Inside co-op

How it works. How it feels. How to max out your experience.

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Northeastern makes it all possible

“Co-op helped me see what my career could look like.”

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Northeastern makes it all possible

Jamie Wong, ’23

Design and engineering
Co-ops at Hot Press, Hasbro,
Universal Studios

“Co-op helped me see what my career could look like.”

Watch video

Get to know your support system 

Your team

An academic advisor and co-op coordinator, working lockstep with you to map your co-op, classes, and other experiential opportunities.  

Your resources

That includes our Career Design office with resume and application tips, co-op recruiting events, a co-op prep course, and visa advising for international students. 

Your network

NUworks, our online job search tool with more than 25,000 postings, and 3,800+ employers and alumni networking programs worldwide. 

Want to learn more about co-op support?

Check in with our admissions counselors

How to find the best co-op for you

Yes, getting your dream co-op is competitive.
But we’ve got you throughout the process.

Meet your co-op coordinator

Connect with co-op peers and mentors at welcome events, orientations, and co-op info sessions throughout your first year.

Identify first-year experiences—clubs, research, summer internships—to build out your resume.

Enroll in our co-op prep course 

A one-time course that meets weekly throughout the first semester of your second year, taught by a co-op coordinator.

You’ll explore career paths, get your resume and cover letter reviewed, practice interviewing, learn job search strategies, and more.

Graduate students can use this course to refine their CV and brush up on interviewing skills.

1:1 advising 

We’ll help you define—and redefine—your career aspirations and connect you to resources.
What’s a video game designer vs. a game developer? Small life sciences startup or global pharmaceutical company? For graduate students, what’s the best option for switching careers? We help demystify it all.

Search and apply  

Apply for your first co-op during your second year (same for graduate students doing just one co-op) using our online job search platform, NUWorks. Co-op cycles begin in either January or July.

Dive into all the employer recruitment events and career workshops we offer.

Respond to and schedule interviews promptly and professionally. Then prep and practice interviewing—with your coordinator, a mentor, your roommate, your partner…

Apply for any co-op, regardless of major or college, as long as you meet the job qualifications. Explore widely and keep your options open.

Accept an offer  

When you receive responses, work closely with your co-op coordinator to navigate and negotiate offers. You should acknowledge all offers within 48 hours.

Once you accept a position, you’re committed. Connect with your employer to confirm start and end dates, and work schedule.

Work with Northeastern to arrange logistics around transportation or housing if you’re moving to a new city or country.

International students should confirm visa requirements.

During your co-op

Once the position is confirmed, work with your co-op coordinator to establish learning goals and objectives. Review those with your work supervisor.

You’ll have a mid-point check-in with your coordinator, as well as regular meetings with your supervisors and mentors on the job.

You must complete three reflective writing prompts at regular intervals throughout your co-op.

Final performance assessment  

Your employer will submit a final assessment of your performance. You’ll also complete a self-assessment.

Review the assessments with your coordinator against the goals and objectives you set at the start.

Your grade—satisfactory or unsatisfactory—will be based on assessments and reflections.

Undergraduates: when you’re ready for your second co-op, you’ll skip straight to 1:1 advising and finish again with the assessments.

Tips for getting the most out of co-op

What’s the difference between a co-op and an internship? Both are professional work experiences that position you for the future, but co-op has some key advantages that internships lack.

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Have questions?

Have questions? Learn more about co-op from our admissions counselors

Get in touch

Have questions?

Have questions? Learn more about co-op from our admissions counselors

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