Co-operative Education Program Co-operative education (co-op) is a unique plan of education that integrates classroom study with planned and supervised career-related work experience. Students are employed on or off campus as paid or nonpaid co-op students and receive academic credit for their work experience. Co-op opportunities are not available for all majors. The purpose of the program is to develop and strengthen students’ academic, personal and career preparation. Co-op placements enable employers to provide feedback that assists the college in preparing students for work. To Apply for a Co-op at CCAC, a Student Must Have: • Completed at least 30 college credits with at least 12 credits in his/her major prior to the co-op semester • Maintained a quality point average of 2.5 or above • Met the appropriate department’s criteria How to Apply for a Co-op at CCAC • CO-OP INTERVIEW : Schedule an appointment with Career Services. At this interview, possible types of positions will be discussed, your questions will be answered about the program and your resume will be reviewed. • APPLICATION : Complete all sections of the application. • FACULTY RECOMMENDATION FORM : Fill out only the top portion of the form as it will be submitted to the co-op faculty representative for further completion. • RESUME : Prepare a professional resume using Microsoft Office Word. For assistance with your resume and to have it approved, contact Career Services to make an appointment or refer to the Develop Resume section of this manual. • CO-OP LISTINGS : Research potential co-op locations on company websites and on page 9. • TRANSCRIPT : Obtain an unofficial up-to-date transcript at www.ccac.edu. • REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT : You must register and pay for the credits earned in a co-op just as you would for any other course.
You can learn a great deal about how successful businesses operate and apply these practices to future positions. In addition, you learn to show up for work regularly, be on time, dress appropriately and perform assigned tasks. Obtaining a part-time position in your field of study will be an advantage to you. It can increase your understanding of classroom material by providing real-life situations. For example, working as a physical therapist aide will increase your knowledge and understanding of a physical therapist assistant job and provide a better understanding of classroom information. Your development of transferable skills—including manners, appropriate behavior, conflict resolution, customer service, communication, leadership and administrative abilities—can all be practiced and improved with your part-time job. Work-Study Work-study is a program sponsored by the Department of Labor that encourages students to work part time on or off campus. For eligibility and more information, check with your campus Financial Aid office. Internships Internships provide opportunities for students to work for employers to gain career-related experience. This opportunity seeks to relate classroom learning with application in a professional work environment. Academic credit is not received for internships; however, valuable work experience can be gained. It is recommended that the internship be a minimum of 150 hours of work for the employer. Students should check company and job posting websites for internship opportunities several months prior to anticipated start dates. Organizations are increasingly using internships as a main source of recruitment. It is a cost effective way for a company to assess your skills and compatibility while considering whether to extend a job offer. Remember to have a Career Services professional review your resume before you apply.
12 CCAC Job Search Manual
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