Find Co-op/Internship easier or harder than finding a job ?

[ahmadka]

Wanted to know that if I'm studying in a top ranking school (University of Waterloo or McGill) for their Computer Science Masters program, how hard is it to find a summer co-op or internship ?

Also, does such experience help you in finding your first Canadian job afterwards ?

 

[Jalex23]

Wanted to know that if I'm studying in a top ranking school (University of Waterloo or McGill) for their Computer Science Masters program, how hard is it to find a summer co-op or internship ?

Also, does such experience help you in finding your first Canadian job afterwards ?

Easy in each case.

 

[nthompson]

Wanted to know that if I'm studying in a top ranking school (University of Waterloo or McGill) for their Computer Science Masters program, how hard is it to find a summer co-op or internship ?

Also, does such experience help you in finding your first Canadian job afterwards ?

You won't have a problem landing a co op job specially studying that those universities. I have had a lot of co ops work at my ministry and trust me a lot of them are lazy.

One thing I would tell future co op students is treat your co op job like a real job because you would need them as a reference and if you do really well trust me they will be the first to contact you once a position comes available.

 

[singh-ak]

Hey Nathan,

What are the odds of getting an internship / co-op if you are an international student and co-op / internship is not part of the course?

 

[nthompson]

Hey Nathan,

What are the odds of getting an internship / co-op if you are an international student and co-op / internship is not part of the course?

Hmm not too sure by exactly what you mean with your question? But if you mean are you able to get a co-op position being a international student in Canada, then yes you have the same rights and opportunity as a Canadian citizen.

At my work place I've had co-op students who are international students who are also working here as part of their co-op program.

In Canada everyone is a immigrant unless your american native.

 

[mf4361]

With the correct co-op work permit, you have the right to work as co-op in Canada. Some large corporations do have policy that prevent them to hire people that aren't PR or Citizen (also some for security reasons). But for most employers I believe they would have no problem with you being an international student if they really want to hire you.

I was an international student who worked in a company for 16 months. Few friends of mine were also in similar situation.

I don't know if CS is similar, but in engineering, it's considerably harder to find a permanent position without some previous co-op or summer job.