Cooperative Education

Calendar > CCIS Co-op Cycle

Cooperative education consists of three phases: Preparation, Activity, and Reflection. The CCIS co-op cycle runs year-round. Event locations and times will be announced here as rooms are confirmed.

Preparation

In order to be "cleared" for co-op, all students must complete the co-op preparation process. Some parts of the process are slightly different depending on your year in school and when you begin, but fundamentally the steps are all the same. They consist of:

1. The co-op preparation course
2. The First Formal Interview
3. Final Clearance

Below, each of these steps are described in detail.

Step 1: The Co-op Prep Course

During the co-op preparation course, we will cover the following topics:

•	How the co-op cycle works in CCIS (and how to survive it!)
•	How to build an effective "technical" resume
•	How to write an effective cover letter and references
•	How to survive the various kinds of interviews you'll encounter in the CS/IS field
•	Professional and ethical behavior in the workplace
•	How to use the Co-op Opportunities Online (COOL) database, networking contacts, and other methods to find a job
•	What employers want, what Co-op Faculty Coordinators expect, and what you'll get out of the whole process

In addition, you'll have an opportunity to chat with upperclass students who've been on co-op before at our Student Panel. We also have an Employer Panel so you can hear all about co-op from the employers themselves.

For Freshmen, the prep course is actually two courses during your first year: CS U221 (Computer Science Overview 1) during the Fall, and CS U222 (Computer Science Overview 2) during the Spring. Overview 1 is intended to help you get acclimated to Northeastern, CCIS, and the computer/information science field. In Overview 2 we will spend most of our time on co-op preparation.

For new transfer students who begin school during the Fall semester, you will need to complete your preparation quickly, because some of you will begin co-op the summer after your first year. You must take CS U223 (Co-op Preparation), and finish Steps 2 and 3 below by the end of the Spring semester.

For new transfer students who begin school during the Spring semester, you can take CS U222 (Computer Science Overview 2) along with the freshmen. Just remember: you'll probably go on co-op sooner than them, so you'll need to finish Steps 2 and 3 below by the end of the Spring semester!

Step 2: The "First Formal Interview"

In this 30-minute one-on-one meeting with your assigned Faculty Coordinator, we will discuss your co-op and career plans, check up on your preparation so far, and perform a brief "mock interview" to test your interviewing skills. The First Formal Interview should ideally be completed by the start of your second year.

Click here for details about the First Formal Interview.

Step 3: "Final Clearance"

In this meeting, we will perform the "final check" to make sure you're ready to go on co-op. You can only do Final Clearance during the semester before you go on co-op. After Clearance, your job search can officially begin.

Click here for details about the Final Clearance meeting.

Activity

The Activity stage of the co-op cycle encompasses what most students think of as co-op: getting a job. However, Activity is much more than this. The process of the job search itself is an interactive experience which teaches students the necessary skills that will help them in all future job searches. The Activity phase does not end once you've gotten the job. In addition to gaining technical experience, students on co-op will learn the skills of long-term career management, including:

•	How to interact with co-workers and supervisors.
•	How to move vertically or laterally within the company to get new and better experiences.
•	How to manage conflict and office politics.
•	How to network.

Group Meeting for Students Seeking New Assignments

All students who are planning to seek their first co-op assignment, or students who have been on co-op before but wish to change to a new company, must attend this meeting. In this meeting, we will discuss the current state of the job market, strategies and expectations for the job search, and we will review how to use the COOL database.

Click here for dates and times for the next upcoming Seeking New Assignments meeting.

The Job Search

Click here for the next upcoming resume referral dates.

Once you've been cleared, and attended the Seeking New Assignments meeting, you may then begin job searching. Your resume will be "referred" out to employers by the co-op faculty, based on your skills, employability, and choices. The following are the usual steps of this process:

•	Search the database for jobs which interest you. You must sign up by the signup deadline in order for your resume to be referred out on time.
•	Wait. The employers will call or email you for interviews if they're interested. Be sure your voice mail greetings are appropriately professional, and/or keep a pen and paper by the phone to write down interview details. Check your messages frequently.
•	If you get called for an interview, ask the following questions:
	Who will I be interviewing with?
	What job is this for?
	What kind of interview will it be?
	hould I bring anything to the interview?
	What is the date, time, and location of the interview?
•	Decide whether you want to attend the interview. We strongly encourage all students to accept any interview invitation, even if it's for a job they're not interested in, because the employer may be willing to consider the student for other opportunities. If you decide not to accept the invitation, politely decline the employer. If do accept, verify that you'll be coming at the expected date and time.
•	Talk to your faculty coordinator. Keep him or her apprised of your progress throughout the job search.
•	Before each interview, request a "letter of referral" to take to the interview, which verifies that you're available for co-op.
•	In addition to the referral letter, you may wish to bring extra copies of your resume, a list of 3-5 references, and a transcript to the interview, in case the employer requests them.
•	After the interview, wait again. It is generally acceptable to follow up with the employer by email after 1 week.

Repeat steps 5-8 as many times as necessary. You should also search for jobs through networking and other job searching methods

As your job search progresses, if you're not getting interviews or job offers, your faculty coordinator will help you modify your job search strategies.

If you get a job offer, request the salary, job title, and supervisor's name. Then ask for time to think about it, if that's possible. You may wish to discuss the offer with your faculty coordinator first, or wait for other offers if you're expecting them. Remember, however, ONCE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED AN OFFER, EVEN VERBALLY, YOU CANNOT "RENEGE" ON IT!

Once you have accepted the offer,

•	Confirm the start date with your employer
•	Notify your faculty coordinator immediately
•	Politely notify other employers that you are no longer available
•	Complete the co-op agreement and any other necessary paperwork with your co-op faculty coordinator
•	Start work!

Working

Once you've gotten the job, you must work at least six months with that employer before you can consider changing jobs. You can work longer than six months if the available positions still meet your academic and career objectives; many students choose to work with the same co-op employer until graduation, and sometimes even after.

Your faculty coordinator is a resource with whom you can discuss issues and concerns you encounter while on the job. If you have problems which you are unable to resolve through discussion with your supervisor, contact your faculty coordinator.

Reflection

Your last day of work is not the end of your learning. The Reflection stage encourages you to think back on your experience to understand what you've learned, and to begin applying this knowledge toward your academic study and future career goals.

The Evaluation

In order to receive a grade for co-op, all students must complete a series of evaluations and attend the co-op Reflection Meeting.

Reflection Meeting

At the start of the academic semester right after co-op, all students who have been on co-op must attend a Reflection Meeting (also called the "Returning From Co-op Meeting"). At this meeting, we will discuss what you and other students learned from your co-op experiences, changes in the job market, and relevant policies and procedures. Bring your employer evaluation to this meeting, if possible. See the Calendar meeting page for the next upcoming date and time.

The Status Form

The last step, before you begin the cycle again, is the Co-op Job Status Form, which is how you notify your faculty coordinator of your plans for the next co-op period. Due dates will be announced at the Reflection Meeting.