Inside sCo-op

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See how Waterloo’s co-op students are making their mark

...in areas you might not expect

BREAKING NEW GROUND

Fall 2010Issue II

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Not enjoying co-op as much as you thought? Read Jayne Hayden’s advice about how to have the best work term experience you can

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9 Taking Advantage of Co-op

The Inside sCo-op is a bi-monthly student e-publication released through Co-operative Education & Career Services at the University of Waterloo 3

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Contents

Learn about Hans Lin’s life-changing experience in China, and his advice to students looking to work for a worthy cause

Character building in China

Working in the entertainment business isn’t as glamorous as it may seem. See how Barbara Fagan made the best of her time at MuchMusic

Meet your Tatham Centre co-op students!

Read how Brandon Fox opened his mind to a whole new set of opportunities by completing a work term in Nunavut

Leaving your comfort zone

Behind the scenes...and making the most of it5

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Editor: Avneet DhillonStaff Editor: Olaf Naese, Communications & Public Relations Administrator, CECSPhotos: Amy Sinclair, Barbara Fagan, Brandon Fox, Hans Lin, Jeannine Bloomfield

Inside sCo-op Credits:

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Editor

Avneet DhillonMedia & Publications Associate, CECS2B Arts & Business - Political Science and International Studies

Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference - Robert Frost

Dear fellow co-op students,

We all know the poem. It has long been a staple in elementary school poetry curriculum. The message is simple, yet profound. While many of us would like to think we would take “the road less traveled,” the truth is, we all take the easy way out every once in a while.

As co-op students, we make decisions all the time about the kinds of jobs we try to obtain, and those we don’t. At times, we make compromises so that we can work close to home, in a work environment we’re familiar with, or in jobs that are considered “safe.” This issue of the Inside sCo-op is not about those times.

Throughout this issue, you will meet students who completed work terms in areas that were completely unknown to them. Read about Brandon Fox’s job in Baffin Island, Nunavut, where he experienced the benefits of working outside his comfort zone. Be sure to check out the article about Barbara Fagan and how she made the most of her time at MuchMusic. You won’t want to miss learning about Hans Lin’s life-changing experience in China, where he worked with a multi-national charity. To make sure you’re taking advantage of your own co-op experience, don’t forget our career corner section with advice from career counsellor Jayne Hayden.

By breaking new ground and experiencing work terms in new and unexpected environments, Brandon, Barbara and Hans realized how they wanted to mould their future careers. For these students, taking the road less traveled truly has made all the difference.

Enjoy,

Avneet

Have a suggestion for the next Inside sCo-op? Think you have a sCo-op worthy co-op experience?

E-mail olaf@uwaterloo.ca now! We’d love to hear your ideas!

Application deadline: December 10, 2010

If you believe your achievements, or those of a student you know, warrant consideration for a co-op student of the year award, please submit the required documents to Olaf Naese, Co-operative Education via e-mail by 5:00 p.m. on or before December 10.Visit http://cecs.uwaterloo.ca/students/SOTYaward.php

for more information about the nomination process.

• received an “outstanding” evaluation during the 2010 year • maintained an average of 75% or better• contributed to an employer and co-op education• taken on leadership roles on campus or in the community

This is the last call for any outstanding students who have completed a work term in 2010. Candidates must have...

Are you the next student of the year?

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By Avneet Dhillon

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Leaving your zone

Baffin Island, Nunavut. Many of you reading this may have never heard of this place before, others may be thinking “It’s in Nunavut...enough said.” Although it may not be viewed as a prime tourist destination, Baffin Island is where

Brandon Fox, 4B Environment & Resource Studies (ERS) student, spent his last work term.

Brandon working in the field lab,testing water for the presence of oil

After working for the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Environment, Brandon decided to leave the government sector and experience his final co-op job in a completely different area.

He took a chance when he applied to a job posted by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation, a company that was looking to hire civil engineers. “I saw that I was qualified for it according to the job description,” Brandon says, “so I said ‘why not?’ and I ended up getting it.”

Brandon worked on the Mary River Project, located in northern Baffin Island in the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut, about 100km south of the Arctic Ocean. Brandon was able to put his ERS experience to good use as he helped clean up a contained oil spill that had occurred in 2008. “Part of my job was to develop and purchase the treatment system, and all of its components, and then treat about 3 million litres of water,” he says.

