This Co-Op Final Briefing
meeting lasts for 90 minutes.
If you cannot stay for the entire
time, you will need to attend a
different meeting. Call or go by
the AU Co-Op Program Office for
the time & place of a “make-up”
meeting.
Partners in Success
Co-Op Student: YOU!
Your Academic
Major
Co-Op Employer
AU Co-Op Program
Final Briefing - Part I
Your responsibilities as an
Auburn Co-Op Student
If you will be
working Spring
2016, register for
COOP4920 Cooperative Work
Experience
instead of
registering for
academic classes.
Initial
here
You have 2 copies in
your packet:
1. For you to initial,
sign, & turn in
2. For you to keep as
a reminder of your
responsibilities as a
Co-Op Student.
CHECKLIST OF TASKS THAT
MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED
1. Before leaving for each
co-op work assignment,
obtain a program outline
from your Academic
Department, and confer
with your Academic
Advisor on classes for
your next school
semester(s).
1. Encounter difficulties
with registration,
availability of course
offerings, and slowed
progress toward
graduation.
CHECKLIST OF TASKS THAT
MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED
2. Before leaving campus, go
by the AU Office of
University Scholarships &
the AU Student Financial
Aid Office to discuss your
unique aid situation.
Each student’s aid
situation is different. You
need to know exactly
what is required of you to
insure continued receipt
of aid assistance in the
future.
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2. Run the risk of not
receiving scholarship
funding and/or other
forms of financial aid
in the future.
* As a co-op student, you must register for
a non-credit, non-graded class titled
COOP-4920: Cooperative
Work Experience
for each
co-op work semester.
CHECKLIST OF TASKS THAT
MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED
3. Within one week of
returning to school,
come by the Co-Op
Office and:
a Complete the Student
Work Report.
b Give us your School
Address.
c Check-in with us and
sign off on your Co-Op
Alternation Schedule.
3. Face the possibility of
being dismissed from
the Auburn Co-Op
Program.
or on the
website at
auburn.edu/co-op
Students
Current Co-Ops
Work Report
a
b
Date and Initial
in this column
c
CHECKLIST OF TASKS THAT
MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED
4. Pre-register for your next
co-op work semester or
school semester.
4. Be charged a late
registration fee by AU
Student Financial
Services.
5. Before going back to
your final work
semester, go by the AU
Registrar’s Office and
your Dean's Office for a
“credit check”.
5. Run the risk of not
graduating on time
because of lack of
completed required
course work.
Your Student Financial
Services bill (ebill) must be
kept up to date.
If your bill remains unpaid, it prevents
you from being registered during a
Co-Op Work Semester
* You will not be able to report to
work for the co-op work semester.
Got a job?
Complete
this section.
Have received,
but not accepted
any job offers.
Don’t have a
job? Complete
this section.
Everybody
complete this
section.
Please pass the signed Checklist
(green sheet) to your right.
One copy of this Checklist is for
you to keep to remind you of your
responsibilities as a co-op student.
Registration
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Students will register online by way
of Banner / Tiger-i
AU Co-Op Program office will send
an e-mail message to your Auburn
account (userid@auburn.edu)
reminding co-ops when registration
begins.
Spring Semester only:
Students in school Spring
Semester & working Summer
Semester must register for both
the Summer Semester
“COOP4920 - Cooperative
Work Experience” course &
Fall Semester academic classes.
If you plan to take a course at a
college other than AU during a co-op
work semester, see your Academic
Advisor before leaving campus for:
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Permission
Letter required for “Transient” status
Final Briefing - Part II
Co-Op Student on the Job
Your First Days @ Work
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Grooming . . . Haircuts / Hairstyles
Appropriate Dress / Attire
Personal Habits
– handshakes
– shyness vs. taking initiative
– learning people’s names (Dr., Mr., & Ms.)
– be courteous to EVERYONE
Your First Days @ Work
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Express appreciation and thankfulness.
(Thank You = “magic” words)
Avoid gossip & company politics
Upbeat attitude vs. complaints / gripes
Have patience with yourself and others
Attitude
– you influence others
– “attitude of gratitude”
– positive, upbeat, “can do” attitude
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Term
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Observation
– people
– methods
– Models / mentors
ore than 30 years ago, someone told me when first
starting a job, get the lay of the land before becoming a
superstar.
The best approach is to first do a lot of observing;
be as helpful as you can without being obnoxious, overly
ambitious, or assertive. Try to become a team player as
soon as possible. People will recognize your strengths
without your broadcasting them all over the
organization. If you have strong self-esteem, people will
find that out without your telling them.
After you have been accepted in the organization,
GO FOR IT. And, by the way, the way to receive a lot
of recognition and credit is to give away as much of it as
you can.
