Co-op Job Search FAQs

Our Employer Services team contacts all employers to follow up on the status of each posting. However, delayed replies are common, and in some cases, we may not hear back. This is the reality of conducting any job search. If an application status is provided to us, it will be updated in mySuccess and can be viewed by following these steps:  

1. In the co-op program section of mySuccess, click on the “My Applications” button  
2. Use the drop-down menu to filter results as needed and click “view” 

Co-op students can decline one job offer per job search term. Declining an offer means that you would need to accept your next offer. Please consider that the job search is competitive and there is no guarantee that you will receive another offer. Declining more than one offer in a term violates the co-op participation agreement and may result in your removal from the co-op program

Apply for all positions that you are interested in and where you meet most of the core requirements. The specific number of applications will vary based on your interests, experience, the term, and the economy. Students searching for their first work term and/or a summer work should consider being broader in their job search due to the competitiveness of the search.

Apply for those positions that are a good fit for you, but also balance this with other factors such as the competitiveness of the job search, the term you are seeking for, and the economy. If you have a narrow focus, make sure that your application(s) are of high quality. If you are seeking your first position and/or a summer work term, consider broadening your search to increase the odds of securing a position. Weigh the pros of cons of possibly not securing a position, compared to securing something that perhaps is not your first choice.

If you have completed previous relevant experience you can consider being more selective in what you apply for. Consider how well your job search goals align with external factors such as the economy.

You are expected to apply for positions that match or are shorter than your availability, based on your work/study pattern in mySuccess. For example, if you are available for 8 months, you can apply to positions of 4 or 8 months, but not 12 months.

Yes, you can apply to any posting that matches or is shorter than your work/study pattern. For example, if you are scheduled to complete a 16-month work term you could apply for positions that are 4, 8, 12, or 16 months in length. Do not apply for positions that are longer than what you are available for. For example if you are available for 4 months, do not apply for positions that are 8 months or longer.

This will vary depending on many factors including how much time you have, the number of jobs you’re interested in, and so on. Employers expect to receive application documents which have been tailored to the position. To save time, it is recommended that you create master templates for your resume and cover letter that you can quickly adapt to match the requirements of the position.

This can range from a few days to a few weeks. For some positions there may be no status update, which is a reality of any job search. The Co-operative Education office follows up with employers on your behalf and any status updates we are aware of will be included in mySuccess.

It is strongly recommended that you continue to view and apply for positions of interest even if you have not heard back from other postings. It can take some time to hear back from postings and you want to make sure you do not miss opportunities of interest while you wait.

Our recommendation is to check for new postings at least 3 times per week.

Once the first possible deadline for co-op postings passes, each subsequent posting will be assigned a unique deadline. It is important to continually check the job board to make sure you do not miss postings. The number of positions on the job board will vary, with the largest number at the beginning of the term. Our recommendation is to apply to a good number of positions early on in the term, and then keep applying to postings of interest as they arise.

Yes, most employers are expecting a tailored cover letter. If you are truly pressed for time it is better to submit a general cover letter (with the correct employer name) than not to apply at all. See question 6 above for additional information.

This will vary based on several factors. Some students will secure their position in the first month, whereas others will secure their positions much later. You have the whole term to search for a position and if you are becoming discouraged please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor.

Yes, you can apply to postings that are of interest provided that you meet most of the requirements. Please read the posting carefully, and do not apply to postings you are not eligible for (e.g. due to citizenship, security clearance, length of the term, etc.).

For a self-directed position to count as a co-op work term it needs to be related to your degree, paid, supervised, full-time hours (35-40 hours per week), and 16-weeks (4-months) in length. For more information including how to submit the self-directed job search approval form please see the following link

This could be a sign that your resume and cover letter could be improved. Please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to review your documents and discuss your job search.

Some strategies include: apply to the early postings, create a master resume and cover letter that can be quickly adapted, schedule time each week to apply for positions, and seek support from others and your Co-op Student Advisor. You can also consult the Brightspace Job Search Support Hub for tips and resources.

Some strategies include: apply to a good number of positions (especially early in the term), tailor your application documents, prepare and practice for interviews, conduct a self-directed job search, attend networking events/career fairs, stay in contact with your Co-op Student Advisor, and use the resources in the Job Search Resource Hub on Brightspace.

The co-op job search is competitive and there is no guarantee you will secure a co-op position. It is a good idea to create a backup plan. A common backup plan involves registering for courses and reviewing the applicable course drop dates for a fee refund. Please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to discuss this further.

If you are selected for an interview you will receive an email from the co-op office or the employer directly. In some cases, employers may call candidates using the information found on your application documents.

