Is co-op really for me?

As soon as I sent off the email accepting a co-op position with the Government of Canada, I had to pause for a moment. The 2022-2023 academic year felt like a whirlwind: getting into the Faculty of Arts co-op program, applying for jobs during the fall semester, and beginning my first co-op placement in the new year. I couldn’t grasp the idea that I would be working at the Government of Canada, and that in the future, I would successfully complete multiple co-op placements at both the federal and municipal levels.

My co-op roles

Working at both the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), an independent federal agency, and the City of Brampton allowed me to gain real-world experience in the Canadian public sector, developing an understanding of the operational jurisdictions present at the different levels of government. As a co-op student at OSFI, my responsibilities centred on the development of divisional performance reports that were reported to the Minister of Finance. My role entailed communicating with different departments for their input while meeting key deadlines. I also managed my team’s inbox, providing advisory services when necessary.

Working at the City of Brampton as a Program Administration Officer introduced new tasks and responsibilities that centered around municipal processes, specifically City Council. At the City of Brampton, I assisted with managing the City’s Referred Matters List, organizing Council decisions on public matters and directing this communication to the correct departments. Additionally, I also completed a jurisdictional scan of various Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area municipalities, comparing City Council procedures across these jurisdictions as a method of finding ways that would increase the efficiency of Brampton’s City Council meetings.

How the co-op program prepared me for the job search

Before entering university, I did not give the co-op program significant thought. I applied to the co-op stream as a last-minute decision because I wanted to make full use of the opportunities available to me as a Politics and Governance student, particularly the chance at gaining real-world experience before graduating. With volunteer experience at a community centre and working as a cashier at Fortinos, I wanted to see what a job search entailed for professional roles and industries in the current workforce.

​Although daunting at first, the co-op program resources and curriculum were extremely helpful during my first co-op job search. The mandatory Co-op Program Preparation (SSH 104) course was instrumental in maintaining my concentration on securing a winter co-op placement. Every week would consist of insightful discussions on how to successfully transition into the workplace, such as settling into a new workplace, managing job expectations, asking for help with tasks, and the purpose of career goals. Having the opportunity to receive support from a co-op peer advisor (a senior Faculty of Arts co-op student) was immensely valuable during my job search. I was able to further strengthen my resume, cover letter, and interview skills for specific jobs through the various meetings I had with my peer advisor, who shared their personal experiences as a Faculty of Arts co-op student.

Co-op supported my career planning and professional development

My co-op experiences play a critical role in the development of my professional career, helping me gain clarity on my career aspirations and passions within the public sector. Working at the municipal level has fostered my interest in city planning, especially city processes for housing, transit, and other forms of infrastructure development. The skills and experiences I have gained as a Faculty of Arts co-op student have been invaluable to my undergraduate studies, providing exposure to career industries and roles that I would not have been able to obtain inside the classroom.