Brandon was surprised by the amount of responsibility he was given once he arrived on site, but it was experience that he valued and learned from. After spending the first few weeks of his work term stationed in Waterloo at a consulting firm performing the design and purchasing components of the project, Brandon was sent up to the Mary River site in June to lead in constructing the site. “In building the treatment system, I had about four people working under me,” he explains.

The water treatment system

In addition to leading a group of people on the project, Brandon was able to learn from those he worked with, such as the Inuit. Baffin Island’s population is almost entirely Inuit and the land where the mine is located is owned by the Inuit people, while the mining company has a leasing agreement with them. This land is important to the preservation of their culture and heritage, and Brandon gained a great deal from his interactions with some of his Inuit co-workers.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

NO LIMITATIONS

Although this particular job was nothing like Brandon’s previous work terms, and in a location that was totally foreign to him, he says this was his most valuable co-op experience yet. By refusing to limit himself to his comfort zone, close to family and friends, Brandon was able to work in a position with greater responsibilities.

“The company let me get involved from the design process, straight through to the very end of the project,” he explains, “whereas with other companies you have your own tasks, but you’re not really part of an actual project. With this one I got to be the lead operator.”

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“Quite a few times I had the opportunity to have truck rides with them,” Brandon says, “a couple hours in a car, just me and some Inuit guys alone - some of the stories I heard were fantastic.”

One of those stories was about the Inukshuk. The Inukshuk played an important role in hunting caribou in the past, while today it is used predominately as a landmark. Brandon found learning about the Inuit people to be a humbling experience. “It’s a completely different culture, nothing like you’re used to,” he says.

Brandon standing by the camp marker - an Inukshuk. In the language of the Inuit, Inukshuk

means “in the likeness of a person”

After experiencing all of the benefits that come with completing a co-op term in an area like Baffin Island, Brandon stresses the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. “I got to go to a place that only a handful of people in the world have ever been to,” he explains, “I learned about a completely different culture that lives within our own country. I got to live and work with people on a daily basis from the entire country. So getting out of the box of the GTA was invaluable.”

In case you’re still not convinced, I’ll leave you with Brandon’s favourite moment from his work term: “Standing on the coast of the Arctic Ocean at 1:30 in the morning, with the sun in the position of high noon,” (did I mention Baffin Island has 24 hour daylight in the summer months?), “there literally wasn’t a sound in the world. The silence was almost deafening. Thinking inside your own head, it felt like someone was talking to you.” I would go for that experience alone!

Philips Creek Waterfall, leading to the Arctic Ocean (July 2010)

Visit www.housing.uwaterloo.ca to apply now for the Winter term!

Not sure if Waterloo Residences has a room that’s the right FIT for you?Whether you’re looking for room-mates or a single room, a kitchen or in-house cafeteria, rooms are available in both our traditional-style and suite-style residences to fit your needs.

Looking for a place to live this Spring or Winter term?

Look no further than Waterloo Residences!

OUTSIDE THE BOX

On a work term so a 12-month lease is not an option?With one-term contracts available in the Winter or Spring terms, Waterloo Residences are the right FIT for you!

Tired of dealing with your landlord?The University is your landlord, so you can look forward to a worry-free term. The cost of utilities is included and rent is paid right from your Quest account!

I got to go to a place that only a handful of people in the world have ever been to

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Behind the scenes...and making the most of itBy Avneet Dhillon

If you’re a young adult living in Canada, nothing influences your intake of pop culture quite like

MuchMusic. From live performances and interviews to the latest reality shows and music videos, MuchMusic has become the go-to music media source for youth across Canada.

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TALK IT OUT

Barbara Fagan, a 3B Arts and Business co-op student, was able to spend her third work term as a Marketing Intern for MuchMusic at CTV’s Queen Street headquarters in downtown Toronto.

Like most of us who only watch MuchMusic programming on television or online, Barbara was curious to find out how these productions were put together. She was surprised by how much smaller everything seemed in person. “You watch it on TV and it looks so professional,” she says. “Really it’s a small group of people putting together such a large thing. Everyone works really hard to get everything done.”

As part of that hard-working team, Barbara had to become “a good multi-tasker.” Her job required her to take on various responsibilities that changed and accumulated over time.

