Name: Jaskaran Singh
Year: 4
Company/Firm: Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)
Co-op Position & Duration: Investment Finance, Co-op Student — 8 months

It is important to understand the culture and core values of the firm you are interviewing for. It is also key to go through the job description thoroughly to understand both the qualitative and quantitative skills the company is looking for in a candidate. Also, prepare for the interview well.

AIMCo thrives on the five values of excellence, transparency, humility, integrity, and collaboration. It is therefore key to always take initiative and not be afraid to ask for help. As a student, you are still at a learning stage and mentors/managers are there to guide through your co-op term. Having strong accounting knowledge, previous work experience in the financial industry, as well as extracurricular activities, is important.

Name: Kseniya Kataeva
Year: 3
Company/Firm: Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC)
Co-op Position & Duration: Finance Co-op Student — 8 months

The recruitment process at EEDC was very straightforward — it only consisted of a one-stage interview. I would recommend to be yourself when interviewing. As far as working at EEDC, the atmosphere is very friendly and accepting. As a result, I fit in very well with the team culture. It is important to ask questions when you get stuck or disagree with something and to take on any challenge. 

Name: Mason Franklin
Year: 5+
Company/Firm: TD Bank
Co-op Position & Duration: Commercial Intern — 12 months

When I went through TD Bank’s recruitment process, there were three different interviewers, so try to make sure that you are comfortable with some not finding you as charismatic. As for the interview questions, they didn’t ask too many overly technical questions and mostly just wanted to see if I was eager to learn. The few that they did ask were fairly straightforward. Try to bring in examples from all portions of your life (work, school, volunteer experience, etc.) to answer their questions, as they most likely want a well rounded person.

I ran a painting business the summer prior to my first co-op term with the bank. I think they liked the initiative that showed. Also, I bonded well with my boss during the interview. Apparently he didn’t care as much about my grades. I was provided the opportunity to come back to this job for an additional 8 months after my first 4 month term. I really made sure to always talk about my future there which helped bring up the idea that it could be something permanent after school. Now, I have a returning job offer.

I really connected well with the entire team. The culture at TD Bank is very welcoming and everyone was always willing to help. Whenever I messed up, I was shown ways to improve.

Name: Jensen Wong
Year: 5+
Company/Firm: Neo Financial
Co-op Position & Duration: Quality Assurance/Engineering Intern - 8 months

Show genuine interest in what the company goals are and show how you can help them achieve their goals in the position you are applying for. My coding and programming skills help me secure this placement. Neo Financial’s work culture is collaborative, fast paced, challenging and there are long hours. Remember to only apply for a position that requires programming skills if you have it. There is not much handholding working at a startup. 

Name: Sean Roemer
Year: 5+

Company/Firm: IRISNDT
Co-op Position & Duration: Administrative Analyst — 4 months

To start off, if you know someone who may help you get a job, let them know you are looking. They could have connections with people who work at the company/firm that you are interested in. With this being said, I actually secured this position through my personal network. As well, it is important to find a mentor early on. Make sure to determine your career interests and discuss them with your mentor. If your initial supervisor doesn't seem interested, try to find someone else.

Some of the things that helped me succeed in my posting at IRISNDT was my ability to integrate into changing teams and work long hours with lots of overtime. Make sure to seek out work if things get slow. In addition, it is important to stay focused on remaining profitable. People work long hours all year round to ensure that the company can remain profitable.

Company/Firm: Northwest Redwater Partnership
Co-op Position & Duration: Finance Intern — 8 months

When it comes to the recruitment process, it is also worthwhile to get to know the company core values and mission statement. Make sure to speak at a normal pace during the interview and don't be too robotic. In addition, having proficiency in Microsoft Excel is key as well as being able to work independently.

The culture at Northwest Redwater Partnership was very inclusive. People at NWR are quite informal and like to chat when they have free time. NWR has a culture of caring for its employees and anyone on its plant site. High level management takes an interest in the work of all employees. It is important to come out of your shell, so don't be afraid to chat with people. If you don't know something, ask questions. If you haven't worked as part of a finance team before it is likely you won't understand the language unless you ask.

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: Thomas Cassie
Year: 5+

Company/Firm: Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)
Co-op Position & Duration: eBusiness Help Desk Analyst — 4 months

For my placement at the WCB, some of the key skills that are important in this placement are knowledge of technology and computer skills. In addition to having these skills, being able to communicate and be friendly were other things that helped me secure this position. The people I worked with at the WCB were friendly, helpful, and supportive. The culture there was very team-based.

Company/Firm: City of Edmonton
Co-op Position & Duration: Continuous Improvement Analyst — 8 months

When going through the City of Edmonton’s recruitment process, be prepared to go through a short case interview. Be yourself, and have a public- and shared-asset mindset. Customer experience and consulting skills are a great asset for an applicant to the CoE. The working environment at can be described as friendly, accepting, and having a citizen-first mentality.