The most notable part of being a student at Northeastern is the co-op program. In the midst of the co-op experience, whether writing applications, interviewing, or working — you might feel overwhelmed by it all. It’s important to remember that through the highs and lows of the co-op process, thousands of people at Northeastern have successfully completed and loved the co-op experience. Students and professors were anonymously interviewed about their honest thoughts and had a lot to say about the benefits and downfalls of co-op. I gathered the best tips and tricks I’ve heard about preparing for all the aspects of the co-op search. The most important piece of advice: relax and trust the process.
Tips and Tricks for your Co-op Search
Research the company you’re applying or interviewing for. Further, social media says a lot about company culture; be sure to follow the company on LinkedIn and/or any of their other social media platforms. Though it may seem unimportant at first, I was told that a company who had a lot of applicants made their final decision based off of the one person who was following their company on LinkedIn. For even better preparation, make a list of good questions to ask your interviewers and remember to take deep breaths throughout the interview if you’re very nervous.
Keep a record of all the jobs you’ve applied to and the status of each application. It helps to keep track of everything, not just to stay organized but also to see how much progress you’ve made in the search for the job you really want. You also might also consider making a list of five dream jobs to give yourself a goal. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, remember that the Northeastern co-op advisers are on campus to help you. Be sure to lean on your adviser for support, guidance, or just someone to talk to about how you’re feeling about the process.
Self-care is extremely important during your co-op search, as this can be a stressful time for many students. It seems obvious, but getting a good night’s rest before an interview is always a way to better prepare yourself and calm your nerves. It’s the little things that can go a long way. For example, have a breath mint a few minutes before the interview. Essential oils are the best way to beat stress naturally. The perfect aromatherapy co-op starter kit would include a diffuser along with lavender and peppermint essential oils. The night before your interview, plug in the diffuser and add a few drops of lavender oil. Lavender has calming properties which can improve your sleep, sharpen concentration, and ease anxiety. On the day of your interview, if you have time beforehand you should diffuse your peppermint oil. If you don’t have time to diffuse the oil, you can put a drop of peppermint oil under your nose before your interview. Just like lavender, peppermint oil can help ease anxiety and sharpen concentration but won’t make you drowsy. Lastly, drink plenty of water; it is especially important to stay hydrated in the days leading up to and the day of your interview.
Anonymous Students’ Thoughts About Co-op
“Co-op is a great system to have in place because it allows students to go pursue jobs in whatever field they’re interested in. However, to really extract the value of co-op, students need to be hungry for opportunity and use prior work experience to leverage getting the best possible jobs they can. The general jobs available on NUCareers don’t pay that well and aren’t that beneficial for your career.”
“The reason I came to Northeastern was for the co-op program but honestly it’s not all it’s been cracked up to be in my experience. Granted, I haven’t been on co-op yet but it’s just a lot more work than I imagined it to be and having to search for jobs while in classes is extremely overwhelming.”
“I feel like I’m in a constant battle between classes or co-op applications and interviews. It’s been really hard to find a balance.”
“I love co-op so much, [but] it does make coming back to campus and taking classes a lot harder because you just get so used to the 9 to 5 workday. It’s amazing how much free time you have when you’re in classes.”
“If you talk with your advisers only when it’s required to meet with them it won’t feel like you’re getting that much help. It’s really helpful if you meet with your co-op adviser as much as you can throughout your search.”
Based off these student accounts, the vast majority of students can agree that the co-op program sets Northeastern apart from other schools and offers them unique experiences. However, co-op isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. It is supposed to expose you to the workforce and educate you on your desired line of work. After all, it is experiential learning, so don’t be afraid to do something new and learn from all the things you like or even dislike while on co-op.
Anonymous Professors’ Thoughts About Co-op
“Students have to go to interviews, meet with co-op advisers, and we kind of lose them [as the year continues] …. Their heads are out [of] the classroom. They might have to travel to places to search for housing and miss class. Then, they leave for six months and they’re out of the classroom so they’re distanced from us. Then when they come back, they’re rusty … when they’re asked to sit and read copious amounts of information. Professors have to cope with these things and figure out how to understand [these]things.”
“In general, the co-op experience seems very positive, but the one issue is when they transition back to school. They seem to really struggle when they’re in class. I think there should be some sort of support system in place to help students transition since working and going to classes are very different.”
“By [and] large, students have wonderful things to say about co-op and I know it’s a major reason students choose Northeastern. One minor drawback is that students are frequently missing classes for interviews. However, it’s a small downside to what seems like a great opportunity.”
The majority of professors would agree that co-op is a valuable opportunity for students. However, it seems there was a general consensus that co-op tends to interfere with academics. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the co-op search, interviews, adviser meetings, and other responsibilities which may draw your attention away from classes — talk with your professors and your co-op adviser to find a healthy balance between the two.
Finding the perfect co-op can sometimes feel like a never-ending battle, but you are never alone. Talk with your advisers, professors, friends, and family about everything you’re going through. Co-op doesn’t have to be stressful, if you don’t want it to be!