Co-operative Education and Career Success

Are you considering applying to Georgian College? Our career success team is here to help.

We’re here to help you find the answers to some common questions:

• When should I start planning my career?
• Which careers match my interests?
• What can I do with a diploma or degree?
• What are the advantages of a co-op or internship program?
• Where do I find information on careers?
• Should I go to school or consider apprenticeship training?
• Where can I get help making a career change?

Career Services offers:

• Free 30-minute consultation with a Career Consultant to explore your career planning options
• Fee-for-service to community clients
• One-on-one career planning
• Career assessments: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), interest assessments, skills, abilities and values

Additional service options:

Book a 30-minute evening phone appointment with one of our knowledgeable career consultants or recruitment specialists. Learn more about evening phone appointments.

Consider taking the Career Match quiz to find the career that’s right for you, and the Georgian Program that will take you there.

Come to a College Info Night.

To book an appointment or for more information, contact:

• Barrie Campus: 705.728.1968, ext. 1226 or careercoopappt@georgiancollege.ca
• Orillia Campus: 705.325.2740, ext. 3113 or laura.kozikis@georgiancollege.ca
• Owen Sound Campus: 519.376.0840, ext. 2014 or melissa.strawboyd@georgiancollege.ca
• Midland, Muskoka (Bracebridge), Orangeville or South Georgian Bay (Collingwood) campuses: 705.728.1968, ext. 1340 or careerconsultant@georgiancollege.ca

What is co-op or internship?

Co-operative education is a formal program that integrates academic studies with work experience with employers. What that means is that students will have academic terms and work terms.

Co-op is a great opportunity to use your learning on the job and confirm if the career is the right fit for you. It’s also a great way to build your employer network.

At Georgian, we work within the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education definition of co-op:

• Each work situation is developed and/or approved by the Co-operative Educational institution as a suitable learning experience
• The student is engaged in productive work rather than merely observing
• The student receives remuneration for the work performed
• Student performance on the job is supervised and evaluated by the employer
• Total work experience is normally 50 per cent of the time spent in academic student – in no circumstances less than 30 per cent

Internship is an extended period of paid work experience that is an integral part of a program of postsecondary study. Students are employed in settings which provide work experience directly related to their academic programs and career objectives.

Students in co-op and internship programs have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to the real world of work.

Co-op work terms at Georgian College are not placements, as students are not placed or matched with a company. Work terms are earned through a traditional job search, interview and selection process.

Students in our co-op and internship programs have a whole team working with them to assist them in developing their career path and job search strategies for successful co-op, internship and graduate employment.

Our team

Co-op consultants, student developers

• Provide support while you are on campus preparing for your co-op work term
• Facilitate your Co-op and Career Preparation course
• Provide coaching on resumé and cover letter development, job search strategies and interview skills
• Responsible for the collection and evaluation of your co-op documents
• Build and maintain relationships with co-op employers
• Workplace monitoring/mediation between employers and students
• Evaluate your work term experiences against your learning outcomes

International co-op consultant

• Supports international students with job search documents, workplace expectations, employer outreach and required work/study permits for co-op
• Provides information and guidance for investigation of international employment opportunities for all students

Data resource specialists

• Maintain the job posting database (Orbis) registration, training and troubleshooting
• Provide students with assistance with Orbis
• Post positions for co-op work terms and part-time, summer and graduate employment

Career consultants

• Provide services to co-op and internship students, graduates and alumni by:
  • Supporting individualized career planning, utilizing career assessments such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), COPS, and TypeFocus, interests, values, skills and abilities
  • Providing additional support for resumé and cover letter development, as well as: interview preparation, practice interviews, employment portfolio development and labor market information
• Consultants also support students with disabilities by working with each student and his or her accessibility advisor to ensure students have job search support, interview assistance and an advocate for workplace accommodations

Visit our program pages for the most up-to-date list of co-op and internship programs at Georgian College.

Yes, all international students are required to have the appropriate work authorization in order to work in Canada. It is a good idea to apply for the co-op work permit about four months before your co-op or internship work term. There is no additional fee for this work permit since co-op is a mandatory component of the program. Staff in Georgian’s International Centre (C279) will guide you through the process. The co-op work permit allows students to work co-op/internship jobs only and cannot be used for any other type of work. For further information, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You will also need to apply for a social insurance number (SIN) in order to legally work in Canada.