Barbara at her desk (with the castof Jersey Shore!)

After working in the marketing departments of two different companies during her previous work terms, Barbara decided she would seek out a job that would provide her with marketing experience from a different perspective.

Two of Barbara’s main responsibilities were contest execu-tion and link building. MuchMusic and MTV constantly have contests for concert tickets. If you’ve ever wondered how that lucky person gets chosen, look no further than the MuchMusic intern. In addition to creating rules and regulations for each of the contests, Barbara posted contests on Twitter and randomly selected the winners.

The link building Barbara completed involved promoting shows, as well as events MuchMusic is affiliated with, online on various websites. Although working at MuchMusic may seem much more exciting than your average office job, Barbara still had mundane tasks such as this to complete.

Link building could be considered the media world’s equivalent of data entry in the eyes of co-op students. As Barbara explains, “it’s very tedious - going online and trying to find fan sites, then contacting them to find out if they can promote MuchMusic.”

At one point early in the term, Barbara wasn’t very busy and her days consisted solely of link building. Rather than get stuck in this repetitive task, she decided to discuss the issue with her supervisors. After all, she managed to get a job at MuchMusic, now was the time she should be learning as much as she can from this great opportunity.

Barbara’s supervisors agreed: “They said they just didn’t realize I didn’t have more to do so they put more on my plate. After that it was much better, I like being kept busy. It makes the day go by faster and it’s more enjoyable.”

Barbara posing backstage with security

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MAKE CONNECTIONS

Barbara was able to reap the many benefits of working in a creative media environment like MuchMusic, but not just by attending free concerts. Barbara viewed this work term as a networking opportunity and, through the connections she made at MuchMusic, she already has interviews for her next work term with agencies around Toronto.

“One of my bosses has a friend who runs an internship program at a Marketing company in Toronto,” she says. “I asked him if he could ask his friend about an interview and that’s how it was set up.”

This will be the fourth Marketing-related work term for Barbara, who is interested in pursuing a career in advertising. As an Anthropology major in the Arts & Business program, many people did not understand why Barbara was completing these work terms in marketing departments. Based on her co-op experiences, Barbara decided to write her work report on how Anthropology can contribute to marketing.

“There are so many different explanations, but mostly it’s just about how in Anthropology you study people and you study how to get to know people. It’s so important in Marketing to know your audience and to know how to speak their language.”

Barbara with former VJ (and current reporter for CP24) Devon Soltendieck

Barbara with VJ Liz Trinnear

Friend of the Faculty Award 2010The Friend of the Faculty Award, created in 2005, was established “to provide tangible recognition to an individual, company, organization, group, or foundation for their support of the Faculty of Engineering.”

This year’s recipient of the prestigious award is the

Xerox Research Centre of Canada! This award recognizes the important role that the community plays in supporting the University of Waterloo and the Faculty of Engineering.

The XRCC team accepting the 2010 Friend of the Faculty Award

(The Waterloo Engineering awards were presented at the annual Faculty of Engineering dinner held on September 30).

Although Barbara worked in an unpaid position at MuchMusic, she received compensation in a different form. When I asked her what her favourite part of the job was, with a smile she simply replied with two words: “the perks.” As part of her job, Barbara was able to attend the MMVA’s, working backstage and spotting various celebrities. She attended the after party for that event, and she also received tickets to see Metric live in Toronto.

marketing experience under her belt. She also has some words of advice for students who may be losing hope in their own job search:

“Don’t be let down if you aren’t able to find a job through JobMine. People say finding a job is a full-time job. So you really have to try hard, use all the networks available to you and just go for it.” That’s exactly what Barbara did and things worked out pretty well for her.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Although Barbara was facing slim prospects when she first began the search for her third work term, she was able to delve into her personal network and now has a whole new

REALIZE THE RELEVANCE

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Character building in ChinaBy Avneet Dhillon

Hans Lin, a 2B Pharmacy student, began his studies at the new pharmacy school in 2009. During the course of his first work term at Costco Pharmacy in downtown Vancouver, he came across an opportunity with a charity called International China Concern (ICC), which drew him in immediately.

“International China Concern is a multi-national charity, which operates three orphanage projects in two provinces in China,” Hans says. This particular charity works with disabled children in the orphanages, by working in partnership with the Chinese government.

