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PrintWhile You Are Working
Congratulations! All your hard work has paid off and you succeeded in obtaining a work term. However, things are now just getting interesting - a whole new world has opened up for you. Getting to work on time (every day!), learning the new rules and regulations of your workplace, being introduced to company software and technical information ...and getting to know your full-time colleagues are just some of the things that you will be expected to adjust to and, frankly, it can be overwhelming.
Not to worry! ECCS is here to help navigate your way through this process (your supervisor and work colleagues are always there to help too). Below is some essential information you will need while you are out working at your co-op workplace. Remember that you can always call our office if you find yourself unsure of a situation or person in your workplace.
Workplace Professionalism
Obtaining a Co-op job may have seemed like work with all the cover letters prepared, and interviews attended, but being successful in your position is work in its own right as well. Being able to keep up with the technical and administrative duties is only one part of your job.
The other part, the "hidden duties," include understanding how to navigate your way through the corporate hierarchy, learning how to work with your team-members, and taking initiative when you see the need. These are work-related duties which will make a lasting positive impression that you will be remembered for when applying for full-time work after graduation.
Here are a few simple things to keep in mind:
- Consider your appearance, be well-groomed and neat, and adopt attire appropriate to your workplace
- Respect your coworkers’ experience, learn from it, improve yourself and your skills and seek out advice, show personal responsibility: respect others’ rights, know your boundaries/limits.
- Practice good time management, meet all deadlines, be punctual, leave enough time for traffic, and call immediately if you cannot make it to work on time or if you are ill.
- Be courteous and social. Be prepared to say “good morning” to your colleagues when you arrive, and “have a great weekend” on Fridays. Open doors for others, clean up after yourself in the staff kitchen and participate in staff events or even join others for casual lunches. Be “social”, even if you consider yourself a quiet or “introverted” person.
- Show diligence and competence for administrative work. This basic philosophy will ensure that your employer sees you as committed to the company, and will ensure to include you in the “real” engineering work that is being completed in the office. Every job has admin work that must get done!
Please refer to your Co-op Handbook for further details.
ECCS Evaluations
In order for your position to be counted as a Co-op work term, ECCS needs to have:
- Interim and Final evaluations completed by you, and your supervisor. These will be emailed to you, or you can find them under Forms on the left navigation bar.
- Once your work term is completed, a Final Report will need to be completed and handed in to ECCS. This will be due about one month after you come back to school. More info on this will be emailed to you near the end of your work term.
If you are working and have not signed the ECCS Work Term contract, or paid co-op fees, it is unlikely you will be able to count this position towards your co-op requirements. Please contact the ECCS manager, Lynn Stewart, as soon as possible.
Work Site Visits
We will be coming to visit you on the job if you are a B.Eng student working 8-16 months, or if you are a B.Tech student.
It is important that we know exactly where you are working - we will be visiting dozens of students every term and scheduling these appointments can be tricky. Please fill in your Work Term Information - via your OSCARplus profile:
We will be contacting you via your McMaster email to schedule these - please remember to check your account daily and respond to emails in a timely matter.