A popular way of standing out from the crowd is by gaining valuable work experience through either co-operative education (known as a co-op) or an internship.
Some degree courses, particularly in the engineering and technology fields, require the students to complete one of these options to graduate.
Both co-ops and internships provide the opportunity for a student to experience the realities of working in an industry they’re interested in. These elements typically run alongside the academic component of a degree program and the balance between classroom and workplace hours varies depending on the course you choose.
It’s important to note that there is some ambiguity between the terms ‘co-op’ and ‘internship’, particularly with employers, so rather than get hung up on the terminology,
make sure you investigate what an opportunity involves and what is expected of you before committing.