooped or Interned for?

These are all good indicators of the quality of the university program.  

What should students expect from the top programs?  

The most important goal of a Coop or Intern is to secure assignments that are degree related.  Without this, the assignment is nothing more than a summer job.  The work assignment should be an extension of the classroom experience. 

The best company programs are linked to a recruiting program and provide multi-discipline work experiences to give students a broad view of the company....or be an integral part of a developmental new hire program.  If students are committed to the careers, these are superb opportunities to jump start their careers.  However, even if companies are not currently hiring new grads, the work experience opportunity is extremely valuable in getting the best job after graduation.  

University programs should be affiliated with a large number of quality companies.  Remember, the assignment is multi-faceted...work experience, extended interview, career test drive, and life experience. 

The University should offer work experience guidance.  They should be able to provide good information about the employers and the quality of the work experience they offer.  The Coop and Intern advisers should be professional and committed to their roles.  The department should not be the elephant burial ground for worn out administrators.  The best programs project energy, excitement and commitment.   The people take pride in what they do...and the departments are professional and well run. 

How can students make the most of a Coop or Intern work experience?  

Do absolutely the highest quality work you can...all the time.  This is not a paid vacation.  It can be fun but is not "for" fun.  This is serious business.  Never forget that you are always being informally evaluated.  

Never turn down an assignment.  This is the time to stretch yourself...to take risks...to find out what you can do.  You want be seen as a "go to" person.  

Be pro-active.  Seek out additional work.  If you have time, ask for more work. Work extra hours if you have to.  The kiss of death for future employment is to sit around and wait for people to give you something to do.  Take control of your coop or internship and squeeze all of the value you can from it.  If your manager doesn't have something for you to do....find something on your own.  Get involved and be enthusiastic all the time.  This is an exciting time in your life -- stay excited! 

Learn....all the time.  Remember, this is an extension of your academics.  You are not going to be spoon fed in college.  Don't expect to be during your work experience.  There are tremendous opportunities for self study...take advantage of them.  Ask questions.  You can even be a bit of a pest about it.  After all, you're a student.  But know when to back off a bit.     

Scrupulously obey the rules and regulations of the company.  And I cannot place enough emphasis on the value of high ethics.  Come to work on time and do not miss work without a good reason.  Be well groomed and dress a little bit better than your co-workers.  You are not in school; you are at work.   You want to stand out and make a solidly good impression.  Be polite and courteous at all times.   

Get to know people.  These will be your first professional networking opportunities.  Remember, when it's time to hire someone, you want everyone you met to give you high marks.  Do not be afraid to speak to senior level executives...by name.  They are just like you..although they make a bit more money.  You want them to remember you.  You do not want to be just another face in the crowd.  If you meet execs in an elevator, look them in the eye, extend your hand and say "Mr XXXXX, my name is YYYYY.  I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the opportunity to coop or intern in Department ZZZ".   

If you decide that the company you are working for is not for you...continue to do your best work and finish your commitment for the semester....then work to get an assignment with another company.  Remember, you are in charge of your own career.  Take charge of it.  

Choosing a career is the hardest thing you can do.  The next hardest will be looking for a job.  Coops and Internships can make both of these easier.  And, they really are a lot of fun.   

Good luck.

Benton

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