BCS MATH BIT PWTW presentation

							Career Development and
Co-operative Education
PRE-WORK TERM WORKSHOP
 Summer 2009 Co-op Work Term




  Woodie Morley
  Coordinator
  Co-operative Education Office
  January 16, 2009
Overview

Part 1: RULES AND REGULATIONS


Part 2: JOB APPLICATION AND
  INTERVIEW PROCESS (PLACE PRO)


Part 3: SUCCESS IN CO-OP


                                  2
Part 1: RULES AND REGULATIONS

• Graduation requirements
• Fees
• Academic Registration
• Work study patterns
• Interviews
• Work term Registration
• Work term Reports
• Withdrawal

                                3
Graduation Requirements

•   BCS and Math students must successfully complete four co-op
    placements for graduation with ‘Co-operative Education’
    designation (2 work term credits)


•   BIT students due to scheduling challenges only require 3 work
    terms
Fees

• Student must pay the stipulated co-operative education
  program charge
• Two charges:
   1. Pre-work term fee: $300 (paid a max. of two times over the
      course of the co-op program)
   2. Work term course: $350 (each time you secure a
      placement)
• All fees are payable to the University Business
  Office through your existing student account.
• Carleton University reserves the right to change fees
  without prior notice.
Academic Registration

• Must be registered full-time (2.0 credits, or 4 courses)
  during every study term
    – From: the term before your first co-op placement
    – To: the term before your last co-op placement
• Permitted to be part-time student after you have finished
  all work terms
Work term patterns
BCS/MATH/BIT work term patterns:
http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-op/currentstudents-
   continuationrequirements.shtml
• Each work term is 4 months in duration
• Work term pattern is designed to fit both the employer’s
  needs and the timetable of the specific academic program
• To request a change to your work/study pattern if
  scheduling problems arise: http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-
   op/work_study_request.shtml
Interviews

• You may not decline an interview that results from an
  application to a job posting
•    You must reply to a job offer within 48 hours (or by the
    specific deadline given)
• Only one job offer may be declined per term
• Once a job offer has been accepted, no further interviews
  may take place and you are
    not permitted to continue with
    the job search process
You’ve accepted the job offer…now
what?...
Work Term Registration

• Must register in the co-op work term report course for
  each specific four-month work term – course codes:

•                 BCS             MATH         BIT
    1st work term: Comp 3200    Math 2200     BIT 2200
    2nd work term: Comp 3201    Math 3200     BIT 2201
    3rd work term: Comp 3202    Math 3201     BIT 3200
    4th work term: Comp 4200    Math 4200     BIT 3201


• http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-op/currentstudents-
  continuationrequirements.shtml
Work Term Registration cont’d
• Registration is done on Carleton Central
• Summer term registration opens in May
• Work term courses do not qualify as electives
• You must complete all work terms prior to the
  final academic term
• You may register in one half-credit (0.5)
  academic course during a work term, after
  work hours only
Work term Reports

• At the end of each work term (every 4 months), a work
  term report is submitted via WebCT to the Co-op Faculty
  Advisor for your program
• Review guidelines: http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-
  op/Allotherco-opprograms.htm
• Co-op Faculty Advisor grades report as SAT(satisfactory)
  or UNS(unsatisfactory)
• You may not do another work term or
  continue in co-op if you do not
  receive a SAT grade on your report and
  evaluation
Withdrawal

• May only withdraw from the co-op option when you are on
  an academic term - not while you are on a work term


• Must complete a request to ‘remove co-op option’ form:
  http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-op/Co-op.pdf
Part 2: JOB APPLICATION AND
INTERVIEW PROCESS (PLACE PRO)
•   Important Dates for Summer 2009
    Placement
•   Job Applications
•   Interviews
•   Job Offers
•   Place Pro…step-by-step demo
Important Dates
Summer 2009 Work Term
January 26, 2009:         First Job Postings Close
February 2, 2009:         Interview Period Begins
February 27, 2009:        Final date* to be released to view
                          summer term jobs
*Students will not be released to view jobs after this date


May 4, 2009:              Typical Work Term Start Date




                                                               15
Job Applications
Where can I see jobs and how do I apply?
• Students review jobs posted online via Place Pro and
  submit application documentation (cover letter, resume,
  list of grades, etc.) online for positions of interest


• Follow job application instructions carefully! Some job
  postings require that students apply directly on the
  company website. Pay attention to instructions…


• Each job has a closing date, after which applications are
  emailed to the employer

                                                              16
Job Applications (cont’d)
How do I find out what has happened with jobs that I
  have applied to/interviewed for?
• All jobs for which you have applied will remain in view on
  Place Pro and will disappear only when the position is
  filled or cancelled


• Students will be emailed regular ‘weekly job updates’
  during the interview period


• Placement team follows up with employers on all jobs
  posted

                                                               17
Interviews

How do I find out if I’ve been invited to an interview?
• Employers review applications and notify the placement
  unit of their student selections and interview arrangement
  preferences * If contacted directly contact Jennifer Redman
• You will be notified of interview invitations through the
  Interview section of Place Pro. Students selected for an
  interview are required to sign up for an available time slot
  on Place Pro
• Interviews will either be in person or by telephone
• You are required to attend all interviews for all jobs you
  have applied to until you accept a job
                                                                 18
Interviews (cont’d)

