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Students
Exploring career possibilities and earning experience through Co-op
A fourth-year Economics major and Statistics minor student, Julia Rapaport is returning from a year of gaining work experience and career-ready skills thanks to the Arts and Social Sciences Co-op Program.
She spent a year completing two co-op work placements鈥攆our months with the Export Sector Bureau of Global Affairs Canada and eight months with the finance department of BC Investment (BCI). Now equipped with industry experience and confidence in her professional skillset, Rapaport is back at SFU to finish up her degree and graduate by the end of this year.
Tell us about your co-op work placement with Global Affairs Canada.
I got a remote co-op work position as Junior Trade Commissioner with the Export Sector Bureau, which is a department based in Ottawa. It allowed me to work with them without the need to move to Ottawa for four months.
I was on a bilingual team that coordinated and distributed information between teams in our department so that everyone had the data they needed to make informed trade decisions. My focus was on data analysis, and I got a lot better at understanding economic data. Also, I was exposed to how the people at Global Affairs reflect on the international news and its impact on international markets.
What was your experience like working at BC Investment?
I worked in the finance department of BCI. It was an eight-month work experience in their Victoria office. With $250 billion in assets under management, BCI is responsible for investing BC鈥檚 public pensions and is one of the largest asset managers in Canada. I learned about a lot of things that I didn鈥檛 even know existed until I got to BCI. I got first-hand exposure to the investment industry, which expanded my horizons related to what I鈥檇 like to do in the future.
My experience at BCI also inspired me to pursue my Level 1 Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification. BCI offers mentorship and networking opportunities for students. By the end of my co-op work term, I had chatted my way through the entire organization and figured out what different teams do. I also had an introduction to the different financial markets BCI invests money in.
What was it like relocating for your co-op work term?
Relocating can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but it is well worth the experience. My time at BCI left me with multiple connections and a few lifelong friends.
Based on your Co-op work experiences, what skill do you think is often overlooked?
The most important skill I developed was clear and concise email writing. Communicating well so that everyone understands you is crucial to professional success.
Take the time to connect with everyone around you. Your network isn鈥檛 just older professionals. It is your friends from class, your teachers, your volunteering coordinator, the neighbours, and your family's friends, etc.
Can you share any projects you worked on during your co-op work term that made you feel confident in your career path?
At Global Affairs Canada, I worked on a project to standardize key performance indicators (KPIs), so my bosses could better compare export sector-specific KPIs when making funding decisions provided to different economic sectors. This was one of my favorite projects by far, and it let me work with different people in English and French!
What was the most valuable takeaway from your co-op experience?
Bring a positive attitude! People will happily teach you on the job and help you when obstacles arise.
Any advice for students seeking their first co-op work term?
Take the time to connect with everyone around you. People will say things like, 鈥淣etworking is key!鈥� without really telling you what that means. Take an interest in others, listen to them actively, and make friends and acquaintances. Your network isn鈥檛 just older professionals. It is your friends from class, your teachers, your volunteering coordinator, the neighbours, your family's friends, etc. The next big step after networking is making sure you have the skills you need. Complete a workshop or certification today so there isn鈥檛 a gap in your skill set tomorrow.