Co-op for Industry Partners

Co-op is an educational experience which integrates academic and career interests with industry experience. Students convert theory into practice, applying classroom knowledge to work situations, learning information and skills to enhance future coursework.

Cornell Engineering students are self-reliant, ready, confident in their abilities, and eager to learn. Employers who hire Co-ops gain more than outstanding apprentices-they have the opportunity to observe and groom prospective full-time employees.

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Overview

Student Eligibility:

to participate in a co-operative education experience, a student must

  • be an undergraduate
  • have completed at least two semesters by the start of the work term
  • be affiliated with an engineering major by the start of the work term
  • be in good academic standing with their engineering major and College at start of work term
  • have at least one undergraduate semester remaining following the work experience

Co-operative Education Experience Criteria:

the work experience must be:

  • Engineering-related work
  • Paid
  • Full-time (37.5+ hours/week)
  • The duration of a fall or spring semester
  • Occur during a fall or spring semester

 

Flight testing radio frequency testing

Co-op Program Overview

Hiring Engineering Co-op students:

Cornell Engineering students are seeking opportunities all year-round.


Please contact Julie at engr_coop@cornell.edu or 607-255-3512 for information about hiring Cornell Engineers for co-op/semester internships.

Employers hiring Cornell Co-ops must agree to the following expectations:

Expectations of Employers/Supervisors

  • Provide work assignments that are educational, challenging, and related to student's coursework
  • Provide a clear definition of job responsibilities and expectations
  • Provide appropriate supervision and timely feedback of job tasks and performance
  • Be accessible for questions or provide the student with a mentor or referral to someone who can assist with questions
  • Explain organization policies and benefits
  • Treat the student fairly

Expectations of Students

  • Display intellectual curiosity and a desire to contribute
  • Display a good work ethic (e.g. arrive on time, but in and honest 8 hour day, every day)
  • Ask questions, but think about how to solve the problem independently before approaching others
  • Do not abuse privileges (e.g. follow work rules regarding email/internet/phone use, dress/behave professionally, do not take advantage of the fact that no one is constantly looking over them) and maintain professionalism
  • Be a team player
  • Have a good attitude: show enthusiasm no matter what the task
  • Familiarize yourself with the employer's background, culture, and organizational structure
  • Be open and responsive to suggestions for improvement

 

Co-op Recruiting:

Fall 2021 Co-op recruiting can be for any of the following work terms: Spring 2022, Spring/Summer 2022, Summer/Fall 2022, Fall 2022.

Co-op students work full-time for at least one semester. Co-op students are in the upper half of their class while majoring in an Engineering or Computer Science field.

Typical Recruiting Timeline:

⦁    Recruitment may occur year round. Typically students seeking a fall semester experience will be looking in the prior spring semester (Feb-March), and students seeking a spring semester experience will be looking during the prior fall semester (Aug-Nov). However, most students appreciate being able to plan ahead as much as possible.
⦁    Students interviews may occur on-campus or via telephone or video

Work Term Options:

Students are formally enrolled in the co-op program during a fall or spring semester. However, employers and students may agree to any of the following work arrangements:

1.    Semester Only: the work experience is for the fall or spring semester only.
2.    Semester with Summer Internship Optional: some employers post positions for just a semester (ie: Fall 2022) with the following summer internship (Summer 2023) being optional for the employer to invite the students to accept or decline.
3.    Semester and Summer Expected: some employers post positions with the expectation that students will work a semester and return the following summer for an internship (ie: Fall 2022, returning Summer 2023).
4.    Continuous 28 Weeks: some employers post positions that are a continuous 28 weeks of work (ie: Summer/Fall 2023) or (ie: Spring/Summer 2023).

 

 

 

Photo of Co-op Student on the Job

...my Co-op assignment was probably the single most influential experience during my time at Cornell. Hands down, it was the best decision I've made for my education after deciding to come to Cornell in the first place.

— Anthony Sullivan '12, Materials Science