Co-op Student Ambassador Program

5th year B.Sc. & B.Mgmt in Computer Science & General Management

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• hands-on experience with Azure, C#.NET, and various tools within the Microsoft ecosystem, contributing to large-scale applications.

This exposure has strengthened my technical abilities and problem-solving skills.

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

The Co-op program has allowed me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. It’s been a pivotal part of my growth, helping me transition from theory to practical development, and sharpening my focus on future career goals.

My ultimate goal is to become a tech lead, and Co-op has been instrumental in building a solid foundation. My time as a Software Developer Intern at Arcurve Inc. gave me invaluable insights into leadership, project management, and collaboration within a tech team. These experiences are helping me work toward my goal with confidence.

4th year Bachelor of Management: Major in Accounting

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• A range of valuable skills in both specific accounting tasks and general skills needed to succeed in any professional environment.
• Auditing strengthened my ability to evaluate internal controls and assess financial transactions for material misstatements.
• Practical experience in tax preparation and optimization.
• Working with both personal and corporate clients.
• Time management abilities after balancing multiple tasks and deadlines during the busy tax season.
• Professional communication skills over a variety of channels through interacting with clients every day.

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

My co-op experience with KPMG has been pivotal in shaping my educational and career goals, deepening both my passion for accounting and my commitment to pursuing the CPA designation. It offered me the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations while expanding my expertise in critical areas such as financial reporting, auditing, and tax. Collaborating with experienced professionals in a dynamic environment also gave me valuable insight into the strategic importance of accounting in decision-making, further solidifying my goal of earning my CPA designation.

It has also been pivotal in advancing my career aspirations of becoming both a CPA and an entrepreneur. It provided me with valuable experience in accounting and financial management, which are critical skills for any future business owner. Working with clients across various industries deepened my understanding of how accounting supports business operations and decision-making. This experience solidified my commitment to earning the CPA designation while also fueling my entrepreneurial ambitions by equipping me with the financial expertise and problem-solving abilities needed to run a successful business.

8th year Bachelor of Arts and Science/ Bachelor of Management with major in Economics and Accounting

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• Time Management
• Communication on a professional level with various departments
• Advancement of Excel skills
• Data collection and analysis
• Payroll
• Account reconciliation

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

Getting to see what I have learnt in classroom and into practice.

During one of my co-ops, I got to see how tourism impacts local economy through data collection and data visualization. I got to see my economic education play a role.

For my second co-op, I got to combine skills from both economics and accounting. I used all of my data collection and analysis from my economic background and was able to use it in my second co-op where my experience was more towards accounting.

Between the two, I am really enjoying more of data collection and data analysis.

3rd year Bachelor of Management in Accounting

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• attention to detail
• client communication
• time management

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

My co-op experience provided me with valuable insights into my prospective career and offered a first-hand understanding of the work environment. Upon returning to my studies, I have been able to draw meaningful connections between my academic learning and the skills I developed in the workplace.

I have received an offer to return to the company for another co-op term. This experience has not only helped me build valuable professional connections but also enhanced my resume with relevant experience, positioning me for potential post-graduation employment opportunities.

3rd year Bachelor of Management - Accounting and Human Resources & Labour Relations

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• Communication skills
• Software skills
• Time management skills

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

Going on a co-op work term has made university easier. Much of what I did at work has transferred into what I learn in classes. Doing a work term has also opened a possibility of getting a job right when I gradate in two years.

My career aspiration is to be an accountant with the potential to end up in a management role. Doing a co-op has shown me that this pathway is easier to pursue than I originally thought.

4th year Bachelor of Science, Computer Science with minor in Economics

What specific skills have you developed throughout Co-op?

• I developed valuable skills in data analysis, KPI tracking, and app development. I also gained exposure to continuous improvement processes and project management. These experiences helped me strengthen both my technical and problem-solving skills while learning to work effectively with cross-functional teams

How has Co-op impacted your education or helped you gain clarity about your career aspirations?

Co-op has been a key part of my university experience. It allowed me to connect what I learned in the classroom with real-world situations. Each work term helped me grow professionally and personally and gave me direction for my future career.

Co-op gave me the chance to experience real-world work environments and understand what certain roles involve. It helped me reflect on whether this is the type of work I’d like to pursue long term. That clarity has been incredibly valuable as I plan my next steps.