Timing of Interviews During the Term
There are three distinct blocks of time each term during which employer
interviews are held for co-op students (except Pharmacy where interviews
are primarily held during the first block of time)..
First Interview Cycle
The first block, called the "first interview cycle" usually starts
at the beginning of the second month of the term and lasts approximately
three weeks. At the end of this phase students and employers rank each other.
A computer match then determines the outcome. The three-week duration gives
students an opportunity to experience a potentially significant number of
interviews that could result in a wide choice on ranking day.
Continuous Interview Cycles (continue into first week of exams)
The second block referred to as the "continuous interview cycles,"
takes place between the end of the first cycle of interviews and the end
of the first week of exams. Because the term has advanced and there
are fewer interview days left before the work term begins, the process speeds
up. Unlike the first interview cycle which has just one computer match,
other interview cycles have a computer match on Wednesdays and Fridays every
week. There are only two interview days for each ranking cycle in order
to eliminate a long wait for interview ranking results.
Interviews During and After Exams
The third block of interview activity begins with the second week of exams and continues until the end of the second month of the work term. There are no computer matches at this stage and interviews generally take place off campus, most likely at the employer's location because students who are still without employment would then no longer be on campus. Employers verbally offer successful interview candidates the position rather than using a rank/match process.
What other differences are there?
When the first interview cycle ends, students meet with their new student advisor
to be given more information about the job with which they were matched.
In other interview cycles and beyond, student advisors are not on campus
so there are no face-to-face meetings with them when students achieve a
job match. Instead, students can e-mail or phone their student advisor,
if they wish, after they learn they have been matched to get more information
about the job and the employer.
