My name is Cooper and I am a co-oper just like you. I’ve done many co-ops and have had a lot of experiences that allow me to help you answer tough questions or questions to which answers are very hard to find at your school!
HAVE A QUESTION? EMAIL ME AT COOPER@COOPRATINGS.COM!
Dear Cooper, Do you know of any ways that I can find a carpool out to a place where there aren’t any other NU co-ops working?
My take: There are a few ways you can go about doing this. The first is to check out the NU Carpool service on your myNEU portal, however if you don’t find that useful enough, contact your co-op advisor to see if you can be put in touch with the other co-op students working at the company. Now if that doesn’t work out call the company and ask them for resources to contact other employees of the company who may be commuting in from the general area you live in. If you haven’t yet thought of it, consider the cost of leasing a car for six months. Nissan Altima’s were recently being leased for $150 per month and estimating insurance at $100 per month and parking at another $150, you’re looking at a pre-gas cost of $400 per month. Depending on your jobs pay, you may be able to afford keeping your own car for the duration of the co-op.
Dear Cooper, I hate my co-op, what’s a good way to quit? Hah, kinda straight forward I guess but I just don’t want to be here anymore...
Answer: Well if you have made your decision, the best way to go about doing it is the contact your advisor first to let them know you will be doing so. Once you have done that, set up an appointment with your boss to sit down and talk with him/her about your decision. Make sure you inform them of the specific reasons you have for the decision you are making. Quitting your job is not a bad thing, so as long as you do it the right way. Do not forgo your responsibilities till the last hour on the last day of work! This will be the difference between a poor review and a good review. The last thing you want is to have an employer report inadequate work to your advisor.
Dear Cooper,
I’ve been having a hard time with my job lately. It was fun when it began however now as time goes on it is getting increasingly monotonous and isn’t much of a learning opportunity anymore. I’m not asking for stacks of paperwork or anything, just trying to make my co-op so that the eight hours a day I spend here isn’t spent doing absolutely nothing. Should I contact my advisor or talk with my boss about it? I am just afraid of repercussions from my boss.
Answer: Phrase everything positively. When you approach your boss, don’t tell them you are bored; tell them that you are looking for a greater challenge. Make sure they understand that the work you were given was completed and that you are looking for the ability to take on additional initiatives. If your boss is not always available, try to approach some of the other neighboring managers and ask if you can assist them on any of their projects. If your boss is not receptive to you taking on any new responsibilities, try to understand why and if you cannot, contact your co-op Advisor at the University for more specific guidance.
Dear Cooper, Hey Coop, looking for ideas on how to thank my boss for a good co-op experience. Any suggestions?
Answer: Hey There! It’s a great idea to thank your boss for a good experience. It also helps to keep your boss as a good reference. Some gift ideas are as follows:
Gift baskets make great presents! Whether your boss is male or female, a great place to go is Harry and David’s (www.harryanddavid.com).
If your boss is a coffee fanatic a gift card of $25 or $50 is definitely a memorable gift.
Anyone who commutes to work via their own car can use a gas gift card.
If you want to give something a little bit more persona, you can give a nice pen set, something that can run around $20 from staples.
Dear Cooper,
Hi Cooper, My names Mark J*** and I am a freshman at Northeastern. I don’t have much work experience and am worried that this will hinder my ability to get a good first co-op. I tried contacting the co-op office but it seems that they can’t really help out until I’m qualified credit wise to be able to do an official co-op. Not sure if Career Services will be able to help with pre-co-op internships. Any suggestions on what I can do?
Answer: NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! In the past, Career Services has not been able to support internship type opportunities only full time post grad opportunities. Your next step is to turn to your network, which is your immediate connections, whether it is an uncle or relative working in a large corporation or a family friend who runs their own gig. Utilizing the people that you know to help you find an internship opportunity is your best bet. Through this experience you will learn the importance of building your professional network and how helpful it will be in your future. You can also check out the companies that have been rated on Co-opRatings.com and contact them to see if they will take on an Intern.
My name is Cooper and I am a co-oper just like you. I’ve done many co-ops and have had a lot of experiences that allow me to help you answer tough questions or questions to which answers are very hard to find at your school!