Some people cannot tell the difference between an internship and a co-op program. Internships are short-term opportunities sought by students and fresh graduates, typically during summer, for purposes of acquiring relevant work experience. Internships can either be full-time or part-time; paid or unpaid. But a co-op program requires a student to alternate at least three semesters between going to school and reporting for work in a certain company. Co-op programs are full-time and participants are compensated.

Teacherix is offering an opportunity for co-op programs through its affiliated colleges and universities in Canada. Teacherix is looking to partner with even more colleges and universities so that they may cater to a wide range of disciplines.

The length of the co-op program is dependent upon your field of study. For instance, certificate programs come with one semester of work/study, but diploma programs have two semesters.

Students in co-op programs are compensated for their work terms. Schools typically help students get opportunities, but there’s nothing stopping a student from looking for one on their own, but then the co-op department must assess whether the job agrees with the co-op program.

If you have a bachelor’s degree, or Master’s degree, you are qualified to apply for the work/study program. In some cases, one might qualify with only a high school education. You also must have passed the International English Language Testing System. If you need any assistance, you are welcome to speak with a Teacherix consultant.

Undertaking a co-op program is no guarantee that you have a job, but it significantly boosts your chances of getting one, because first, you have had an opportunity to network, and the relevant work experience makes you desirable.

The cost of the co-op program depends on the field of study, course duration, and location. The ballpark figure for the cost of tuition in one year is between $10000 and $15000 CAD.  Students also pay for their lodging and meals.

The Canada co-op program accommodates diverse fields of studies: Business, Hospitality, International Trade, Project Management, IT, Healthcare, Supply Chain, Social Media etc.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to study at renowned Canadian institutions, get work opportunities while still studying, and enjoy a comfortable stay in the students’ residence.

Benefits of Co-op Programs

Acquire practical work experience: it is one thing to be intellectually aware of how an activity must be performed, and it’s another thing to actually perform the activity. For instance, being an excellent journalist is much more than having perfect writing skills. You need to familiarize yourself with different tones and ensure that you communicate the intended message. Rising up to this level you have to have practical experience. Human resource managers are aware of this truth and that’s why they move up resumes that indicate relevant work experience. For a student, taking a co-op program is the cleverest way of acquiring work experience. Employers take a liking to job seekers with relevant work experience because they won’t incur expenses in the form of additional training. Also, when you have work experience you tend to be more confident in executing your new job, which earns you respect and admiration.

Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses: they say that we are the sum of our choices. But our choices are invariably tied to our self-perception. If we think we are good at something, we never hold back when an opportunity arises, and the vice-versa is true. Receiving an education might awaken you to the person that you are, but it is until when you are put in a real work environment that you truly understand both your strengths and weaknesses. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is focusing so much on their strengths and being in denial over their weaknesses. Recognizing your weaknesses helps you adjust your beliefs, but more importantly, it lays the foundation for turning yourself around. It’s not like weaknesses are eternal cages; they can be undone. For instance, if you are an IT student, and you are placed at an IT company in the health industry, where you have to deal with countless people each day, what if you realize you are not good with people? By accepting that you have a problem handling people, you are compelled to seek ways of improving your people skills, thus solving your problem. But what if you deny that you are horrible with people and insist that “they” are the ones at fault? You are likely to be looked at as a mediocre worker.

Being in a work environment also helps you learn about your hidden strengths and talents. And depending on the resources around you, you have a perfect opportunity to capitalize on them.

Become more responsible: human resource managers understand that each worker must play their role for the common good. In a company, the finished product typically goes through many stages, but if one stage is subpar, it affects the quality of the entire product, thus risking the company’s profitability. Irresponsible people are always shown the door. During the co-op program, that’s your opportunity to make yourself a more responsible person, by learning to take initiative and sharpen your proficiencies. The more responsible you are the much of a great asset you become to your employer. Also, remember that being responsible at work translates into being responsible elsewhere. In that vein, you are likely to have a much more fulfilling life beyond the confines of your office. Success is not down to just your professional life but it also encompasses your family, friends, and lifestyle.

Gain knowledge: when you get paid opportunities during a co-op program, one thing is sure; the company will not sleep on you. Managers will want to see you performing your duties and becoming a great team player, even if for a while. This means you have an opportunity to interact with both colleagues and high-placed officials. And considering that they have been at it for quite some time, or even for a long time, their extensive knowledge should rub off you. It doesn’t have to be orchestrated by you. It should flow naturally. For instance, watching an experienced hand perform a task, you get to know what to do and not to do. Knowledge spurs creativity. The more you know, the more angles that your mind can shoot off, which helps you level up your capacity to solve problems. And remember, folks, it’s all about solving problems!

Analyze your career decisions: when you were a kid, did you want to grow up to be a doctor? That’s fine; kids are innocent and always want to help those who are in a world of pain. More than likely, your dream changed, and now you are gunning for a career far removed from medicine. But here’s the thing; you could still change your mind again. Co-op programs not only give you an opportunity to see how jobs in your field are performed, but you also have a front-row viewing of their impacts. Maybe what you thought was a glamorous career is not so much glamorous anymore when you see how it manufactures victims. Or maybe the career that you wanted might suddenly look boring, and you are not sure whether you want to dive into that. Co-op programs can push you to make changes in regards to the line of work that you want. And this is a good thing. You want to be certain that you’ll enjoy the work that you’ll be doing probably for the rest of your life. One of the factors that people greatly consider when selecting a career is… drum roll please… the money! Sadly, some people are usually misinformed about careers with complex earning models, and they end up finding out what they once thought was a money-hole-career, can actually pay less than they could have ever thought. The acting career is a perfect example. I mean, for every rich movie star, there are a million starving actors walking about Los Angeles.

