Advice for co-op students & employers from an award-winning student

We asked award-winning co-op student Julia Azzi to offer her best advice to students who’ve yet to start their co-op work terms and employers who are about to welcome co-op students.

Science Career & Cooperative Education recently named Julia a Faculty of Science Co-op Student of the Year along with Emma Adamson-De Luca and Jaimini Patel. Julia completed her co-op work term at the Institute for Biopolymers at Hof University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Co-op students in the Faculty of Science completed a record 568 work terms in 2022 and earned more than $4 million. Science Career & Co-operative Education partnered with 180 employers, including 50 new employers last year.

julia’s Advice for co-op students

1. Be open-minded to new experiences and understand that each skill/project comes with a learning curve. The transition from an in-class learning to a co-op placement can be challenging. Your supervisors won’t expect you to know everything right away, and it’s okay to ask a lot of questions! Learning new skills is one of the best things about co-op.
2. Be confident in your judgement but ask for help when you need it. Eventually you will know your project better than many people. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or suggest something new!
3. Stay motivated and communicate effectively with your supervisor. Establish early in your term what the expectations of you are in terms of communication and the project. Often, on co-op, you will decide at what point in the day to work on what task. I recommend staying organized with a to-do list! It can absolutely be malleable, but maintaining a strong self-motivation and communicating any findings or challenges with your supervisor will help you make progress.
4. Get to know your colleagues, what they work on, and why their work is meaningful to the projects at the company. Talking to your coworkers and learning about their project helps to see how your work fits into the bigger picture of the company. It also allows you to feel a sense of belonging in your group, identifies who you can ask for help, and helps you grow your network.
5. Take advantage of the position you’re in. Not only is co-op a good place to develop your technical and interpersonal skills, but it can be great for exploring new cities and meeting new people! Use your time off in the evenings and on the weekends to make the most out of this aspect of the experience!

Julia’s ADVICE FOR CO-OP EMPLOYERS

1. Set your student up for success with introductory meetings and technical skills training. I have always looked forward to the first-day meetings with my supervisor where we discuss the company, the project framework, and my contribution. It excites me to hear what skills I can expect to learn during the term and how I can contribute to the company’s mission. Additionally, establishing clear expectations at the start of the work term ensures you and your student are on the same page! For technical skills, help your student get trained on the new equipment and ensure that they are confident in performing any new technique up to your company’s standard.
2. Ensure your student is supported. Beyond the technical support you provide with respect to the project, help connect your student with other co-op/grad students and the city (if they have just moved there). Making friends at work is especially important if your student has moved to work for your company. In summer 2022, I completed a co-op placement in Germany. When I moved there, I knew no one. My supervisors connected me with the university’s international student office, some German students at the university, and the city. I was so grateful to not have to navigate this completely new environment alone.
3. Give them space to grow. As your student begins to master their tasks, let them make suggestions on next steps of the project. I found that I gained a more in-depth understanding of my work when my supervisor made me responsible for conceptualizing with the next set of experimental plans. This pushed me to use my intuition and helped me gain confidence in my research abilities.