Everyone has to start somewhere! While some employers may prefer to hire candidates with experience, many employers realize that not everyone comes with industry-related experience. There are other ways to gain experience and build a resumé. Co-operative Education and Career Success staff can help you with your resumé and cover letters.

Georgian is the only postsecondary institution in Canada with an international co-op consultant. The international co-op consultant is here to provide extra supports to international students in any job search related activity. These supports include:

• Extra assistance in understanding employment in Canada
• Understanding employer expectations
• Canadian resumés, cover letters and interviews
• One-to-one job search assistance
• Specialized workshops
• Personal coaching

All students in a co-op program will work very closely with the co-op consultant for their program area and will have access to our online system for co-op job postings and to our services in Co-operative Education and Career Success.

Students are expected to manage their time and commitments and ask for help. So be proactive and get connected – use the services and plan ahead!

The international co-op consultant’s office is located in B110. Stop by or call 705.728.1968, ext. 1340 to book an appointment.

The idea behind co-op is to give students the opportunity to gain real-life work experience in their industry. We expect students to be treated like any other employee at the company. So yes, co-op work terms are paid. Students will typically earn anywhere from $10.25 per hour to $22 per hour, depending on the industry, the company, the location and the qualifications of the student.

Students are encouraged to consider far more than just the wage they will be earning. When applying to jobs, think about the type of company, the experience you’ll gain, your long-term career goals, and how you will get to and from work each day or where you’re going to live. All of these are factors when conducting a realistic job search.

Yes, international students in a postsecondary program are permitted to work on-campus or part-time off-campus up to 20 hours per week. Your study permit will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break. To qualify, you must:

• Have a valid study permit
• Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the postsecondary level
• Be a full-time student
• Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration

For additional information regarding off-campus work please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada – off-campus work. Services are available through Co-operative Education and Career Success for students who are looking for part-time employment.

• Build a resumé and be open to making changes to it once you get here and start your job search.
• If you have previous work experience, consider contacting the employer(s) and asking them to write a reference letter for you. It should include information about the type of work you did in your position and how the employer felt about your performance. This letter should be typed on company letterhead and signed by a manager, supervisor or someone in a senior level role.
• You may also want to build a portfolio (a collection of achievements and job search-related things to demonstrate your career to a prospective employer). This may be a binder, folder or other package and contain things such as awards, certificates, copies of other diplomas, certificates, reference letters, examples of your work or things that you have created or achieved
• Another suggestion is to be prepared to obtain an Ontario driver’s licence. While it isn’t mandatory, employers will often request that students have a valid Ontario driver’s licence. Ontario operates under a graduated licensing system which lets new drivers get driving experience and skills gradually. The two-step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete. For more information, visit the Ministry of Transportation

Yes. Georgian College works with employers to create opportunities for Georgian students and graduates across the province, nationally and internationally. While we do post some jobs that are local to the Barrie Campus, you should be prepared to relocate for your co-op job, as employers can be located anywhere. While many of the opportunities we promote are local, some students find work in places like Barrie, Orillia, Midhurst, Innisfil, Muskoka, Midland, Borden, Newmarket, Bradford, Collingwood, Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Brampton, Guelph, Kitchener, Sudbury, North Bay, London or in other provinces or even in other countries. Some international students may choose to return home for a co-op work term.

No. No student is guaranteed a co-op job, but as long as you remain in good standing and are eligible for a co-op work term, you will have access to all the resources needed to be successful in a co-op program.

Georgian’s co-op consultants work hard building and maintaining relationships with employers who hire co-ops, interns, graduates and students for a variety of types of work. We expect students to go to their co-op classes and use the services available to compete and interview for positions with employers that post with Georgian College. Students are also strongly encouraged to conduct independent job searches. Be sure to take advantage of the many services available to you through Co-operative Education and Career Success.

Georgian College works with thousands of employers to provide opportunities to thousands of students. You may end up working for a major corporation, a small business or you may even consider starting a company of your own as an entrepreneur. The possibilities are endless.

If you are an international student and have questions about co-op, internships, graduate work or simply employment in Canada, contact Joanne Foxton, International Co-op Consultant or Co-operative Education and Career Success.

• Opportunity to hire a student with a fresh perspective and up-to-date knowledge of the industry
• You may be eligible for an Ontario Co-operative Education tax credit of up to $3,000 per student
• Free up permanent staff for more complex tasks, new projects or vacation time – students are available year-round
• Assist with your succession planning by assessing students before considering them for permanent employment
• Evaluate on-the-job performance for future full-time positions; reduce training periods for future graduate hiring

We help make your recruiting process easy!