Although Hans was not working in a typical pharmacy work environment, he didn’t miss out on relevant learning experi-ences while in China. In fact, by travelling to the other side of the world, Hans was able to complete a work term that allowed him to expand his existing pharmacy knowledge in ways that may not have been possible anywhere else.

“I worked with a Swiss doctor and a Canadian neurologist, as well as local specialists in the hospital, and learned how anticonvulsants are used to manage children’s epilepsy,” he says. “Many children at ICC, who are born with cerebral palsy, suffer from epilepsy and must take antiepileptic medication for their whole lives.”

In 2008, the University of Waterloo launched Canada’s newest pharmacy program. Located in downtown Kitchener, it is the only co-op program for pharmacy in Canada. It offers students the unique opportunity of gathering significant work experience, relevant to the field of pharmacy, before graduation.

In the multifunctional children’s centre, Hans plays with one of the children on his last day of work. Location: Changsha, Hunan province, China.

Hans takes a break from working on a drug database and talks to some of the children.Location: Hengyang, Hunan province, China.

completed with an international telemedicine agency on a specific ICC child’s need for heart surgery. “We not only found a life-extending treatment option for his congenital heart disease,” he says, “but we also found adequate funding to cover his initial stage surgery.” The child went to Shanghai in October to receive this surgery that will potentially extend his life for years!

In addition to his pharmaceutical duties, Hans enjoyed getting to know the children in the orphanage and was elated to see his work directly influence children who would otherwise be left abandoned. He emphasizes the personal significance of completing such a work term.

“I believe the character-building component in a humanitarian co-op is extremely beneficial to a person’s long-term career choices,” he explains, “If you never try, you will never know how rewarding it can be.”

One of those great rewards was playing a part in extending a child’s life. Hans describes the work he

Besides the opportunity to contribute towards a humanitarian cause, another reason Hans decided to complete this work term in China is because he is fluent in the country’s official language, Mandarin, which he learned while growing up in Taiwan. He wants to tell others about his experience in order to point out the range of opportuni-ties for those who speak more than one language.

“I want to share my experience with others because I think that many of us don’t realize how much we can do with the skills we already have,” Hans explains. “Especially people with bilingual backgrounds – with a few years of university and work experience, they can make significant contributions at many charitable organizations abroad.” For his own co-op term, ICC truly valued Hans’ mix of linguistic skill and healthcare training, which allowed him to work easily with both foreign and local professionals.

This experience doesn’t just put a unique mark on a résumé, it has also changed the way Hans views his lifestyle and future career. As he explains, it “re-affirms [his] interest in direct patient care, specifically health care for those who desperately need it.” Clearly Hans’ decision to go to China has paid off in ways he could not have imagined, and he’ll benefit from the experience for years to come.

To find out more about International China Concern, visit their website and watch their documentary at http://english.chinaconcern.org/about/story

Planning an unpaid, international work term or volunteer experience? Apply for the Kavelman-Fonn International Experience Award. The award provides up to $10,000 to students who qualify. Learn more at http://safa.uwaterloo.ca/forms/main/Kavelman-Fonn.pdf

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Meet your Tatham Centre co-op students!

Back row: Amy Sinclair, Web Content Analyst; Swati Singh, Business Analyst; David Yin, Research Assistant; Jacky Au Duong, Marketing Associate; Ryan Pinto, Student & Faculty Relations Assistant; Faith Sales, Events Assistant; Sarah Wong, Web Developer

Front row: Neerija Kumar, Marketing Assistant; Susanna Lee, Employer Services Advisor; Monica Sasinouan, Employer Services Advisor; Nishanthan Logeswaran, JobMine Technical Support Representative; Avneet Dhillon, Media & Publications Associate

CECS Reminders...

Back row: Keri Freeman, PD5 Teaching/Program Assistant; Kevin Cheng, PD1 Teaching/Program Assistant; Amzad Hosein, PD1 Teaching/Program Assistant; Andrew Wallace, PD6 Teaching/Program Assistant; Matthew Faubert, PD4 Teaching/Program Assistant

Front row:Cathy Pham, PD1 Teaching/Program Assistant; Jonea Agwa, PD7 Teaching/Program Assistant; Leslie Ly, PD3 Teaching/Program Assistant; Wesley Anam, PD2 Teaching/Program Assistant

For Students on Co-op For Winter 2011 Co-op Students

Pre-Work Term InformationBe prepared for your work term before it begins. Review Section 7 of the Co-op Student Manual to make sure you’re ready.

