Pace Paw Print

Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News

Co-op and Career Services sponsored the event titled "Find Yourself a Summer Job" on Mar. 3 in the Butcher Suite featuring Kim Porter and Susan Potter from the department, as well as two Pace students who have experienced successful co-ops at Pepsio and the Westchester County Government.

Approximately 20 students, from freshman to graduate levels, gathered for the event which took place from four in the afternoon to around five.

Potter first explained the Co-op process, which she said begins by making an appointment with Co-op and Career Services. Students can then work with a co-op counselor to register on the co-op online database and explore job opportunities.

The benefit of getting a job through, or with the help of the co-op department, is that the counselors work with the companies to ensure that the jobs will provide experience related to the field, rather than jobs that go little beyond answering the phone and

filing.

The counselors also help get supervisors involved in the evaluation process.

"It's a natural, non threatening way to get your supervisor what you need," Porter said.

"[Your job] doesn't have to be through us," Potter said. "We just want to help you."

She said it was "absolutely" possible to do a co-op without previous experience.

Co-op counselors also help students put together their resumes and improve their interviewing skills. In many cases, the counselors work with students to create different resumes and cover letters for each job.

"It's important to market yourself differently for different jobs," Potter said. "We're forensic scientists in our office and we're going to do an autopsy on your career plan."

One student asked if getting a co-op during the summer meant sacrificing their vacation plans. Potter and Porter said that most companies are flexible if they know in advance. As for students who wish to take summer classes in addition to the co-op, the counselors said "they know school comes first."

The counselors said after working with their students, most, but not all get jobs.

"We can't guarantee, but we do our darn best," said Potter. "It's a two way process. You work hard and we work hard."

A 2.5 grade point average is necessary in order to go on co-op. However, the counselors said that even if students are below that level, they still recommend seeing a counselor.

Potter, a Pace Alumni, also described her own experience with her co-op at Ralph Lauren. Although the experience taught her the position wasn't for her, she said she gained from the experience because of the people she worked with.

"They mentored me and gave me advice about grad school," she said.

They stressed the importance of emphasizing the positive aspects of a co-op experience and minimizing the negative, especially on job interviews.

"The worst you can do is concentrate on the negative," Porter said.

Jen Mayo, a senior finance major, was the first to speak about her co-op at the Westchester County Government as an accounting intern.

Mayo transferred as a junior to Pace and realized she quickly needed to find an internship, so she went to Co-op and Career Services.

As an accounting intern, she performed a variety of tasks such as analyzing local hotels and working on the budget. In the process, she learned to use Quick Books, which she said was a valuable skill.

"I think the hardest thing is connecting school to co-op but that's what an internship does for you."

Her advice to the students was not to be afraid to ask questions and not to get discouraged if you struggle initially.

Brianna Hogan, a senior psychology major, had an internship at PepsiCo in Human Resources which lasted from summer to fall.

She worked 20 hours a week and said the company was accommodating with her school schedule.

"They know you're in school and that's what comes first," she said.

She said her tasks got bigger as time passed. By the end, Hogan was working on the company's summer internship program.

"I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but at least now I have some sort of direction," she said. "Going into HR [after graduating] without any experience, I would sink immediately."

One of the last steps students go through before starting their job is signing a "Co-op Contract" with the counselors.

"It's nothing about 'I can't' and all about 'I can'," Porter said.

Some requirements of the contract include the student pledging they will show up to work on time, and contact their counselor frequently.

The counselors added that the supervisors want their interns to do succeed as well.

"They're investing in you," Porter said. "They want you to do well."

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