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Co-op Employers Share Strategies for a Successful Interview

On July 24, 2020, the Co-op Department hosted industry employers from various fields to talk about tips and strategies to help students land their co-op interviews. Panelists included co-op employers:

  • Lea Catana, Solutions Project Manager, Technology Modernization, Information Technology Services, City of Ottawa

Lea has worked for the city for almost 15 years. She started as a summer student and worked her way through the organization. She now works on a team called Technology and Modernization and is responsible for the Innovation Solutions Unit, where they bring innovation to city services to optimize operations.

  • Rania Zammar, Branch Manager, RBC Royal Bank of Canada.

Rania has been working in the banking industry for 17 years and has been working in the role of branch manager for 14. Coaching is a priority in her role at RBC. Currently, during the pandemic, a large part of her job is making sure her team feels both physically and mentally safe and healthy to work.

  • Ken Thompson, Manager, Mechanical Design, MDS, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Ken is the MDS Manager within the Mechanical Design Department of Gas Turbine Solutions. In his role as manager, he has two main priorities: administrative functions such as overseeing his team, hiring, budgeting, and mentoring and the technical functions such as ensuring all engineering drawings and models meet all applicable standards and supporting mechanical engineers with investigating equipment, procurement, and site surveying.

  • Chris Cormier, Architect, M.Arch., OAA, RAIC, John Donkin Architect Inc.

Chris is a licensed architect and one of three employees working at the firm John Donkin Architect Inc. Chris is a project architect, most of the projects the firm completes are infill residential construction but Chris’s role also consists of handling administration needs such as hiring and assisting John in managing the firm.

  • Ranjan Banerjee, Manager of Robotic Process Automation, Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Ranjan has worked at the federal government for over 22 years in various capacities. Ranjan is currently responsible for building the Robotic Process Automation Team at the Canada Border Service Agency. Ranjan is on three Algonquin College Program Advisory Committees to help adapt the content and learning outcomes to reflect the talent needs of government agencies.

The panelists were asked seven questions on various topics and provided their perspectives on each. From their answers, we have created a summary of tips and strategies to help you with your next co-op interview.

  1. Tell us about your typical interview style?

“I really want to know authentically who you are. I will start the interview by asking a less intimidating question like, “tell me about yourself” to get the candidate talking and comfortable.” – Rania, RBC

“I always look for STAR technique answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result). From there I will dig down to specifics so I can help you to reach that authentic answer.” – Rania, RBC

“I’m not interested in a perfect answer. I would rather you tell me this is what I did and it was wrong. I made a mistake, here’s what I learned and this is what I would do next time. Learned lessons are something that you carry with you throughout your career. What is important is that we learn from it and don’t keep making the same mistakes.” – Ranjan, CBSA

Key Takeaways:

  • Be authentic
  • Be prepared with examples
  • Incorporate learned lessons
  1. What are the top two or three attributes you are evaluating during an interview and how can a student excel in this area?

“Being able to have a good connection with not only your co-coworkers but your clients is absolutely critical.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“If I am talking to you face-to-face and spending time interviewing you it’s because you have the qualifications and I want to make sure you will fit in the organization. Being able to show you are curious, eager, and actually want to work for us are the key points.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“Read a little bit about the company, understand their mission and mandate and align yourself to that mandate. We want to make sure your values and what you are passionate about aligns with our values, this is what will set you apart.” – Lea, City of Ottawa

“We will rate you on how well you are able to present yourself, communicate, and share your stories. So make sure to be clear and concise with every answer so that you can get full marks” – Lea, City of Ottawa

“We know that you’re not going to have much experience, most co-op students don’t really have any experience working in our industry. We want to know that you have a general interest in our company and work and you want to be part of our team. We will show you the tools and train you on how to do the job.”– Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Key Takeaways:

  • Show your interpersonal skills
  • Show enthusiasm for the job and the company
  • Do your research
  • Communicate clearly
  • It’s okay if you don’t have job experience in your field
  1. If the job you are interviewing for requires specific technical skills, what type of questions would you ask to determine if the candidate is qualified and/ or experienced with the skill?

“In the Architecture field, we will request a portfolio of your work and/or school work to show that you have the technical skills for the job such as using AutoCAD, etc.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“We will ask and show you samples to see if you have a good understanding of what you are looking at and do you have the inquisitiveness to ask and try to make an explanation of what you are seeing. Our drawings typically have welding symbols. We will show our samples and allow the applicant to explain what they know about it. What we’re really looking for when we are asking these questions is do you have a start and base we can develop throughout your co-op.” – Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions

Key Takeaways:

  • Create a portfolio of your work or school work
  • Prepare by reviewing your class notes and textbooks
  1. What are some tips on how students can best demonstrate their soft skills?

