Name: Paige Lutz
Year: 4
Company/Firm: Public Services and Procurement Canada
Co-op Position & Duration: Procurement Officer — 8 months

When it comes to the recruitment process, make sure to definitely study up on the government department, what they do, and have real-life scenarios ready to use to answer interview questions. The interview questions will align very well with the skills laid out in the job ad. There was also a written component of the interview, so having professional writing skills is important.

Things that helped secure my co-op placement include reading the instructions carefully when applying to the job advertisement, having good interview skills (including having examples from my past work that I could apply to answer their questions), and being confident! A panel interviewed me, so it was important to make a good impression, be friendly, never be afraid to ask questions, and think about everything before I said it.

Also, the culture at PSPC is amazing. It is very group-oriented and everyone was willing to help and/or answer my questions. I worked with people of different ages, including fresh graduates who were friendly and included me in everything they did. It was very fun and an awesome learning environment — not a stiff, cold workplace like some people imagine government jobs to be! The procurement process is taught to you from scratch and training lasts the first four months of the placement, so definitely use that time to your advantage and don't be afraid to put yourself out there!

Name: Tianyou Zheng
Year: 5+
Company/Firm: RBC
Co-op Position & Duration: Client Advisor — 4 months

Be assertive and active in your job search! This, along with showcasing strong communication and quantitative skills, truly helped me secure my placement as a client advisor at RBC. I really enjoyed my four-month co-op term with them because it provided me with opportunities to continue to work on my confidence and interpersonal skills. In addition, the company culture was focused on professional growth and continuous development, which goes to show that the people I worked with helped me learn on the job and be able to apply all what I have learned in the classroom.

Name: Carter Gauf
Year: 4
Company/Firm: Enbridge
Co-op Position & Duration: Regulatory Affairs Strategic Management Co-op Student - 8 months

​​When you are answering questions be: honest, yourself, detailed, charismatic, direct, and presentable. Previous job experience in a management position, volunteer work, and persistence helped me to land this position. Everyone at Enbridge is very outgoing and loves their career! Lots of space for collaboration and team bonding. Expect a steep learning curve and try to be a sponge for new information.