Co-op & Internship: The Three C’s
The Ohio State University does not have a required co-op program for engineering students. However, the Engineering Career Services office has an outstanding Engineering Co-op and Internship Program designed to support students in their career development and job search. The benefits of this program and its structure can be summed up as the Three C’s: Choice, Connections, and Career management for life.
CHOICE:
Because the program is not required nor embedded into the curriculum, you have a great deal of flexibility and you control all aspects of your experience. You will choose the following:
- Which semesters you work
- How many semesters you work
- Where you work (company and location)
- Industry in which you work
- Type of experience: multiple rotations in a co-op vs. internships with several companies
*It is up to you to be proactive and work with your academic advisor to determine which semesters will work best with your desired graduation plan. We encourage students to consider internships and co-ops during the school year; although graduation may be pushed back, this does not change the number of semesters of full-time coursework (usually 8) it takes to complete a degree.
CONNECTIONS:
By registering with ECS, you will gain access to over 2000 employers from a variety of industries. General Electric, Honda, NASA, Disney, and JPMorgan Chase are a few of the top co-op and internship employers. You will have the opportunity to network with these and others through the following avenues:
- Company info sessions, Meet n Greets, Career Fairs
- On-Campus Interviewing opportunities
- Job Postings specifically for Ohio State engineering students
- Special events such as professional development workshops, the Recruiter-in-Residence program, and the Job Shadow Program
CAREER MANAGEMENT FOR LIFE:
While ECS provides resources and access to employers, it is up to you to manage your search. It is expected that Millennials will have had 12-15 jobs in their lifetime. The skills you learn through your engagement with ECS will enable you to be a successful job seeker for the rest of your life. Such skills include:
- Networking and utilizing social media in the job search
- Nailing an interview
- Writing professional correspondence
- Developing a focused and tailored resume
- Navigating a career fair
- Negotiating an offer
- Utilizing online resources (Indeed, Glassdoor, SimplyHired)