“Be prepared with self-reflection and understanding of what makes you uniquely you. What are your core strengths? Once you know your core strengths think about the times where you achieved success attributed to that soft skill. In your interview by providing specific examples of a situation when you achieved success by utilizing your core strengths.” – Rania, RBC

“Soft skills have very little to do with work experience. They have everything to do with you as a person and your ability to manage issues.” – Ranjan, CBSA

“We don’t want you to rhyme off the soft skills you have, we want you to provide examples. At the co-op student level, we will always throw a lot of tasks your way until you can’t catch anymore. We will ask how you actively manage your time. Give us an example of how you manage this in your day-to-day are there any tools you use?” – Lea, City of Ottawa

Key Takeaways:

  • Know your strengths
  • Explain in detail a problem you were faced and the steps you took to overcome it
  • Be prepared to describe your time management and tools you use to track this
  1. Do you have any suggestions for how to prepare and do well in virtual interviews?

“You are competing with applicants from all over the world. I want to see that you have spent some time researching our company. We want to see that you are excited to work for us. The more research you do the calmer you will be because you are more prepared.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“Make sure what is behind you is not distracting. If you are a successful candidate you could be working from home, is this what the client will see when they are working with a client.” – Rania, RBC

Key Takeaways:

  • Test the technology in advance
  • Making sure the room is very well lit and tidy up behind you
  • Make sure you are ready before the interview starts
  • Take a second before you log in, take a deep breath
  • Be comfortable
  • Be in a room where you won’t be disturbed
  • Make sure your voice is clear
  • Don’t forget to look right into the camera
  1. A ) What are some good questions students should ask at the end of the interview?

“Always have at least one question prepared. A question shows that you are engaged, excited, and enthusiastic.

Some great examples could be:

  • What is your expectation of the role?
  • Why are you hiring?
  • What are you hoping this role to accomplish?

These type of questions will allow you to get an idea of what is expected of you from day 1.” – Lea, City of Ottawa

B) How do you feel about questions related to salary and benefits?

“How can you know whether you want a job or are willing to accept the job if you don’t know what you are going to get out of it? There has to be a baseline of expectations both ways to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s absolutely something you should ask and shouldn’t feel intimidated by.” – Ranjan, CBSA

  1. If students are interested in asking for feedback after the interview, how should they do this?

“Seeking feedback after an interview is key and something you should always do. Even if you are not seeking specific feedback, checking in a week after your interview is always a good idea.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.

“At the end of your interview ask: “Is there anything that we have covered that has left you with any doubt that I would be a good fit”. This will allow the interviewer the opportunity to voice any concerns and will give you a chance to address them on the spot. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take feedback and learn and grow from it.” – Rania, RBC

Key Takeaways:

  • Email your questions to HR or interviewers on the panel
  • Ask for a follow-up meeting or debrief
  • Ask for feedback at the end of your interview

Interviews can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking no matter who you are. One important thing to note is that interview styles and trends are always changing so research is key, prepare in advance and consult with industry professionals in the field. As always, the Co-op Department is here to help in your co-op job search and interviews. If you would like to practice your interview skills, you can book a mock interview at any time with your Co-op Student Advisor.

Algonquin College Biotechnology Students Help to Fill Talent Gaps at Big Rig Brewery

Big Rig Brewery was founded in 2012 as a small batch brewery and restaurant. In the last eight years, they have significantly expanded across Ontario and now produce over 30,000 litres of beer per year. Their growth in the marketplace has resulted in the build-up of their brew house lab in Ottawa. This expansion resulted in the need for qualified employees with introductory lab skills and the ability to keep up in a fast-paced production environment.

The brewing process at Big Rig Brewery is more than just hops and yeast. Their beer is brewed in a historic style but with modern processes and quality controls to monitor yeast health and cell counts. As Big Rig looked to fill positions in their brewing team they found there was a talent gap. “Many of the skills we are looking for can be found in basic lab techniques and unfortunately there are not many qualified Brewery Technicians”, says Philip Kochanke, Director of Quality Management and Packaging at Big Rig.

“We had hired Electrical Engineering Technician co-op students in the past for our processing line and through this process; we learned that Algonquin College also has a great Biotechnology co-op program”. In the summer of 2019, Big Rig decided to hire two Biotechnology co-op students, “These students brought a formal lab background and experience to their job which helped us to manage everyday brewery operations while our team focused on improving our Standard Operating Procedures as we continued to expand”, Kochanke said.

