Competition for co-op positions can be extremely fierce so ensure that you have a resume that stands out from the crowd. Think about your personal style rather than using a template. After all, as a communication student you are encouraged to be creative. See your coordinator for samples of different formats.

Employers consider cover letters essential and will not look at your resume if there is not a cover letter attached. You will quickly realize that writing a cover letter gives you a chance to say extra things about yourself that your resume alone cannot convey.  

Write the cover letter addressed to the contact person named in the job posting, eg. “Dear Ms. Smith,”. A good letter shows your interest in a job and highlights your skills. Generic cover letters (the ones that can be sent for any position) are the pet peeve of many employers and can cause your application to be removed from consideration.

All job applications will be done online through Symplicity (our online job posting management system). To gain access to the Symplicity job board, you must be accepted into the Communication Co-op program and have uploaded or created ALL of the following documents and information on Symplicity.  

1. Update all the information under "Profile" in Symplicity
2. Upload your Student Information Summary (SIS) 
3. Upload your co-op transcript from go.sfu.ca 
4. Upload your resume 
5. Upload your cover letter 

At the beginning of each seeking semester, students must select their next intended work term at the bottom of their Symplicity profile page. 

All co-op job postings are available online and can be accessed from Symplicity. Please review the Symplicity Student Guide for detailed instructions on using the system (Symplicity's favourite function is a great way to keep track of postings you are interested in.)  

You are encouraged to check the web site every day and note company name, contact name, and deadline date for the jobs you want to apply to.  

All SFU co-op postings indicate the 'home' for that particular posting (e.g. CMNS is Communication 'home,' BUS is Business 'home'). You are encouraged to apply to ANY job in ANY 'home base' that you feel qualified for.  

Employers often look for a mix of skills across different study disciplines and, as a result, very often co-post with different programs (e.g. CMNS, ARTS and BUS).  

Many positions posted are often also posted at other universities or colleges; therefore, it is really important to have an excellent cover letter and a great resume to help you stand out from the crowd!

To submit your documents (including resumes, cover letters etc.), select a job posting and direct your attention to the right hand side of the page. Here, you will see spaces to upload each document required for the position. You will be able to browse for the documents that you have uploaded into your document library. Once all fields are complete, you are able to submit your application.  

Need more information? Follow the Student Guide when you login to Symplicity for details on how to put together your application package. You may also refer to the one page Symplicity Quicktips.

After reviewing the applications they have received, employers develop an interview "shortlist". This “shortlist” is then forwarded to the co-op office for posting. Most employers will not interview more than six candidates for a position.  

As a co-op student, it is your responsibility to check your e-mail and Symplicity to see if you have been shortlisted for a position, and to then sign up for an interview time. The shortlist notification will also indicate who will be conducting the interview, as well as when and where the interview will take place.  

When interviewing with an organization, remember that you are not only representing yourself, you are also representing Simon Fraser University, the Co-op Education Program, and your department (Communication). The employer will expect you to know something about their organization, about the job you have applied for, and the skills required to perform that job.