Networking opportunity: a job is not promised after completion of your co-op program. But, the co-op program can make it easy for you to land a job. I mean, you have access to people who have connections in the industry. It’s only a question of starting good relationships with them. When it comes to growing your network, it is not so much your technical skills as your personality that is more important. I mean, your technical skills only allow you to put your foot in the door, but your charm and charisma go a long way. In order to take full advantage of the networking potential that a co-op program provides, make sure that you are in good terms with most company employees, both juniors and seniors. But then you have to let them know that you are looking for career-starting opportunities. Building networks is an art. Of course, you don’t meet someone and unload all your heart burdens within 30 minutes; they’d be freaked! But once you learn to get along with other employees, the networking potential becomes tremendous.

Increase motivation: co-op programs also spur motivation. As human beings, one of our primal instincts is to compete. If you see someone doing well, you are supposed to be motivated, not envious. The co-op program puts you in the same space with visibly successful individuals. When you see people excelling in your field, you become hungry for success. Motivation goes hand in hand with hard work. But you also have to have integrity. Simply because you are motivated to succeed doesn’t mean that you must use even dirty tricks. But when you are motivated, you are less likely to waste time, and you start taking responsibility for your life. When you share the same physical environment with successful people, you learn their habits, which are practically the fuel for evergreen motivation.

Feedback and follow-up: have you ever come across an unpublished writer whose manuscripts get rejected a lot? They usually feel that the world is against them. It is not uncommon for a person to overestimate their capabilities. In a co-op program, your seniors will examine your work, and give feedback. This is a great opportunity to learn about your weak spots. The feedback is not always positive, but it comes from a good place, and you should have a good attitude. If the manager is extremely responsible, they will follow up to see whether you have corrected your faults. As a co-op program participant, managers will go easy on you, and you should take advantage of this treatment to hone perfect skills. In a real job, incompetency and ineffectiveness are met with swift punishment.

You get paid: students apply for co-op programs for the primary reason of gaining work experience, but getting paid sweetens the deal. If you have a bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree, you have the technical knowledge, and the company will make use of your skills. Surely, it’s only fair that they pay you. The payment packages differ from one company to the next, but of course, the payment is not on the same level as permanent employees. Getting paid is a great motivation to show up for work and put in some effort. It also makes your time at school more enjoyable. The Canada co-op program will have students staying at the residence and enjoying various amenities that are easily accessible. Having some money couldn’t hurt.

Interpersonal skills: they refer to an individual’s capacity to engage people either one-on-one or as a group. Employees have to have good interpersonal skills for it helps save resources and accomplish goals much quicker. In the modern era, the comforts that have come with tech advancement have made it quite hard to develop interpersonal skills. I mean, computers and video games can easily lead someone down the path of an individualistic lifestyle, so that they are unable to work with other people. Of course, this is not to mean that anyone who embraces technology has poor interpersonal skills, because it all comes down to moderation.

A co-op program will allow you to meet different people and learn to get along with them. This experience sharpens your interpersonal skills and makes you a team player. Successful companies encourage the team player spirit, not isolation.

Training by industry professionals: co-op programs are paid; hence the company is much more serious about utilizing your skills. There are industry professionals to train co-op students to ensure that their work is of great quality. It never stops at training. The professionals evaluate the student’s work and provide feedback. The feedback is aimed at helping students realize both their strong and weak points and work on making themselves even better. The training helps co-op program participants to increase their skills and become much more resourceful. No matter what your field of study, university professors don’t tackle relevant materials exhaustively, and there is always room for additional training.

Leadership skills: it is one of the most important factors for success. It doesn’t matter your technical skills and capabilities, but you have to show leadership to achieve success. It stretches back to the fact that success is only ever acquired through a team, not solo efforts. A good leader understands their position, and they are always looking around to see whether everybody else is falling into step. Having great leadership skills means that you can project future outcomes. It also means that you can come up with solutions pretty fast. The co-op program gives you an opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills. With powerful leadership skills, you not only become a resourceful employee, but you also get to enjoy tremendous success in your personal life. The thing about leadership is that you have to keep on practicing, and the skill becomes ingrained in due course.

Experience other cultures: when you apply for a co-op program, you might have to travel far away, which is great because it gives you an opportunity to enjoy different settings. Being able to meet different people and experience different cultures, your mind expands, and you are able to bring into perspective different aspects of life. The co-op program also increases your self-reliance. Since you are staying at the residence, and resources might sometimes be tight, you learn to prioritize your needs, and make the best decisions. Also, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on your life so far, and make strong your resolve what kind of life you intend to have.

Higher starting salary after graduation: students sign up for co-op programs because they are great for gathering work experience. But did you know that completing a co-op program can actually help you get your first job at a higher salary? Human resource managers understand that someone with work experience will hit the ground running, unlike someone without, who might actually cost the company. Also, your resume will carry a lot of weight.

Applying for a co-op program is akin to setting up a strong foundation for career success. It grants you skills, experience, and makes you desirable to employers.

Posted on | 3/09/2020 | Shan S.Haider