George Green, President and General Manager
KABC Los Angeles
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Semester
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Instructions
– concentration
– make notes
– ask questions until instructions are
clear
– repeat instructions back to supervisor
(active listening)
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Learn from whom to seek help
– express appreciation
– “spread the word”
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Term
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Your reputation
– accurate work
– good judgment
– open minded
– team player
– ethical
– respectful
– serious about work
– pride in the work you do
Actual Negative Remarks:
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Needs more experience
Too glib (showing little thought,
preparation, or concern)
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Not a tactful person
Not assertive enough
Needs more self confidence
Needs to think situations
through before making
decisions
Begins work before he is totally
clear on instructions and has to
frequently re-do his work
Needs to improve in tact and
diplomacy
Doesn’t listen well enough yet
Isn’t proving he is management
material
Content to do just average work
Argumentative
Cocky
Inattentive
Shy
Needs maturity
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Semester
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Mistakes
– report them to the Supervisor (if you
“mess up . . . fess up”)
– accept the blame
– move toward a solution
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Telephone Etiquette
– speak distinctly
– identify yourself and department
– personal calls (brief, permissions, etc.)
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Semester
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As a Newcomer
– towards the bottom of the Organizational
Chart
– “gopher”
– make everything a learning experience
– lower level tasks lead to tasks involving
greater challenges
What To Expect . . .
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1st Work Semester – Serves as an
orientation. Students become familiar with
their assigned organization and the activities
of the company in general. Supervisors and
other full time employees provide specific
instructions for work assignments.
2nd Work Semester - Work assignments will
vary in level of difficulty, complexity and
responsibility . . . depending on the student’s
demonstrated abilities.
3rd Work Semester & beyond - Co-op
completes work assignments and
projects with minimal direct supervision.
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Semester
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Company Rules
– safety rules
– start and stop times
– “lunch hour”
– use of phones, e-mail, Internet access . . .
personal use vs. business use?
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$alary concerns
– personal
– how are $alary increases determined in
your company?
Making the Most of Your Co-Op
Work Semester
Every night ask yourself this question: “Have I made a profit for my
employer today?”. If the answer is “yes,” you’ll still have a job tomorrow.
If it’s “no,” get your résumé together.
An employee can’t merely be an expense to his/her company, but an
investment that pays dividends. The bigger the dividend, the brighter your
future.
Don’t expect a raise because you’ve been at your job a given amount of
time. Raises are given because you are worth more then you are currently
being paid. Be worth more than you’re making, and you’ll soon be making
what you’re worth. So do more than you are asked; get to the office a little
early; stay a little late; and if you run out of assignments, make up your
own. You might come up with the big idea even your boss failed to think of.
Buddy Weiss - President, Weiss Advertising
What Your Boss Wants YOU to
Know before starting work . . .
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Don’t make excuses
Don’t aim for perfection
Anticipate problems
Handle problems yourself
Be punctual
Take being at work seriously
Don’t be a squeaky wheel
What Your Boss Wants YOU to
Know before starting work . . .
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Choose your battles carefully
Don’t hold a grudge
Deal with the decision-makers
Understand boss language
Learn what others are doing
Get along with co-workers
Be discreet
What Your Boss Wants YOU to
Know before starting work . . .
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Develop a sense of timing
Don’t lie
Read industry publications . . . be
informed
Get to know your peers
Make no assumptions
Co-Op Program Housekeeping
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E-mail is your friend . . . check
userid@auburn.edu e-mail for info.
from AU Co-Op Program Office
Stay in touch with us on all major
problems, decisions, etc.
Control of program is with Auburn
Student Financial Aid &
Scholarships
Low grades this semester?
You should have already
read your Co-Op
Handbook. If you have
not, read it before going to
work.
The handbook contains
very important info. about
being a Co-Op Student.
Final Words
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Job Offers
– Accepted / declined co-op job offers? We
need to know!
– Are you clear concerning when and where to
report to work?
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Alternation Schedule (Work / School plan)
– your unique work / school plan
– changing work / school rotations
Your employer will not
automatically inform the AU Co-Op
Program Office if you are offered
and/or accept a job. It is your
responsibility to inform the
AU Co-Op Program Office of all
job offers and/or job acceptance.
If you are not successful in landing
co-op employment as a result of
applying for jobs this semester:
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Work with us again next semester
It often takes more than one semester to
secure co-op employment
Do not go back through the Co-Op
Registration process
 Call the AU Co-Op Program office
during the very beginning of next
semester to set up an appointment
with your Co-Op Coordinator.
 We will update your file, verify your
eligibility, and then allow you to use
the AUCo-OpLink system to again
apply for co-op positions.
You earn a future when you earn a degree!