Where do interviews take place?
• Most interviews will take place at the Co-operative
  Education Office, located in Suite 1400 of the CTTC Bldg.
• Some interviews will take place on site at the employer’s
  location…specific directions and instructions will be
  provided when this is the case


What do I do if I have an interview conflict?
• Immediately contact Jennifer Redman your Placement
  Assistant if you have an interview conflict, and send an
  email to co-op@carleton.ca explaining your situation
                                                              19
Job Offers

How will I find out if I’ve received an offer?
• Students are notified of job offers by connect email from
  the placement unit
• Students have 48 hours to respond by email with their
  decision
• Students are permitted to decline one job offer only
  during each placement period
• Only students receiving an offer will be contacted
• If you are contacted directly by an employer with an offer
  or interview, please inform our office immediately



                                                               20
Job Offers (cont’d)

What happens after I accept an offer?
• Placement unit informs the employer immediately and the
  Place Pro system is updated
• Employer will send the student a formal offer letter
• Placement unit emails a placement confirmation letter to
  both the employer and the student.




                                                             21
Place Pro…a step-by-step
demonstration

http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-op/index.shtml


• Uploading documents/creating a portfolio
• Viewing/applying for jobs
• Viewing/signing up for interviews
• Viewing placements
• Place Pro ‘help’ file:
   https://www.placeprocanada.com/students/downloads/userguide
   s/student_quick_guide.pdf


                                                                 22
Part 3: Success in Co-op
• What Co-op Employers are Looking For
• Expectations and Considerations
• Co-op Job Search Tips
• Co-op Contact Information
What Co-op Employers are Looking For

• Technical skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Well-rounded students
• Flexibility/adaptability/creative/initiative
• Students who have researched the company
• Bilingual students
Expectations and Considerations

• Follow all rules and regulations of the co-op
  program
   – All are outlined in the Co-op Agreement
   – You need to be happy with them now so you will
     be happy with them later
   – Co-op is only one of a number of options
Expectations and Considerations Cont’d

• Be an active and full participant in the co-op process and
  program. Apply often, apply early
Expectations and Considerations Cont’d

• Engage in self-directed job search
   –Explore industry
   –Use the internet
   –Attend events
   –Expand your network
   –Explore CDCE resources
Expectations and Considerations (cont’d)

• Be realistic about co-ops role
• Be realistic about your job search
• Security clearance requirements
• Status in Canada (permanent residents and
  international students)
• Bridging mechanism
• Develop a website and a portfolio
Co-op Job Search Tips

• Prepare an excellent resume
  Co-op guideline: http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/co-op/co-
  opresumeresources.shtml


• Utilize the CDCE resources available
  Career Development Office, 401 Tory
  http://www.carleton.ca/cdce/career/index.shtml
Resume Essentials

• Every job is a problem…you are a problem solver.
• Does your resume demonstrate an ability to solve
  these problems?
• Are you using terminology from the job posting in
  your resume?
• Are you demonstrating how you used specific
  skills to get specific results?
• I used this and/to achieve this which resulted in…
Co-op Contact Information

• Co-operative Education Office:
 Suite 1400 Technology and Training Centre
 Main Reception: 613-520-4331
 Email: co-opprogram@carleton.ca


 Co-op Coordinator: Woodie Morley
 woodie_morley@carleton.ca


 Placement Assistant: Jennifer Redman
 jennifer_redman@carleton.ca
Advisors

• BCS Co-op Faculty Advisor
  Professor Irwin Reichstein
  Email: irwin_reichstein@carleton.ca
• Student Advisors
• Dongchao Chen (BSC) dchen2@connect.carleton.ca
• Cong Wang (MCS) cwang7@connect.carleton.ca
Advisors

• BMath Co-op Faculty Advisor
• Professor: Shirley Mills
• Email: shirley_mills@carleton.ca
• Student Advisors
• Christina Kevins ckevins@connect.carleton.ca
  Muneer Khan mkhan6@connect.carleton.ca
  Joel Windle jwindle@connect.carleton.ca
Advisors

• BIT Co-op Faculty Advisor
• Professor: Chris Joslin
• Email: Chris_Joslin@carleton.ca
• Student Advisors
• Rubina Hadad: rhaddad2@connect.carleton.ca
  Xiaofeng (Allan) Yong: xyong@connect.carleton.ca
Parting Thoughts

• Establish goals
• Think strategically – public or private sector
• Can co-op give you what you want?
• Do your research on industry
• Expand your experience and your network
Parting Thoughts Cont’d
• Demonstrate and acknowledge excellence
• Attend conferences, competitions etc.
• Consider leaving Ottawa to work in your
  industry
• The economy is contracting and evolving and
  will affect job postings
Parting Thoughts Cont’d

• Consider regular involvement in professional
  chat rooms and newsgroups … Eclipse,
  Linux, Flex, SAS, Minitab etc.
• Develop a website and portfolio
• Visit the Current Students section of the co-
  op website for more details.
What You Need to View Jobs

• Upload your resume
• Sign a soft and hand in a hard copy of the co-op
  agreement
• Complete your Profile section in Placepro
• Fill in the Preference section – where you will work
• Task:
• Good to go agreements in pile one
• Need time to organize in pile two
Carleton Game Day…Weekend

• http://gameday.carleton.ca/agenda.html
Q&A