Résumé PreparationGetting ready for another round of interviews? Get some résumé-writing tips from the Centre for Career Action’s website, or arrange a résumé critique appointment.

Employer Evaluation FormBe sure to let your supervisor know about the Employer’s Evaluation form and confirm your final working day.

Work ReportGet a head start on your work report! Check out Section 9 of the Co-op Student Manual and remember your faculty-specific due date.

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Taking Advantage of Co-opCareer Corner

By Avneet Dhillon

Jayne Hayden, Career CounsellorCentre for Career Action

At the Centre for Career Action (CCA) here in the Tatham Centre, we have a wonderful group of capable and well-informed career counsellors and advisors who offer assistance to all students at the University. For co-op students having difficulty with the job search process, the staff can be an invaluable resource.

Jayne Hayden is a Career Counsellor from CCA. The Inside sCo-op asked her some questions about this search process and she also provides advice to students on how to take advantage of their co-op experience.

IS: As a Career Counsellor, what types of complaints do you receive from students who are having trouble finding a job?

JH: “That it’s taking too long, they don’t know where to look or what to apply to that they’re qualified for, people aren’t getting back to them, they don’t have time to be looking on their own, they aren’t getting any interviews or any job offers, and they don’t think they have as much as their peers to offer employers. My advice is to add to your résumé by volunteering, taking on a part-time job, getting involved in clubs, etc.”

IS: Do you find that some students limit themselves in their job search?

JH: “Yes! Of course, this can take many forms.”

ONLY USING JOBMINE

JH: “I think co-op students limit themselves by only using JobMine to find their work term employment. If they have lots of great experience already, then there’s certainly more chance of them finding work via this process and less need to employ other job search methods. However, if they don’t have much experience and they know they’re competing against many fellow students with experience, they need to think about doing some searching outside JobMine as well. This means researching potential employers to approach and, likely of greater importance, networking. This doesn’t mean just talking to immediate family and friends. It is essential that they utilize ALL con-tacts in their network. This includes fellow students, profs, landlords, fellow club members (be they student clubs or fitness clubs where they work out), former managers or co-workers, etc. They need to get out there and make new contacts. It’s more work, but it can mean the difference between finding a co-op job and ending up without one.”

NOT TAILORING RÉSUMÉS

JH: “I also still see students who don’t realize the critical importance of sending focused, tailored résumés to pro-spective employers. It’s not about giving them everything you’ve done in the past but, rather, what you can select from your past that would be relevant and of interest to THIS employer. That means understanding what this em-ployer would value, and ensuring that that is included and emphasized in the résumé. If an employer does not quickly and easily see the kinds of skills, knowledge and experi-ence they are looking for, then it is very likely that they will pass over this document and move on to the next student. Of course, we in CCA firmly believe in cover letters as well. Want to stand out from the crowd? Include (among other things) a well-researched and well-written cover letter!”

LIMITING LOCATIONS

JH: “There are those students who don’t want to stray far from their hometown location. There are some terrific jobs with organizations in locations further away, and they are doing themselves a disservice limiting their search to ‘local’ jobs.”

BEING TOO PICKY

JH: “Some students see many of the jobs being offered as beneath them. You have to start somewhere, learn how to work effectively in a variety of work environments and cultures, and make a good impression. I would say that at the very least, the vast majority of available jobs for co-op students offer valuable experience and opportunity to learn about organization environments and cultures (and which ones they might thrive in or not), important aspects of professional etiquette and ethics, as well as a broad range of transferable skills - critical in today’s job market. It is likely they will also offer some opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in their chosen field.”

IS: If a student is absolutely sure about the kind of career they want, should they still only seek that one job type for their work terms?

JH: “It’s difficult to answer, but I would encourage them to perhaps try at least one work term in another area. I think that in order to truly determine if a chosen path is really a good one to pursue, students should experiment with other areas. When this happens, sometimes they do find that their original choice isn’t as good as they thought – and they’re thankful they realized it before they committed to it completely.”