bcit cst/cit alternatives to coop program
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BCIT School of Computing Alternatives to the Co-op ProgramTRANSCRIPT
Alternatives to the Coop Program
by Joseph Hou !
Information Systems CST 4A
Knowledge is Power!
You don’t need to be in the official co-op program to get a
co-op job.
Companies hire people based on their assessment of your ability.
Communication
Skills & Background
Networking
26%
51%
23%
Accepted into CoopDid Not ApplyApplied/Not Accepted
58%
38%
Spring vs Fall Coop Admission
Spring 2012Fall 201169 Students (3 sets CST)161 Students (7 sets CST/CIT)
Hypothesis
A lot of students are academically qualified to get a coop job but the Co-op Program does not offer any assistance.
Success Stories
Lynn
Marco
Advantages of doing co-op
Students with co-op experience get jobs faster after graduation
Usually at better companies
Get paid more
More interesting work
Am I qualified?You’re probably not going to get a high-level position right away.
You’re more likely to get an entry-level position such as QA tester, tech support, system admin.
It usually takes a few months before a company trusts you enough to promote you to more interesting projects.
How do I get a co-op job?
Apply to a lot of companies asap, and keep applying.
Aim for 30 companies in first month.
Bigger companies first, then smaller companies.
Network & make connections.
How to get a developer job
It helps if you have already developed something good or you have a good friend on the inside.
Algorithm questions in the interview
For mobile app jobs, demo your app(s) at the interview, discuss downloads & user ratings, UI, etc.
How much do I get paid?
$16-25/hr
You can try to negotiate
It’s only a 4-8 month contract
Top Lists of Companies in BC
Top 100 Tech Companies in BC
Top 100 Most Profitable Companies
Top 100 Growth Companies
Top Web Development Companies
My Resume & Cover Letter
Coop Placement
0
7.5
15
22.5
30
Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013
1722
184
2
9810
2624
Got Job No Job
Why the placement rate is low
“Students are not trying hard enough” - Co-op office / Computing Faculty
Students want better jobs
Increased competition from other schools coop programs
Limited number of entry-level positions
Caveats
If you are not in coop, you still have to take Projects (COMP 2910) in May.
Time management is crucial.
Organization & Drive.
What if I don’t get a job?
The job hunt experience is valuable.
The more you do it, the better you get at it.
Networking: Meeting people, learning about companies.
What do you have to offer?
