Professional Experience Program W hat is PEP? 12-16 month work - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Professional Experience Program

• 12-16 month work term following 3rd year

Honours Computing and Computer Electronics as well as Honours Computer Science

• Start work in May after 3rd year
• Develop skills & knowledge in your field
• Make contacts in the field

W hat is PEP?

• Market driven
• Students register and apply to postings
• We do not provide ‘placements’

How Does I t W ork?

Fees involved – first payment in November, with a final payment in December

• Currently assessed at: $2,224.44
• November $741.48 / December $1,482.96

Fees

All newly admitted co-op students will be automatically enrolled in Co-op Fundamentals COOP-001, a half-credit course graded on a pass/fail basis. Attendance is mandatory, beginning with the first two sessions, Module 1: Introduction to Co-op specifically for Arts and Science Students and Module 2: Fundamentals Core Concepts which will be offered mid-October. To prepare for these first two sessions, we recommend that you read the Introduction to Laurier Co-op Tutorial on MyLearningSpace.

Co-op Fundam entals

Other topics in the course include:

• Workshops
• Job postings and search
• Interviews
• Offers
• Probationary period

Co-op Fundam entals

• Work term visit – learning objectives
• Employer evaluation of student
• Work term report (due during the second four months)
• Student evaluation of the work term
• Back to campus meeting

Student Responsibility

• Any 3rd year Honours Computing and Computer

Electronics Student as well as Honours Computer Science Student

• A strong GPA and experience are key factors

W ho Can Apply?

• Sybase iAnywhere
• IBM
• Sandvine
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• Blackberry
• Manulife
• Faith Life
• RBC
• Linamar

Em ployer W ho Hire PEP

• Gain work experience directly related to field
• Experience in “real world” work environment
• Develop skills/knowledge of your field
• Evaluate a potential full time employer
• Make contacts in your field
• Possible to start a full-time career at higher skill level/salary

Benefits

• Delays graduation by one year
• New ‘class’ of students when you return
• Have to reintegrate into academic life
• Living accommodations – flexibility?
• OSAP repayments – check the rules
• Fees

Draw backs

“PEP gave me an

• pportunity to learn

about the industry and to work with amazing

• people. Because it is

longer than usual co-op terms, you can really get the feel of working full- time and being part of the team.”

Questions?