Masters in Management Sciences, Co-op Information SessionPhilippe Bezaire

Faculty Relations Manager, Engineering

CECA

An education model integrating academic study with relevant work experience

• A way of life at Waterloo (~18,000 undergraduate work terms last year)

• A competitive process – not a placement service

• Lengthens timeframe for degree completion

• Additional fees

What is Co-op?

The co-op option for the MMSci has been designed to integrate seamlessly with the core requirements for the program

• Opportunity to gain Canadian or International work experience

• Full-time employment in your field

• Resume, interview and job search support and experience

Co-op Benefits

Alternate between academic and work terms according to established sequences

• Additional degree requirements including work terms, work reports

• Enrolment in COOP 601

• Students look for work while on their academic terms

• Work term credit is contingent on a successful evaluation by the employer

A Few Basics

Applications Required?• Yes

Job Competition?• MMSci students will compete with undergraduate and graduate

co-op students seeking employment for the Spring term, primarily those looking for intermediate or senior level engineering jobs

Number of co-op work terms throughout program?• Two

At a Glance

Work term sequence 1 (preferred)

Work term sequence 2 (alternate)

Co-op Streams

2016 2017 2018

Fall Winter Spring Fall Winter Spring Fall

Study Study Work Work Study X X

2016 2017 2018

Fall Winter Spring Fall Winter Spring Fall

Study Study Work Study Work Study X

Interested students submit application

December 1

Applicants reviewed by department following release of Fall grades

Early January

Selected students officially transferred into MMSci Co-op

Also enrolled in Co-op 601

Students enter employment cycle

Late January

Employed students status continue onto work term in May

Unsuccessful students may revert to MMSci ‘Regular’

Co-op Admission

Co-op Process

Winter Term

Fall January February March April

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Co-op info session X

Co-op apps due X

Co-op Admission X

Program changes into

co-opX

WaterlooWorks opens X

Co-op Main Round X X X X

Co-op Continuous

InterviewsX X X X X

Support

MMSci co-op students benefit from the services offered by the department of Co-operative Education & Career Action (CECA) including:

• full access to the WaterlooWorks database of over 6,500 employers

• a career advisor assigned for pre-work term support

• participation in Co-op 601 to prepare and equip students for co-op

Lisa Hendel, Graduate Studies Administrative Coordinator, Management Sciences

lhendel@uwaterloo.ca

519-888-4567 ext.33670

International

Questions about working in Canada (i.e. work permit) or abroad

US Employment Specialist: cecausaies@uwaterloo.ca

International Employment Specialist: cecainties@uwaterloo.ca

https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/working-abroad

Centre for Career Action

Advising, career strategy, job search tactics, workshops, resources, résumé critiques, more...

William M. Tatham Centre (TC), Rm 1214

Monday-Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm

http://uwaterloo.ca/career-action/

Key Contacts

Some common questions…

Yes. All co-op students pay a ‘program enrolment’ fee in addition to academic tuition

• Currently $676 to be paid on each work term

• Fee contributes to the overall operation of co-op, including advisors, job development, employer relations, administration, etc.

• http://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/why-co-op/admissions-co-op-fee

Is there a fee for participation?

Compilation of recent one-year earnings data obtained by CECA staff during co-op work terms

What is a typical co-op salary?

ENG 1st WT 2nd WT 3rd WT 4th WT 5th WT 6th WT

Weekly

Avg

$634 $703 $776 $858 $950 $1,004

Weekly

Range

$400 -

$1,556

$412 -

$1,556

$422 -

$1,600

$444 -

$1,778

$444 -

$1,778

$488 -

$1,778

No. Co-op offers a competitive job search environment

• Students apply to jobs

• If selected, students are invited to an interview

• Employers and students submit ‘rankings’ and matches are optimized

• Employment rates for undergraduate engineering students are typically between 95% - 99%

Is employment guaranteed?

Students may continue in the ‘regular’ offering of the MMSci. No fee will be assessed.

Students are encouraged to continue seeking employment into the work term – creditable work experience requires 12 weeks of continuous employment

What if I don’t find a job?