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Meet Olga, Co-op Student and Devops Consultant at Innovapost

Meet Olga, she is a co-op student currently working as a DevOps Consultant in the Azure Cloud Support Team at Innovapost.

“Finding a co-op job at Innovapost was like drawing a lucky ticket. From the very first day, I felt the support of the team and the support of the management. I always knew that I could ask for advice or ask for help from any member of my team, and they were always ready to chat with me and sharing their knowledge.” Says Olga of her employer.

One of the highlights for Olga was the time and attention managers offered to the team and to students. She was pleasantly surprised and she very much appreciated the General Manager of Business Transformation Deployment Samantha Rahim organizing a touchpoint with each student in her team to discuss prospects, to talk about opportunities, and what to pay attention to in the sector.

When asked about the benefits of Co-op, Olga has a lot to say: “The co-op program has been very beneficial to me, I got real experience, I gained new knowledge and I am grateful to Algonquin College and Innovapost for that. I believe that co-op programs are a great opportunity for every student to gain experience, to learn about corporate culture, gain new knowledge and learn to work with a team.”

Like many people, Olga has been working from home and managing the challenges that arise from this lifestyle change. When asked about the impact on her work-terms, she chooses to focus on the positive aspects of this, like how cutting out the commuting portion of her day allows for more family time.

Olga’s co-op experience has been a concrete step toward her career and an added value to her employer’s team. “Having a co-op student like Olga on our team, who is motivated and ambitious, has proven to be advantageous and encourages us to think outside the box.” Says Olga’s supervisor, Product Owner at Innovapost, Dominick Fournier.

Olga is returning to her academic studies in May for her last term and says that after two co-op work-terms she has a better idea of what she wants, the direction she will take, and feels confident in what she has already achieved.

 

The Unique Perspective of a Co-op Student on a New Career Path

Co-op Student Profile: Christian van Langendonck

Christian is an Algonquin College Computer Programming student who is completing his second work-term as Co-op Career Leader at the Co-op Department. Christian is currently making a career transition from being a lawyer in his home country to computer programming, a lifelong interest of his. This is Christian’s unique perspective on his co-op experience and on transitioning to a new career.

On Being a Co-op Student Working for Cooperative Education

Christian identifies one of his greatest accomplishments during his time working in the Co-op Department as his leadership and creation of an automated reporting tool that reports student and employer performance and engagement on a program-by-program level. “We have been doing these reports for a while now, but with the growing number of programs, it had become a resource drain on our Co-op Student Advisors. Christian’s customized reporting tool has been a time-saver for the team,” said David Hall, Manager, Co-op Department.

Christian is also working on an interactive resume activity, putting his programming skills related to JavaScript, HTML, and CSS into practice. “We love everything Christian brings to our team”, explains Hall. “He is dedicated, caring, insightful, positive, and has strong technical and professional skills.” As Co-op Career Leader Christian also helps students with their resumes and cover letters, he leads orientation sessions and helps students prepare for interviews.

“Starting as an international student, I have met other students in similar circumstances. However, it was in my co-op placement that I met so many other students in almost the same situation I was in. It was an eye-opening experience, I could see other students struggling in areas I had and I could advise them, give them words of encouragement and share my personal experience.” According to Christian, the best part of his job is being an active part in a student’s success. So many students are waiting for the opportunity to prove themselves.

“Co-op is a fantastic opportunity to take the first steps towards a new career.”

Christian graduated in 2003 with a Law degree from the University Center of United Metropolitan Faculties, in São Paulo, and practiced law in Brazil until 2019. Computer programming has always been a subject of great personal interest to him, and as his desire to live abroad grew stronger, so did his motivation to explore his interest professionally. “Changing careers is not easy. So, I’ve chosen something that I previously had an interest in; software development. This is something I can practice anywhere in the world,” explains Christian. He began his computer programming studies at Algonquin College in September 2019.

Advice on the Co-op Process

“Ask for help when you need it. Getting all the information earlier in the process will ease the stress involved in searching for jobs,” explains Christian. This piece of advice comes from Christian’s own experience in the earlier stages of the co-op process. The Co-op student advisors are there to help the students in every step of the process. So many resources are available such as workshops, orientation sessions and much more.

“Apply, apply, apply and pay close attention to dates.” Christian recommends students keep an open mind when searching for jobs while also focusing on the areas where they excel rather than worry about where they might fall short.

“My Co-op placement has provided me with the confidence I needed to take on more senior roles in my new career, while also allowing me to demonstrate to my employer how much I can contribute and turn myself into a significant company asset.”

Christian will be graduating this spring with the skills and the confidence he needs to begin his second career. Congratulations Christian and thank you for your many contributions.

 

Top Sources for Finding a Co-op Job (Outside of HireAC)

For an Algonquin College co-op student, HireAC is an excellent, effective, and key platform for job searches. However, the opportunities on HireAC are still limited, especially during the pandemic. For the students struggling to find co-op work placements, it’s insufficient to rely solely on HireAC. Other platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, the Government of Canada Summer Jobs, the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), and Outcome Campus Connect are excellent ways to apply and secure placements. The following tips introduce these platforms and provide instructions for students.

