student

Consistency, efficiency, de-stress: the keys to balancing work and school

books460If you find yourself working a part-time job while attending school, you’re not alone. Almost 60 per cent of students reported having a job, while also attending post-secondary education, according to the 2015 Graduating University Student Survey. Working during school can help you gain necessary skills, such as time-management and customer service skills, that will be valuable to you when applying for co-op positions or full-time positions upon graduation.

Here are 5 tips to help you balance work and school: Continue reading →

4 tips for writing a compelling cover letter

Good cover letters are integral to a successful application

Good cover letters are integral to a successful application

A good cover letter is just as, (if not more) important than a well written resume. Your cover letter is, in many cases, an employer’s first impression of you. It is the first opportunity you will have to impress them before they meet you in person.

Your cover letter needs to stand out from the crowd, so that the Human Resource Representative who’s sifting through dozens of applications at a time doesn’t put yours in the “no” pile.

Here are 4 tips to help you write a great cover letter: Continue reading →

Social Media: Three Do’s and Don’ts

Always be aware of what you post on social media

Always be aware of what you post on social media

In case you haven’t heard, employers will regularly Google potential employees before they come in for an interview. Since you most likely generate the most online activity in your name via your social media accounts, these accounts are most likely to be the top results.

What this means is that you should strive to always remain professional (even on your personal social media accounts) so that potential employers don’t get a bad first impression of you via your online activity. Continue reading →

Considering Co-op? Learn from a previous AC Co-op student’s experience [Interview]

Algonquin College prides itself on the work that our co-op students do during their placements. Student success in the classroom and in the workplace is priority for everyone at the College.

Algonquin_College_logo.svgTianyi Gu is a former Business Intelligence System Infrastructure (BISI) student currently working as a Business Intelligence Specialist in the Information Management and Information Technology Branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Adam D’Agostino, Co-op Communications Assistant and current public relations student recently connected with Tianyi to talk about his co-op experience. Continue reading →

3 keys to make a good impression at your co-op or first job

15726294164_68d1c96dee_bStarting your first professional job (i.e. In the field you would like to have a career in) can be daunting. You might not have any prior professional experience or know what to expect when you get there. These 3 tips will help you make a good first impression, and allow you to excel in the workplace.

Be prepared

Getting your co-op placement is just the first step. Once you know where you’ll be working, don’t just sit back and wait for your start date to roll around. Continue reading →