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Co-op & Career Centre

Next Steps

Congratulations on joining York's Co-op Program! Your next step is to get prepared for your job search, connect with employers and make use of the resources and support available to you. Follow this guide to understand what to do now, what to expect during your job search and how to make the most of your co-op experience.

Let's get started.

Quick Links

Confirm your co-op enrolment
Getting started on the right foot means understanding what you’ve committed to as a Co-op student. Take time to confirm your enrolment, review the Co-op requirements and make sure you understand the expectations that will help you stay eligible and successful throughout the program.

  • Job board access: Log in to the Experience York Co-op Portal. If you don’t see any jobs, contact us via Drop-ins or send an email to askcoop@yorku.ca.
    • International students: On April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the rules applicable to international students who wish to parti-cipate in university approved student work placements, commonly referred to as "co-ops" or "internships". To be eligible, international students must be registered in York University's Co-op Program and hold a valid study permit that includes the conditionthat says you're allowed to work "on campus". With this condition, work placements can be obtained on or off campus. A separate co-op work permit is not required. For more information, visit the IRCC website, or contact the International Student Advising and Immigration Specialist Team.

NOTE: LA&PS Students must complete the Co-op Preparation Micro-Credential before you can begin job searching. You must complete the mandatory modules (estimate 2-4 hours), including the Final Course Survey in the final module in order to have the micro-credential marked as completed and gain access to the job board. 

Prepare for your job search
The strongest job searches start before you begin applying. Use this time to build your resume, strengthen your cover letter, practise introducing yourself and develop the skills and confidence you’ll need to present yourself to employers.

The Co-op & Career Centre offer a range of supports to help you with this step:

Start your job search
Finding a co-op opportunity takes time, persistence and a willingness to apply broadly. Start early, apply consistently and remember that every application is an opportunity to learn more about what employers are looking for and what you want from your work experience.

Successful co-op students aer actively applying to jobs throughout the term. It's not something that gets done all at once over one weekend. We encourage you to set time in your schedule each week to browse new job postings and then set additional time to work on customizing your cover letter and resume to submit your application.

Book an appointment to get 1:1 support from your Co-op Coordinator with applications and your job search strategy.

Meet employers
A co-op job search is about more than submitting applications. Connecting directly with employers through information sessions, networking events and recruitment activities can help you learn about opportunities, build relationships and stand out from other applicants.

Fill in your calendar with experiences and events that build connections. Simply applying to jobs online is only one way to secure a position. Enhance your chances of securing a co-op and stand out byconnecting with employers directly to learn more about the organization and opportunities through attending virtual and in person events.

View events in the following places:

  • Co-op Portal Events Calendar – These events are not public.
    • To register and view dates,you will need to log-in to Experience York
      • Go to 'Co-op & Internship Program'
      • Go to 'My Co-op & Internship Program'
      • Go to 'Co-op Events'
  • Faculty event calendars also have a lot of great events, including hackathons such as YEC, Industry Nights, UN Hack and more!
  • The Co-op & Career Centre offers many opportunities for you to meet and network with employers.

To be successful connecting with employers, consider registering for upcoming Job Search & Networking Strategies workshops.

We're here to help
You don’t have to figure out your job search on your own. The Co-op team, peers and career resources are here to help you build your strategy, strengthen your applications, prepare for interviews and work through challenges along the way. Your co-op experience is about more than securing a work term — it’s also an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and build your professional community. Connect with your peers, mentors and Co-op ambassadors to ask questions, share experiences and make the most of your time in the program.

  • Access the Job Search Resources lesson on the Co-op Preparatory Course (eClass) and begin your job search preparation training! Within the class, you will be able to access a variety of resources, guides, FAQs, videos and articles to support your job search.
  • Attend a Drop-in session and discuss in a group setting or ask to be in a Break-Out Room with a Co-op Coordinator to:
    • discuss your specific job search strategy and ask for advice or resources
    • have your resume reviewed for feedback
    • have your cover letter reviewed for feedback
    • practice your 20-second introduction or have it reviewed for feedback
    • students with disabilities: discuss with a co-op coordinator any concerns or questions you may have. All discussions are kept confidential.
    • have any additional job search tools you use to highlight your skills and experiences (portfolio, LinkedIn, webpages, etc) reviewed for feedback 
  • Join our Co-op Discord Community and engage with our community. If you’re not sure where to start, ask the Co-op Student Success Mentor Lead or Co-op Volunteer Ambassador.

Connect with the Co-op & Career Centre