  1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a convenient platform for job searching and professional networks. Your LinkedIn profile shows your educational and professional experiences, connect you with industrial peers and potential employers, and help companies find you. Once you set up your LinkedIn profile, the platform will automatically recommend jobs for you based on your profile. Also, your connections on LinkedIn can offer you inspirations and opportunities. You can also search for companies you are interested in.

  1. Indeed

Indeed has abundant job listing resources worldwide. It aggregates job listings from thousands of recruitment websites and company webpages. Students can search for specific positions based on their needs, such as location, job title, salary range, etc. The website offers a comprehensive listing that shows all available results from specific keywords, levels of experiences, and industry field. Once you store your resume, it will become searchable for the hiring managers. You can also check out the reviews on the company web pages from Indeed.

  1. Government of Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program is an excellent opportunity for youths between the ages of 15 and 30 who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons whom refugee protection has been conferred. This program provides full-time work experiences from May to August in Canada for a minimum of 6 weeks. Students looking for a Spring/Summer co-op can apply directly from the Government of Canada’s Job Bank website.

  1. Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

You are eligible to apply for the Federal Student Work Experience Program if you meet the following criteria: You are a full-time student. You are a returning full-time student. You meet the minimum age requirement in the province/territory of work. If you are an international student, you could also apply for this program. Visit the Government of Canada’s website to apply for FSWEP jobs. After you submit your application, your resume is placed in the Government of Canada’s student inventory. When there are job openings hiring managers will search through this inventory and if your application matches the manager’s search criteria, you may be contacted for a test and/or interview. Over 8000 students were hired through FSWEP from 2018-2019.

  1. Outcome Campus Connect

Outcome Campus Connect is an alternative source of job opportunities that you can view directly on HireAC. The College has partnered with the Outcome Campus Connect, a job posting service in collaboration with Magnet and Orbis, to assist the matching of working integrated learning experiences between students and employers. The job opportunities on Outcome Campus Connect are not vetted by the Co-op Department. So you’ll need to make sure that the jobs you applied to satisfy the criteria required for a valid co-op job (paid, full-time hours, and related to your program-of-study). You can access the job postings by logging on to HireAC, going to the ‘Co-op Job Postings’ page, and clicking the link ‘Outcome Campus Connect Opportunities’ at the bottom of the page.

5 Tips for Virtual Networking

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. For students, finding a work placement and experience in their field after graduation has become more challenging than before, due to the economy shutdown and the social distancing rules. While students are getting more and more used to online learning and networking tools like Zoom, some may still find it awkward to connect with people virtually. The following are 5 tips for virtual networking, which can help students establish professional profiles, keep effective relationships and reach their career goals.

  1. Build your social media profile

Employers often use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to find potential candidates. Your profile connects you to the peers and authorities in your industry. A professional profile includes a formal headshot with a confident smile, a summary of your past educational and work experiences, and emphasizes your technical and soft skills. Using hashtags related to your field can make your profile more visible. You can also share your insights and engage with your followers. The more popularity and authority you gain, the more likely the recruiters will give you opportunities.

  1. Stay connected with existing contacts

If you have existing contacts such as professors, the employment support centre, and the co-op office, you can connect with them through email methods. If you need professional help these are great contacts to ask for advice. You may share your progress and update your career status with anyone you feel connected to, such as former co-workers, supervisors or your LinkedIn followers. Filter out those unresponsive contacts and invite the active ones to video chat. Doing so keeps these relationships fresh. The people you connect could lead to career opportunities and inspiration in the future.

  1. Find relevant online communities for professional help

Online communities are great platforms for students to find people with similar interests. Some of these communities, like Reddit forums, are free, while some others may require membership fees, such as GitHub. In these communities, you can get relevant information and insights into your field, share your experiences and knowledge, ask for professional support and be friends with industry peers.

  1. Research before virtual meetings/interviews

Before going to a virtual meeting or interview, you should think of the event’s purpose and prepare for the questions. Sitting in front of a screen makes you more nervous and awkward than usual if you were unprepared. If you were going for an interview, it is necessary to research the company culture and background. Websites such as Glassdoor and Fairygodboss gives you an insight into the companies from the employee’s perspective. You can brainstorm and write the ideas and future questions on a piece of paper. You will give the people you meet a great impression if you show them your dedication to the meeting.

  1. Be professional and confident in front of your camera

While your personality and attitude are the most important, people want to look the best in front of the camera. If you are using Zoom for most of your online meetings, there are several tips for making you appear nicer. This blog from the Zoom website talks explicitly about the setups and functions of the Zoom App. It will be useful to look at and apply.

