About the program
Gain a competitive edge in the job market as you embark on full-time paid work terms with our network of industry partners. Put your knowledge to the test, develop sought-after skills, and build a valuable professional network that will open doors to exciting career prospects.
Co-op Education is a structured way of learning that combines your in class learning with periods of actual work. This work experience is called a Co-op work term. During your time in the Co-op Program, you will have opportunities to network with employers, develop your employability skills and gain valuable, paid work experience in your chosen field.
View our brochure to see an overview of the program.
Once you are accepted into the Co-op Program, you will gain access to our professional development training course, which is a blend of online and in-person workshops.
The training covers how to utilize your academics, work or volunteer experience, as well as, extracurriculars to highlight your abilities to employers. Some topics covered include:
- Competencies
- Resumes
- Cover Letters
- Networking
- Job Search
- Interviews
- Professional Conduct and more!
Over the course of the year, the Co-op Program hosts on campus events to bring you and industry together. Each year events are adapted to suit the needs of the students.
These events could include:
- Employer Panels: Panels featuring employers who have participated in the co-op program can provide valuable insights into what companies look for in co-op students, what to expect during a co-op placement, and how to succeed in the workplace.
- Resume Workshops and Mock Interviews: Workshops focusing on resume writing, cover letter crafting, and interview preparation can help co-op students polish their job application materials and enhance their interview skills. Mock interviews may also be conducted to provide students with practical experience and feedback.
- Co-op Job Fairs: These events bring together employers seeking co-op students and students looking for co-op placements. Job fairs allow students to explore a variety of opportunities, network with potential employers, and possibly secure co-op placements or summer internships.
In recent years, Co-op students had presentations from these organizations:
- Enterprise Mobility
- RBC
- Canada Life
- Deloitte
- IG Wealth Management
View our Year in Review for an overview of the events hosted last year.
“At the Applied Computer Science networking event, I actually spoke to the person who ended up interviewing me at Richardson International, so that was obviously fantastic!” – Nicole Van Hove, 4 year ACS & BBA, Student Software Developer, Richardson International Ltd.
As a Co-op student, you will gain access to our job listings and can apply for the positions that interest you. The Co-op Program does not apply for positions on your behalf. All Co-op positions are full-time paid positions that last 12-18 weeks.
Once you accept a position, you will experience what it will be like to work in your chosen field. You will get to discover what you like about the work that you are doing and possibly what you do not like. There are times that students realize that their stream is not what they envisioned or it may be that it is perfect. In other words, you get to ‘test-drive’ your career in your university experience. Knowing this early helps you choose the required courses in the upcoming terms, and formulate the career path that is right for you.
“It’s been an excellent placement; I’m getting hands-on experience related to my degree, performing accounting functions.” – Kevin Schaeffer, 4 year BBA, Accounting Operations, Indigenous Services Canada
Developing workplace skills is an important element of advancing your career long before graduation. With Co-op, you are able to gain important skills and build a robust resume. This helps edge out the competition and ensure a successful transition into the job market. In the case of professional designations, like CPA, the months of work experience can count towards your designation. For CPA specifically, up to 12 months of work experience from Co-op positions can count towards the needed 30 months of work experience for the designation.
82% of UWinnipeg Co-op students who are employed through the Co-op Program secure full-time positions in their field post-graduation.
"I am very thankful that I have the job I have and I absolutely love it!" says Terina Ingram, Civil Service Commission as an HR Consultant. "If it were not for the Co-op Program, I would not be where I am today!"