Inside co-op
Source: https://www.northeastern.edu/co-op/inside-co-op/ Parent: https://www.northeastern.edu/co-op/
How it works. How it feels. How to max out your experience.
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Northeastern makes it all possible
“Co-op helped me see what my career could look like.”
Northeastern makes it all possible
Jamie Wong, ’23
Design and engineering\ Co-ops at Hot Press, Hasbro, \ Universal Studios
“Co-op helped me see what my career could look like.”
Get to know your support system
Your team
An academic advisor and co-op coordinator, working lockstep with you to map your co-op, classes, and other experiential opportunities.
Your resources
That includes our Career Design office with resume and application tips, co-op recruiting events, a co-op prep course, and visa advising for international students.
Your network
NUworks, our online job search tool with more than 25,000 postings, and 3,800+ employers and alumni networking programs worldwide.
Want to learn more about co-op support?
Check in with our admissions counselors
How to find the best co-op for you
Yes, getting your dream co-op is competitive.\ But we’ve got you throughout the process.
Meet your co-op coordinator
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Connect with co-op peers and mentors at welcome events, orientations, and co-op info sessions throughout your first year.
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Identify first-year experiences—clubs, research, summer internships—to build out your resume.
Enroll in our co-op prep course
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A one-time course that meets weekly throughout the first semester of your second year, taught by a co-op coordinator.
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You’ll explore career paths, get your resume and cover letter reviewed, practice interviewing, learn job search strategies, and more.
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Graduate students can use this course to refine their CV and brush up on interviewing skills.
1:1 advising
- We’ll help you define—and redefine—your career aspirations and connect you to resources.
- What’s a video game designer vs. a game developer? Small life sciences startup or global pharmaceutical company? For graduate students, what’s the best option for switching careers? We help demystify it all.
Search and apply
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Apply for your first co-op during your second year (same for graduate students doing just one co-op) using our online job search platform, NUWorks. Co-op cycles begin in either January or July.
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Dive into all the employer recruitment events and career workshops we offer.
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Respond to and schedule interviews promptly and professionally. Then prep and practice interviewing—with your coordinator, a mentor, your roommate, your partner…
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Apply for any co-op, regardless of major or college, as long as you meet the job qualifications. Explore widely and keep your options open.
Accept an offer
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When you receive responses, work closely with your co-op coordinator to navigate and negotiate offers. You should acknowledge all offers within 48 hours.
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Once you accept a position, you’re committed. Connect with your employer to confirm start and end dates, and work schedule.
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Work with Northeastern to arrange logistics around transportation or housing if you’re moving to a new city or country.
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International students should confirm visa requirements.
During your co-op
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Once the position is confirmed, work with your co-op coordinator to establish learning goals and objectives. Review those with your work supervisor.
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You’ll have a mid-point check-in with your coordinator, as well as regular meetings with your supervisors and mentors on the job.
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You must complete three reflective writing prompts at regular intervals throughout your co-op.
Final performance assessment
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Your employer will submit a final assessment of your performance. You’ll also complete a self-assessment.
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Review the assessments with your coordinator against the goals and objectives you set at the start.
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Your grade—satisfactory or unsatisfactory—will be based on assessments and reflections.
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Undergraduates: when you’re ready for your second co-op, you’ll skip straight to 1:1 advising and finish again with the assessments.
Tips for getting the most out of co-op
What’s the difference between a co-op and an internship? Both are professional work experiences that position you for the future, but co-op has some key advantages that internships lack.
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Have questions?
Have questions? Learn more about co-op from our admissions counselors
Have questions?
Have questions? Learn more about co-op from our admissions counselors
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