“Algonquin’s Biotechnology students really helped us. They were able to apply basic biotechnology principals to their role in the lab which included taking and processing samples in a specific way and helping to implement quality control measures.”

Funding opportunities helped in the hiring process. “There are really great financial incentives to hire a co-op student. We were able to hire two full-time co-op students due to the funding that we received from Biotalent Canada. The application process was simple and the staff at Biotalent were extremely helpful in the process.”

When asked about the future of talent in the Brewing Industry, Kochanke said “There is definitely a need for Biotechnology students and graduates in our industry; they can work in roles such as Lab Technician, Yeast Management Technician, and Packaging Line Technician. The skills they learn in their program can help breweries by applying scientific methods to troubleshoot and maintain process management in a production and food-processing environment.”

Kochanke added, “Our experience hiring co-op students has been great, it has been a real pleasure working with everyone from Algonquin and we hope to hire more co-op students in the future.”

If you are interested in hiring a Biotechnology Advanced Co-op student, please contact the Cooperative Education Department at Algonquin College by phone at 613-727-4723 Ext 7623, by email at coopandcareer@algonquincollege.com or by visiting our employer request for information form.

Images provided by Big Rig Brewery.

Essential Tips for Co-op Students Working from Home

work space

Working remotely takes some getting used to, especially if this is new to you. This is why we have created a list of essential tips to stay focused and positive while working from home.

  1. Set up a workspace

Having a designated workspace in your home is important in keeping the time you spend on work and assignments separate from your everyday life. If you have a consistent workspace, each time you go to this space it will be easier to get into the right state of mind to keep productive. If you don’t have a separate room try to find a space with minimum traffic and distraction so that you can concentrate. If possible, only go to your designated workspace during work hours so you can maintain a regular workday and productive schedule. If finding a quiet space is an issue consider working with noise-canceling headphones to stay focused.

  1. Set goals

Organizing your day and setting clear, SMART and realistic goals for yourself is important to keep you motivated and on track. At the end of the week make sure you re-evaluate the goals you set and look at what you can do better to improve them for next time.

S.M.A.R.T.

  • Specific – Know exactly what you need to accomplish and what you hope to gain from doing so, whether it’s simply finishing an assignment, writing a cover letter for a co-op job application or finishing some research for a larger project.
  • Measurable – Make sure you can easily evaluate whether or not your goal was met and how beneficial it ultimately was to you.
  • Achievable – Be realistic when setting goals. This can help you avoid missing deadlines and getting behind, as well as giving you a more accurate overview of how much time you have to invest in other tasks throughout the week.
  • Results-Focused – Have very clear, distinct outcomes for meeting your goals, and hold yourself to them.
  • Time-Bound – Set a deadline for each goal or, for more complex tasks with multiple steps, establish deadlines for each major stage of the process.
  1. Stay on track

Now that you’ve set the goals you want to achieve you’ll need to come up with a plan to keep up and track your tasks. Thankfully, there are hundreds of apps and tools that can help you stay on track. Free project management tools like Asana or the Momentum Chrome Extension can be a lifesaver when you have multiple projects, papers, and exams on the go. You can create projects, set tasks with deadlines and even communicate with fellow students.

  1. Use video to communicate

Communication is an important factor in staying on track. Whether you have an upcoming interview, group assignment, meeting or just want to stay in touch with your manager, colleagues, and classmates, video communications can be a great source.

Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts are great and free tools to help facilitate potential co-op interviews and touch-base phone calls with classmates.

The Co-op Department will also be offering workshops, one-on-one mock interviews, and resume appointments online too. Be sure to book an appointment in advance through HireAC.

  1. Take breaks

It’s too easy to get stuck in the house all day when you live, sleep and study there. Taking regular breaks from the screen or your books is important, not only for your health but also for productivity. Be strict with yourself and make sure you actually take them.

Make sure you also take some breaks off-screen so your eyes get a chance to relax. Get up and walk around the house, play with your pet or catch some fresh air by walking around the block for 5 to 10 minutes. If you are truly stuck inside, even a few simple yoga stretches and postures can help.