• We assist you in determining which program would best fit your needs
• Post your co-op/internship opportunities on employGeorgian – our co-op and career job portal website – 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no cost
• We collect and deliver resumés for you to short list; you choose the students for interviewing
• We contact students and organize interviews, and provide interview space on campus (if required)
• We notify successful candidate(s) after interviews

• Submit an accurate job description
• Interview potential candidates and select student to hire
• Acknowledge the student is hired in an employee-employer relationship; outlining hours of work, start and end dates and job requirements
• Ensure workplace accident insurance coverage and conduct a workplace specific health and safety orientation
• Provide the student with orientation, training and an increasing degree of challenging tasks related to the learning objectives of their program of study
• Provide the student with remuneration for the work performed
• Ensure the student is provided with a supervisor who will oversee their work, discuss expectations and give feedback
• Inform co-op consultant of any concerns with student performance or work term changes
• Communicate with a co-op consultant at least once for work term monitoring (through an on-site visit, telephone, email or Skype conversation)
• Complete an official co-op employer evaluation at the end of the work term

Students are available for co-op work terms at various times of the year. Most work terms start in September, January and May and are typically four months in length; some programs have eight month work terms.

CO-OP RECRUITMENT

We are currently posting positions for the winter semester. Students are available from January to April.

Please view our program availability for co-op programs that have a winter co-op term.

Hiring a Georgian College co-op student is easy

• Visit EmployGeorgian – Georgian’s co-op and career job portal website – to login or register for an account
• Register for an account by completing the required information (an email address is required)
• Login and select CO-OP/INTERNSHIP
• Upload your posting and complete the required fields (please include a brief overview of your company, major responsibilities of the position and minimum qualifications)
• Once approved, you will be notified through email that the posting is available for students to view

Don’t have time to register an account? You can email your company information and job opportunity to careerandcoop@georgiancollege.ca.

NON-CO-OP RECRUITMENT

You can also post positions for part-time, contract, seasonal or full-time employees. Our job posting website is actively promoted to students from co-op and non-co-op programs, graduates and alumni.

Follow these instructions to post your position:

Note: If your job opening is temporary or seasonal, you may also share it with Career and Employment Community Services or phone 705.722.1505 for more information. This service is offered through Georgian College Career and Employment Community Services, funded by Employment Ontario.

Co-operative Education Tax Credit

• Interested in lending your expertise to benefit student learning and the sectors in which they will be employed? Join an advisory committee relevant to your industry. Contact the program co-ordinator. See a list of full-time programs and contacts.
• Need to enhance the knowledge of your employees to stay competitive? Our Workforce Development team can help! Contact them today for a customized learning experience.
• Want to turn your bright ideas into reality? Team up with Georgian’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation to work with students, faculty and resources to help turn your challenges into profits.
• Looking for a location to hold your next function? Georgian’s Conference and Events Services staff can help you plan the perfect event, big or small. Connect with them by email or by phone at 705.722.5120.
• Looking to donate funds or materials to help students? Or participate in fundraising events such as our Golf Classic or Dream Gala? Contact our Awards and Scholarships office and fundraising team.
• Are you an entrepreneur looking for networking, training, funding or mentorship? Contact Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre.
• Find out about special activities and perks available at Georgian for graduates through the Alumni Association.
• Interested in supporting your staff in career development? Our Career team can help. Contact Co-op and Career for packages.

At Georgian, we are committed to hands-on education, quality learning experiences, as well as strong relationships with employers and community partners. Our students graduate with the knowledge and experiences they need to succeed in their chosen fields. We are proud of our alumni and their abilities to bring fresh ideas, new skills and innovative mindsets to workplaces everywhere.

In fact, we are so confident in the quality of our programs and graduates that we are offering employers a guarantee: if, within a year of graduation, a Georgian alumnus you employ is found to require additional academic preparation within the scope of his or her program outcomes, Georgian will cover tuition costs for that graduate to complete one Georgian credit course to retrain and improve their job-specific skills.

We stand by our programs and graduates. We highly doubt you will ever need to take advantage of the Employer Guarantee. But if you have any questions, or wish to apply for this program, please contact Megan Fenton,  Manager of Co-operative Education and Career Success at 705.728.1968, ext. 5277 or megan.fenton@georgiancollege.ca.