"When I applied for Co-op a few semesters ago, little did I expect that my second language would help me to secure a placement at the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour," recalled Vic Chawla, a second year Business student.

"The employer wanted to hire an Employment Standards Officer to contact farm employers and employees regularly to ensure that they were in compliance with the Employment Standards Act.  The position required a Punjabi-speaking student as a majority of the clients speak Punjabi.  I was hired because I could speak the language and possessed the necessary qualifications."

"My job is enjoyable and challenging.  I love the richness of my duties, from auditing payrolls to educating farm workers to investigating wage complaints.  People are very friendly and helpful.  I enjoy a mentor-protégé relationship with a lot of the senior staff.  However, dealing with conflicting interests while conducting wage complaints and collecting evidence is the most challenging task.  Sometimes clients do not welcome my presence.  It is imperative to listen to both sides and to be neutral while avoiding being influenced by external factors."

"The work term helped me a lot with my verbal and written skills.  Thanks to the auditing function, I am now more detail-oriented and meticulous.  It has also made my perspective clearer by combining work experiences with classroom studies.  The Co-op staff is extremely helpful and are always available for help.  I appreciated their full support because they went over and beyond from just answering questions to providing insightful advice."

"I encourage my fellow students to enrol in the Co-op program.  It is a great way to help students achieve success in their fields of study and to gain work experience in different fields and to assist with career opportunities.  Free services such as resume workshops and helpful advisors on campus are valuable assets in ensuring that students meet their goals.  More importantly, students must keep trying and never give up as a lost opportunity is a chance to grab another."