If the interview is being coordinated by the co-op office, you will be invited to sign up for an interview timeslot in mySuccess. Sign up as soon as possible so that you have more options to choose from. It is also possible that the employer will contact you directly to schedule an interview and in most cases, they will provide you with a specific day/time in their communication.

You are expected to attend all interviews and sometimes this involves missing some class. If the interview is during a mandatory course, test/exam, or lab please connect with the co-op office as soon as possible.

Interviews may be in person (at the co-op office or the employer’s location), by phone, or virtually via Teams or Zoom. Check the interview schedule carefully.

Please see Module 4 of COOP1000 for a comprehensive overview of how to prepare for your interview. You can also schedule a mock interview with your Co-op Student Advisor to practice, and consult the Job Search Resource Hub on Brightspace.

Be honest during interviews. You can explain what you think the answer is or how you would go about solving the problem, even if you have never experienced it. Share examples of how you have had to learn new skills to complete tasks in the past.

Start with the information provided in the job description. Visit their website and look at the “about us” section. You will likely also be able to find information on LinkedIn and Google. Some employers will not post detailed information due to the nature of their work and so you will need to make inferences based on what you know about the industry.

Some examples include: What is a typical day? What does the training look like? How large or small is the team I will be working with? You can also ask other questions that are of interest to you. See the Job Search Support Hub on Brightspace for more tips.

Only the successful candidates will be contacted. If the employer notifies us that the position has been filled, the status of the position will be updated in mySuccess.

If the position was coordinated through the co-op office, one of our Employer Services Assistants will email you with an offer. The email will also include the deadline for you to respond. If the employer has been managing their hiring, they will email or call you to offer you the position.

Students have two business days to consider and respond to their job offer. The specific deadline to respond will be included in the job offer email. If you do not respond by the deadline, we will assume you have declined the offer.

This depends on many factors including the offer itself, your goals/interests in co-op, and your comfort in risk-taking. Keep in mind that the co-op job search is competitive and there is no guarantee that you will receive another offer. If you have completed previous work term there may be less risk in declining a position.

Receiving multiple job offers in the co-op job search is rare. If you do receive multiple offers, you will need to consider which best matches your goals and experiences. You can connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to discuss your decision in more detail.

This can be a stressful situation and is a reality of participating in any job search. A good first step is to connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to discuss your situation. You can choose to use your one decline for the job search term, but you should know that there is no guarantee that you will be offered the other position. If a response to the offer is not received, it is assumed that you are declining the offer.

Co-op students can decline one job offer per job search term. Declining an offer means that you would need to accept your next offer. The job search is competitive and there is no guarantee that you will receive another offer. Declining more than one offer in a term violates the co-op participation agreement and may result in your removal from the co-op program.

You can find information about average rates of pay here: https://carleton.ca/employers/hire-co-op/i-hired-a-co-op-student/salary-survey/. Work terms with the Federal Government adhere to the following pay scale: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/pay/rates-pay/student-rates-pay.html.

Be cautious about this, as this can send the wrong impression to the employer. Some employers have non-negotiable co-op salaries. Your ability to negotiate will depend on several factors including the industry/organization, your experience/qualifications, and the employer’s openness to negotiating. Please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to discuss this further. There is often more flexibility to negotiate salary when you are searching for your fulltime job after graduation.

The security clearance process is initiated by your employer. It is critical that you monitor your email and submit any required forms to your employer as soon as they are requested. Delays in completing the forms and/or errors in the information provided can result in delays in your clearance being processed and a possible delay or cancellation of your work term. More information about security clearance can be found here.

It is critical that you respond immediately to any requests for information from your employer; failure to do so may result in a delay or cancellation of your work term. Your employer will connect with you about logistics such as start and end dates, security clearance (if applicable), rate of pay, information to set up your employee account. They will also send you a formal letter of offer or contract.

This will depend on many factors. In general, most employers will reach out in the next few days or weeks to get the paperwork started. If you do not hear from your employer within this timeframe, please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor for assistance.

Receiving your letter of offer or contract is typically the final stage of the hiring process and this can take time (especially if security clearance is required).

The typical start date for a work term is the first full week of term (May, September, and January, depending on the term). The typical end date is in the last full week of the term (August, December, and April, depending on the term). The specific start and end dates are decided by the employer while ensuring that they meet the minimum duration for a co-op work term.

An offer acceptance is a commitment to that employer. You may not change your mind after accepting even if you have not yet signed a letter of offer or contract. Doing so violates the co-op participation agreement and may result in your removal from the co-op program.

Your employer will send you the applicable security clearance forms after you have accepted the position. It is essential that you return the forms as soon as possible and ensure that they are error-free. You can find more information about security clearance here