The Business Intelligence, Research and Analytics Division in the CRA honours its commitment to hire Algonquin College co-op students during the pandemic.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has contributed to Algonquin College Cooperative Education in significant ways, which includes a commitment to hiring co-op students. One particularly noteworthy example within the CRA is the unique partnership established in 2015 between the CRA’s Business Intelligence, Research and Analytics Division (BIRAD) and Algonquin’s Business Intelligence Systems Infrastructure (BISI) program. Since its inception, this partnership has shown great value to both the Agency and Algonquin College students. The nature of this agreement took on an all new meaning this summer in the midst of the pandemic.

Going back in time, the terms of the agreement between BIRAD and the BISI program include student recruitment, innovative exploratory case studies, and upgraded training/accreditation opportunities for BIRAD employees. This agreement was further enhanced over the years, building on a culture of mutual trust and respect, collaboration, shared ownership and mutually agreed upon working arrangements. It is one of the cornerstones of BIRAD’s Human Resources Strategy. It provides an unparalleled opportunity for BIRAD to build and renew its capacity and meet the growing needs for a technically skilled workforce in advanced applied predictive analytics. Since 2016, BIRAD has coordinated the hiring of approximately 35 co-op students, for the Collections and Verification Branch from the BISI program; most graduates now work at the CRA full-time.

“Business and Artificial intelligence is a key component and driving force for the future. The BISI program is one of the best fits to meet our current needs,” says Hala Ibrahim, Director, BIRAD.

Co-op hires have been instrumental in bringing fresh, creative and innovative ideas that have helped optimize our existing business processes. In addition, the students bring with them a level of maturity that allows them to be successful in a public service environment. Being a one year specialization program, many of the students have practical real world experience in BI or related fields. These skills, enhanced by an intense BISI curriculum create the perfect conditions for the graduates to succeed.

“Upon joining BIRAD, BISI students are put through rigorous internal training and follow a development plan customized for them. This helps them learn about CRA processes, and exposes them to different areas of BI related workloads. The students have found professional success and have thrived in a CRA environment. With an incredibly high “bridge-in” rate, many BISI alumni have been promoted within our Division, or found success in other areas within the CRA,” says Dinaz Forbes – Coordinator, BISI-BIRAD partnership.

Throughout this long-standing partnership, BIRAD has developed and implemented a well thought out and effective process for hiring co-op students. The process starts with an orientation session to the new students, which includes presenting an overview of the Agency, BIRAD, the partnership, and a brief description of the work done in the hiring sections. Previous co-op students, who are full-time BIRAD employees are taken along to share their work experience, and offer tips to the new class on the management of their course load. Once the positions are posted on HireAC, BIRAD ensures that every student who applies is interviewed.

“We share interview questions with students ahead of time. We want to make them as comfortable as possible at the interviews so they can fully showcase themselves. The interview process lasts up to three full days, depending on the number of applicants. It’s a great opportunity for students to get experience in being interviewed. The BISI program instructor and the Stakeholder Relations Lead for Cooperative Education are given detailed feedback on the overall interview experience.” says Forbes.

The strong BIRAD-BISI collaboration enabled BIRAD to support the growth in the Business Intelligence/Applied Analytics sector stemming from the pandemic. Significant emergency packages were rolled out by the government to support Canadians in these unprecedented times. This context enabled BIRAD to honour their offers of employment made to seven students in early December. They all joined on the scheduled date of May 4, 2020.

Furthermore, when other BISI co-op students lost their prospective co-op assignments with various private and public sector employers because of the lockdown, BIRAD, in a concerted effort with BISI, was able to place three additional students, as BI service needs continued to grow and more expert resources were needed. This spoke volumes to the depth of the relationship and a mutual commitment in supporting each other for the common good. Other positive benefits emerged as a result of this situation. The solicitation of interest across the CRA’s BI community to fulfill both the organization’s resource needs and BISI co-op students’ employment needs helped raise awareness of the BISI program across the Agency for the future.

As the BIRAD-BISI partnership continues beyond the academic year, representatives from BIRAD participate with other employers from the public and private sector, as members on the “BISI Program Advisory Committee” meetings. BIRAD’s participation in the advisory committee benefits the college by utilizing industry knowledge to contribute to the BISI curriculum while providing an opportunity for students to gain quality work-integrated learning opportunities through class projects and co-op.

Every year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) honours the achievements of its employees whose work and behaviour best exemplify the mission, vision, and values, through the CRA Awards of Excellence. A few years ago, the “Algonquin College and BIRAD Collaboration” was the recipient of this award in the Partnership category. This underscored the initiative taken in recognizing the growing demand for skilled labour in advanced applied analytics and providing a solution from within the Agency, to recruit and onboard young, promising students through the partnership.

In 2018, BIRAD and the Learning Technologies Division in CRA won the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Algonquin College Cooperative Education Award.

The BISI-BIRAD partnership has proved to be incredibly powerful and impactful. Best practices from this relationship have been expanded within the Agency to the benefit of other areas, with a focus on the business intelligence community. BIRAD has demonstrated its sustained commitment through hard times, and is committed to continue building on this relationship and taking it to the next level in the years to come.

Business Intelligence System Infrastructure students complete their co-op work term in the summer and fall terms. Connect with us to hire an Algonquin College co-op student today.