Your university degree is just starting, and it’s never too early to think about building practical learning experiences to enhance your career confidence and readiness.
Consider applying for Arts Co-op, a program that allows you to gain 12 months of hands-on, paid work experience by alternating between work and study terms.
As an Arts Co-op student, you get to explore different kinds of roles and work environments, build connections with professionals, and graduate with practical work experience to add to your resume.
Applying to Arts Co-op
While co-op is open to all undergraduate Arts students in their 2nd and 3rd years, spots are limited, and intake is only once per year in September.
We evaluate applications on a number of areas, including written and oral communications, leadership and teamwork qualities, professionalism, and career motivation. Your basic employment skills also play an important role, as they can help you to apply for and land co-op jobs.
Tips to strengthen your application
To help yourself stand out, start building the skills and experiences that will strengthen your application to join the Arts Co-op Program.
Gain experiences outside the classroom
There are many ways to learn and practice skills that are transferrable to co-op and a variety of workplaces.
Part-time jobs and volunteer roles offer valuable experiences, as well as leadership positions in student clubs. Focus on the skills that are highly useful in co-op: written and verbal communications, customer service, and research and data analysis.
Reflect on and document experiences
Building your skills and experiences is only one part of the picture – it’s just as important to know how to articulate them.
Jot down what you have achieved, including concrete results and skills learned, and formulate them into accomplishment statements. These will come in handy when crafting your co-op intake applications.
Develop skills in micro ways
Bite-sized learning experiences can be a great way to level up your skills and explore your interests.
The UBC Career Centre offers events and workshops on topics related to job search and career development. All degree-seeking UBC Vancouver students also have free access to LinkedIn Learning and its 16,000+ courses. Take advantage of these resources available to you as a student to continuously learn.
Practice interacting in professional settings
In the early stages of your career journey, it may be intimidating to interact with seasoned professionals. With experience, this will begin to feel more comfortable.
Take opportunities to practice your interview skills, whether through workshops or real-life scenarios. Build connections with professionals in fields you’re interested in. These could be people in your informal network, including friends and family, or more formal functions like career fairs and employer information sessions.
Your next steps
Learn more about Arts Co-op – including eligibility and program requirements – and mark your calendar to apply in September.