And remember, don’t stress! Monitoring and taking care of your mental health is important. If you need extra time on an assignment or you need to take a day to yourself, make sure you let your co-op supervisor or faculty know. At any time should you have any questions about co-op you can connect with your Co-op Student Advisor. If you are experiencing feelings of distress the College has many resources that can help including:

  • College Libraries Ontario’s Learning Portal has a great website full of stress management tips and techniques. Learn more at https://tlp-lpa.ca/study-skills/stress-management
  • Students can speak to a counsellor by contacting the Welcome Centre by email at welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com
  • If it is an urgent need students can call the Distress Line – 613-722-6914 or 1-866-966-0991 or go online at https://crisisline.ca/
  • Or they can contact Good 2 Talk – A professional counselling and information and referral telephone service for post-secondary students, which is reachable by calling 1-866-925-5454.
  • There is also a Crisis Text Line available by texting GOOD2TALKON to 686868, or online at https://good2talk.ca/

 

Updated on September 20th, 2021.

622 Co-op Interviews Conducted in the Past 2 Weeks!

We are only partly through our hiring process for the Winter 2020 Term (January – April) though we are pleased to share that 622 co-op interviews were conducted in the past two weeks alone with over 113 of our employer partners. There are still plenty of students available to be hired for Winter 2020 but we would like to take this opportunity to thank our employers who have posted jobs with us thus far. Thank you to all our employers who have interviewed as part of our new Rank and Offer process, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we streamline our processes to support the growth of cooperative education at Algonquin College.

“Based on our research, and continued consultation with other high-performing co-op colleges and universities, we decided to test a new co-op job posting and interviewing model that can serve our stakeholders in a more efficient and timely way,” says David Hall, Manager, Cooperative Education. “This change has enabled us to conduct three times the amount of interviews in the past two weeks when compared to the same time frame last fall.”

Starting this semester, we’ve updated our job application, interview and job offer process to a co-op industry standard called Rank and Offer. This will allow the Co-op Department to manage the interview process more efficiently to better support our learners in their journey to find co-op employment while providing a more streamlined hiring process for employers.

“These self-serve and automation improvements mean our students get more choice in the jobs they accept, allow employers to know the results of their interviews sooner, and allows the co-op team closely manage the entire hiring process from start to finish,” adds Hall.

“With new co-op programs offered each year, we are constantly evolving to find new ways of becoming more responsive and scalable while continuing to provide an exceptional co-op experience for learners and employers.

With Rank and Offer we will have an initial first round of co-op hiring early in the semester and then we will employ a continuous process, where employers can post their jobs, interview, and send job offers at any time, for the remainder of the term.

It might seem early in the semester for students to have their job offers for a Work Term in Winter 2020 but there are several ways that our learners benefit from this new process.

  • More time to apply for jobs and interview with several employers
  • First round of offers are sent during a specified period potentially allowing multiple job offers for them to consider
  • More opportunity for interview feedback and reflection
  • Job offers will be fully automated, learners and employers will be notified as soon as a job offer is extended and accepted

If you are interested in hiring an Algonquin College Co-op student for a work term starting January 2020, now is the time to post your job as we still have plenty of students available!

Send us an email or visit our website to learn how Cooperative Education at Algonquin College can help support your business.

We look forward to hearing from you!hire

Algonquin College Co-op Team

Making Connections Through Networking

The Co-op Department is committed to helping students find relevant and valuable work experience that will help you to hit the ground running after graduation. You’ve made the right choice by enrolling into co-op and now its time to find a co-op job! With over 3,000 Algonquin College co-op employers there are many different industries and a variety of job opportunities to choose from.

One of the best ways to find a co-op job opportunity that’s right for you is by meeting and talking to professionals in various industries. Networking is an opportunity to ask questions about an organization’s work environment, potential roles and future learning and career paths available to you.

The Algonquin College Co-op Department is happy to host our employers on campus throughout the year. At these events, students will have the opportunity to speak to professionals in their industry and discuss potential co-op job opportunities available to them.

You’re invited!

We are hosting an information session for students to explore the world of analytics and cloud computing at Global Affairs Canada.

When: Thursday, September 19, 2019, from 1pm-3pm

Where: ACCE Building Room CA105 and Minto Hall

Register now!

Employer profile:

Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the country’s international trade and leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance.

Sign-up for co-op workshops and events:

Visit our co-op calendar to find more networking events and workshops this term.

You’ve signed up for a networking event, now what?

Make sure you are prepared before you show up at the event. A little bit of planning will go a long way and can help to set you apart from other attendees.

  1. Make a game plan for what you want to get out of the event.
  2. Do your research on the company and make sure you come with a list of questions.
  3. Read our blog on Survival Skills: Three Ways to Survive a Networking Event.