COOP 2000H: Foundations for Co-op Success  
Sabrina Kuipers, CCDP, CCS
Careerspace, Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.)  

The world of work is changing rapidly, and the career development field is evolving in response.  

In COOP-2000H, course instructor Sabrina Kuipers shares methods with students on how to effectively prepare for long-term career success. According to her, career development extends beyond mere selection of a major or job. It entails the holistic development of an individual and is an ongoing, lifelong process. 

“In the career development field, we are seeing a shift from employment to employability and a clear need for jobseekers to be able to upskill and articulate their value to ensure they have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to market their unique skills and experience to employers, and ultimately succeed in the workplace.” 

In recent years, employers have expressed a strong desire to hire candidates with strong transferable ‘soft’ skills such as critical thinking, communication, and adaptability, and this view is echoed through hiring trends in our labour market. 

With Trent’s growth of co-op program offerings in 2022 the need for a foundational co-operative education course was clear. COOP 2000H, launched in May 2023, aims to prepare students in 17 new co-op programs across the Humanities, Social Sciences, and School of Business for the recruitment process and the workplace ahead of their first work terms.  

This course will introduce co-op students to the field of career development, allowing them to utilize career concepts and theories to engage in a deep reflective process about their own academic and career journey, and develop increasingly important soft skills to ensure that students enter diverse workplaces prepared. As career development research is constantly changing, current research and readings have been selected to ensure that students will be learning about the latest trends and practices aligned with the evolving career landscape. 

Direct application to recruitment process and workplace  

With an increase in non-linear career paths and employers desiring candidates with strong transferable skills, there needed to be a focus on preparing students for what they will encounter in the recruitment process and workplace. Course assignments focus on every aspect of the recruitment process: creating targeted application materials, acing a professional job interview, networking across digital platforms, and reflecting on and articulating career goals and work values.  

Ramya, a second year Economics Co-op student was part of the first cohort to take this new course. “This course explores beyond just resume and interview tips: it teaches one about how different personality types are suited for certain jobs, how important job strategies and career planning are, and provides scholarly articles on job search and career readiness. The easy-to-understand lecture videos and a super approachable professor made taking this course online so accessible and comfortable. It helps you grow as a person and as a student seeking a co-op opportunity.” 

Secondary research into 14 different pre-requisite co-op and career courses at 11 diverse post-secondary institutions in Ontario was completed to ensure this course met the needs of students as they prepare for the job market. Primary research was also conducted through meetings with Course Creators & Instructors at McMaster University and Brock University. Furthermore, meetings with co-op staff from the University of Waterloo and Toronto Metropolitan University occurred to gain additional insight.  

Students complete vocational assessments, focus on self-reflection and self-advocacy, and learn about transferable skills, job search strategies, resumes, cover letters, interview skills, LinkedIn, networking, workplace culture, and workplace professionalism. Discussions of equity, diversity, and inclusion as they relate to the workplace will also be present with different student services on campus being featured in the course to highlight how they can support co-op students including Consent at Trent, Student Accessibility Services, and Trent International.  

Learn more about co-op programs at Trent University.