Now what? Are you unsure of what things will be like at the job? Do you know what is expected of you?

What do you expect from the position?  Keep in mind that co-op is an educational tool. Activities that relate to feedback and reflection are a critical part of your personal and professional development, so be prepared to accept feedback from your supervisor(s) and colleague(s) and feel free to ask for it if it’s not forthcoming! Sometimes employers forget that you’re a student and don’t think of passing along their comments, but they are often happy to do so upon request.  

Here are some things you'll want to begin thinking about:  

• Make sure to keep a copy of your learning objectives (see below) that you wrote out for yourself and update in Symplicity, as you will have the opportunity to discuss your planned goals and objectives with your co-op coordinator during your site visit. 
• When starting a new job it's important to remember that the people you work for most likely will be your references for future co-ops and full-time employment. Treat co-workers and people at every level in the office with the same courtesy and respect that you yourself would like to be treated. Furthermore, as an ambassador for SFU at the workplace, you aren't operating as a "free agent" but rather, your behaviour and attitude on the job will affect the reputation of SFU Co-op and may impact on opportunities for future co-op students.
•  Always remember that if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact your co-op coordinators as they are here to help you to work through issues and to answer any questions you may have!

Goal-Setting to Maximize Learning  

We are interested in helping you as much as possible with your practical education and learning while you are in the Communication Co-op Education Program. By setting learning goals and objectives for your Co-op work terms, you can more easily measure your on-the-job progress towards achieving them.  

• Prior to your Co-op placement consider what skills you would like to acquire/improve upon. 
• What technical skills and knowledge do you hope to gain? 
• Consider what career-path/industry knowledge you would like to gain. 
• How do you hope to acquire/improve these skills? 

Goal setting will help you articulate your goals, track them, and measure your learning during each practicum. This will also give you a better sense of controlling your own career development, and assist you in identifying learning opportunities.

To find the Learning Objectives section, access your profile in Symplicity. Click on the "Co-op Placements" tab, scroll down in the "Basic Info" section until you see the Learning Objectives section.