In a competitive job market, graduating with real-world experience can give you a major advantage.
Internships and co-op programs offer valuable short-term work placements. They can help you get a head start on your career while you’re still at school.
What’s the difference between an internship and a co-op program?
Different schools, faculties, and employers use these terms differently, but generally:
- An internship can be part of a school program, or you can pursue it without your school’s involvement.
- A co-op is always formally structured though your school. It is a co-operative arrangement between you, the school, and the employer.
Programs vary in structure, length, and requirements. Work terms can last 4, 8, 12, or 16 months.
School-sponsored programs
When you join a school-sponsored internship or co-op program:
- You pay a fee to access program services.
- You receive help with landing and preparing for a job.
- You get access to vetted employers and job postings. You normally still need to apply and interview for jobs. Employment is not guaranteed.
- Jobs are usually paid. They often offer higher pay than typical entry-level or summer jobs.
- You maintain full-time student status while working.
Co-op work terms usually alternate with school terms. You may work full time with the same employer over multiple terms. Some schools use the word “internship” to mean a longer (12- or 16-month) consecutive work term.
It may take you longer to graduate but you may receive academic credit for your work terms. And you may be able to apply earnings from a work term to expenses for the following school term.
Independent internship
If you find an internship outside of a school program:
- It may be paid or unpaid.
- You may work full time over the summer or part time during the school year.
- You might work just 1 term, work more than 1 term with the same employer, or do several internships with different employers.
Which option is right for you?
A school-sponsored program may be for you if you:
- Are interested in employers that partner with your school
- Want access to jobs that have been vetted by the school to make sure they’re relevant to your program
- Want to work several terms with the same employer to get increasing responsibility and deeper project experience
- Prefer to alternate full-time work terms with study terms
- Don’t mind taking extra time to complete your degree
- Want the school to back you up if you run into problems with the job or employer
- Want structured support in job search skills like interviewing and resumé writing
An independent program may be for you if you:
- Don’t mind finding your own job opportunities
- Don’t want to meet formal program requirements, such as writing a report or having the school check in on you
- Want the flexibility to try out a range of roles, industries, or corporate cultures
- Prefer to work in the summer or part time during the school term
- Want to finish your degree on time and graduate with the peers you started with
The benefits of doing a work placement
A competitive edge
When you enter the job market after graduation, co-op or internship experience will give you an edge over applicants with no work experience. Most graduates who have done a work placement say it helped them land a job. Some go straight from graduation to a full-time position with an employer who knows them.
Even if your placement doesn’t lead directly to a job with the same employer, your work placement can offer:
- Industry experience that sets your resumé apart
- Opportunities to network with people in your field and prove yourself to them in a real-world work environment
- Performance evaluations that you can share with potential employers
- A professional portfolio or list of projects you completed during your work terms
- Higher starting wages than graduates without work experience
Career development benefits
Work placements can benefit your career and education in other ways. You can:
- Test-drive a field to narrow down your interests, discover new ones, or rethink your direction entirely
- Learn in an environment where you are mentored and it’s OK to make mistakes
- Build core skills like communication, collaboration, and adaptability, which are critical in the workplace
- Potentially get paid to learn, meaning lower student loans when you graduate
- Get school credit for your work terms
- Apply what you learn during work terms to help you excel during study terms
How to land a position
If you’re enrolled in an internship or co-op program, you’ll likely have access to your school’s job portal. But if you want or your school expects you to find a job placement on your own, you’ll need to scout out opportunities.
Many openings are not advertised, so be sure to look beyond posted jobs into the hidden job market.
There is a lot of competition, so start looking early. And keep in mind that even if a role is not a perfect match, it can help you get a foot in the door. You can still make contacts, get to know the culture, and build transferable skills.
Network effectively
Networking is the number 1 way to get your foot in the door. Companies may receive dozens or hundreds of applications for a role. A personal recommendation can make all the difference.
- Use your own network of family and friends, professors and classmates.
- Talk to former interns and co-op students to learn about their experiences.
- Attend job fairs to network with employers.
- Use social media effectively. Present yourself as professionally on LinkedIn as you do in person. (Don’t post pictures of that wild party you went to last Friday.)
- Read books and blogs, listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos for networking tips and advice.
Apply to employers directly
Search for internship opportunities through the Government of Canada Job Bank, TalentEgg, LinkedIn, and Indeed.
Contact employers that interest you even if they are not advertising for interns. Do they have any upcoming openings? Or would they consider taking on an unpaid intern?
Take advantage of youth employment programs
Government and not-for-profit programs can help connect you with jobs. For example:
- Young Canada Works offers jobs and internship programs for students in the fields of heritage, arts, culture, and official languages.
- You can apply for opportunities to work for the Government of Canada through the Federal Student Work Experience Program.
- If you’re a high school student or graduate under the age of 21, the not-for-profit CAREERS program can help connect you with a paid internship.
- If you’re a recent graduate, a skilled newcomer to Canada, or a person with a disability, you can apply for paid internships through Career Edge.
Remember, the first placement is the hardest to land. Be prepared to submit lots of applications, and don’t get discouraged.
How to make the most of your placement
Set SMARTER goals for what you want to achieve during the work term. You might aim to learn a certain technical skill, develop your core skills, or find a mentor in your field.
During your placement:
- Dress and behave professionally. Arrive at work early rather than risk being late. Be organized and manage your time well. Keep a positive attitude.
- Make sure you know what’s expected of you. Request periodic feedback.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get help if you’re stuck.
- Take notes about everything: assignments, equipment, people’s names, and answers to your questions. Journal your tasks and the things you’ve learned.
- If you have a hybrid work arrangement, go into the office as much as possible to make in-person connections. You want people to remember your name.
- Be friendly and curious. Invite your co-workers for coffee. This is your chance to learn about the industry from the inside.
- Take initiative. Volunteer for tasks, even if it’s just setting up chairs for a meeting. If you’re not busy, ask if there’s anything else you can help with.
- If there’s really nothing for you to do, use down time to learn. Look through training materials, policy and procedure manuals, and other resources.
After your placement:
- Send a thank-you email to your supervisor. If you would like to come back to work for the company, say so.
- Update your resumé with the skills and experience you gained. Request a reference letter. Ask permission to include work samples in your portfolio.
- Connect with co-workers on LinkedIn.
- Reflect on how your learning might shift your education or career plans.
Explore your options
If you’re interested in doing a formal internship or co-op program, factor that in when choosing a post-secondary school and program. Research the program’s reputation, the supports it offers, and its employer partnerships.
To find programs in Alberta that offer a co-op component, visit OCCinfo's Post-Secondary Programs.