Services & counselling
Our experienced program coordinators prepare you for your work terms and our academic directors help you navigate your academic path. These services are part of the Co-op experience that gives you a head start to a successful career.
We assign each Co-op student a program coordinator. Your program coordinator is like your personal coach, someone who’s there to support you at every stage in the program.
Program coordinators help with:
- Connecting to employers: We develop work term opportunities in given market sectors, disciplines, and geographic areas
- Applying for work terms: We’ll teach you job-search strategies and help you with writing your resumés and cover letters. We offer seminars to develop your interview skills and hold mock interviews for a bit of extra practice
- On-the-job performance: Program coordinators monitor student performance by visiting you at your work site
- Counselling: We counsel students on an on-going basis regarding career, personal, and academic issues
You’ll frequently check in with your program coordinator about your progress at Concordia and your job site.
Academic directors take on the role of academic advisor and will work with you one-on-one to:
- Advise you on course selection and sequence
- Monitor your academic performance and progress
- Grade your work term reports or presentations
- Help maintain academic standards and integrity
Academic Directors and Program Coordinators also conduct in-take interviews of students applying for admission to Co-op and help promote co-operative education outside Concordia.
Students in engineering and computer science are not required to do in-take interviews.
Our mentorship program allows experienced Co-op students to share their knowledge with students who are new to Co-op. It is a great opportunity for students at all levels to make new friends and start building a professional network.
During your first-year in Co-op, learn from a student mentor who’s already been through the job-search and work term process. Your mentor will give you advice on managing your time, guide you in learning more about your desired industry, and share tips on interviewing and starting your first work term like a pro. Co-op mentors share what worked for them and what didn’t, and the lessons they’ve learned throughout their own Co-op experience, ensuring you make the most out of your Co-op experience.
Once you’re a second- or third-year student, you will have a chance to become a mentor. Being a Co-op mentor is a great way to develop leadership skills and expand your network, and volunteer work will you give transferable skills that enhance your resumé. Many students tell us that mentoring a fellow Co-op student gave them a sense of pride and personal fulfillment, as well as a great opportunity to give back and pay it forward.
