I have my interview for co-op tomorrow and was wondering what questions they usually ask. If anyone has been through this and can tell me about the process that would be great. Also, when do they usually let you know if you've been accepted into the program?

Hm I'll go look for my coop stuff, but in general you should have good answers to the following:

What are your strengths? weaknesses?
Whats one example where you faced a challenge and how did you deal with it?

Sometimes there are behavioral questions, such as what is your favourite ____, if you could be any animal, etc... these are supposed to be brought up at random to catch you off guard to see how you deal with unconventional situations or whatnot.

Then depending on the position you're going in for, the questions will get technical. Most employers will teach you what you need to know while only requiring a small background, so its mostly based on being able to do the basics, and watching you problem solve, or interact with them. HR interviewers are going to just be concerned with how you get along with them.

Don't remember all the questions but they will definitely ask you why you want to be in the co-op program. They also ask if you ae willing to relocate (and you answer yes to this). They may ask the standard interview questions such as give weaknesses and/or strengths, what do you want to do with your life etc.

You find out if you got in when you select courses for next year if i remember correctly. Basically if you show you are interested in the program and your marks are above the cutoff then you should be good.

Originally Posted by Giygas

You find out if you got in when you select courses for next year if i remember correctly. Basically if you show you are interested in the program and your marks are above the cutoff then you should be good.

What are you talking about, you get informed on OSCAR or via email? Or coops drastically different in each faculty?

Originally Posted by RyanC

What are you talking about, you get informed on OSCAR or via email? Or coops drastically different in each faculty?

In the faculty of science you have to apply and interview to be accepted in to the coop program.

I hope it's by email. I doesn't seem realistic to make us wait until we choose courses.

Hey mines tmrw too, I assume it's going to about what you know about the program, what you want to gain from it, how to be a responsible student, what kinda of job you want etc.

Its when you get the interview with the employer that it becomes a way bigger deal. Research the company, have ur tricky answers prepared (worst ques ever: Name a time you failed.)

I think that if you've had a successful interview in the past, then the co-op one tmrw should go well

Originally Posted by Lizliz

I hope it's by email. I doesn't seem realistic to make us wait until we choose courses.

I think it is by email actually. I got the offer email May 17 last year.

Originally Posted by Giygas

I think it is by email actually. I got the offer email May 17 last year.

ur in math n stats as well? can u give us any tips for our interviews tmrw?

Ignore what I said till you get an actual interview.

What they're looking for are students who will take the coop seriously and will make the school look decent. Focus on knowing why you're taking what you're taking, what you hope to get out of coop, what job experience you have that demonstrates carrying through with things, writing ability, and interpersonal skills. I'm assuming you're competing for a limited amount of spots (rather than this just being a means to filter out the unworthy)!

Originally Posted by Melanieee

ur in math n stats as well? can u give us any tips for our interviews tmrw?

In terms of the questions, I really can't remember. Mostly the standard interview questions plus why you want to be in the co-op program. I'm pretty sure my interview was about 10 minutes. I think they just want to know you will represent the school well on a work term. I recommend googling interview questions and have some answers ready. Make sure you are really positive about the program. Talk about how the experience will help you to be better prepared for the working world if you can get value work experience while you are a student.

Other advice for math/stats co-op:
If you can, take stats 3A03 next year to learn SAS. Otherwse try to learn it yourself this summer (even if you are in the math stream) because so many of the jobs require this.
If you don't have any programming experience you should take an introductory course first term next year (comp sci 1MD3).

Good luck!

Originally Posted by RyanC

Ignore what I said till you get an actual interview.

What they're looking for are students who will take the coop seriously and will make the school look decent. Focus on knowing why you're taking what you're taking, what you hope to get out of coop, what job experience you have that demonstrates carrying through with things, writing ability, and interpersonal skills. I'm assuming you're competing for a limited amount of spots (rather than this just being a means to filter out the unworthy)!

Thanks! I have an interview for a field placement tomorrow, while it's different than coop, I'll take that into consideration tomorrow.

Suit up, walk in like a total boss, answer all technical questions and leave without looking back, wait 2-3 weeks for offer, then nod like a boss.

Hey, it worked for me.

The questions I was asked for my Chem Bio Coop Interview last week:

• what qualities do you possess that you think employers are looking for?
• what qualities do you have that make you a good coop candidate
• provide an example of when you demonstrated (one of the qualities that you've mentioned above)
• will you be willing to relocate to another province?
• from <specific job i had on my resume>, what did you learn from it?
• how did you hear about the coop program, and when did you decide you wanted to go into it?
• any questions for the interviewer?

I don't remember the questions specifically, but those were the general questions i was asked.

I had my co-op interview 2 weeks ago and you shouldn't be nervous about it. It was very informal and I didn't dress totally formal.

The question the interviewer (Michelle) asked me was VERY personalized, be expected to answer question regarding things on your CV or your application. The question that was always asked (between me and my friends who were also interviewed) was "are you willing to relocated?".

She also said we'd be informed whether we get into co-op or not at the end of May/early June.

Good luck!