Co-op & intern students

Candidate handbook

Familiarize yourself with the Engineering Co-op & Internship Program (ECIP) by reviewing the complete Candidate Handbook [pdf] (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader [new window] or another PDF viewer) or outlined below.

Engineering Co-op & Internship Program Goals
Benefits of Co-oping and Interning
What is a Co-op and What is an Internship?
Registration Requirements
Joining the Program
Preparing For Your Job Search and Activating Your Account
Keep Your Job Search Alive With Quarterly Updates
Connecting With Employers
Additional Job Search Resources
Successful Interviewing
Keys to Success in Your Job Search
A Note on Job Search Letters
Managing Offers & What To Do When You Accept a Job
Engineering 689 - What It Is & How It Helps You
Your Next ECIP Search
Your Senior Job Search
Kappa Theta Epsilon
Ethics and Expectations
Your 24/7 Job Search Account

ENGINEERING COOPERATIVE EDUCATION & INTERNSHIP PROGRAM GOALS

Provide services which link employers seeking to hire engineering undergraduates with those students meeting program requirements who seek opportunities for practical experience.
Provide career and job search advising and support for engineering undergraduates.
Recruit new co-op & internship candidates.
Actively promote the value of engineering co-op and internship experience on campus, in the community at large, and in professional associations.
Help to attract and retain local, national, and international employers and maintain positive working relationships to benefit current and future Ohio State students.
Continuously seek to improve program processes and quality.

BENEFITS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Test your choice of majors - while there's still time to change - or get insight into a specialization or technical electives to pursue.
Classroom learning is more interesting when you know how it is applied in the "real world".
Challenge technical skills and improve people skills in professional environments.
Have your professional experience officially documented on your transcript.
Better life/work balance: the income you'll make as a co-op can help you focus on classes and campus activities during school quarters - you might not need a part-time job.
Expand your horizons…Experience life in other cities and states.
Gain field-related experience for better marketability at graduation. Graduating students with co-op or internship experience report higher salary offers than students without experience.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COOPERATIVE EDUCATION & INTERNSHIP?

The Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program (ECIP) helps undergraduate students to obtain career-related employment of two types: cooperative education and internship.

Cooperative Education (co-op) provides the best opportunity to apply what is learned in the classroom in career-related positions by alternating quarters of full-time coursework with periods of paid, full-time employment. This work arrangement will vary by employer, and it is important to understand the employer's expectation before accepting a position. We recommend that students meet with their academic advisor to evaluate different co-op arrangements before interviewing because many employers hire for specific "rotations". For instance, students may work full-time during the summer quarter, attend full-time classes in autumn, and return to their employer for full-time work in the winter.

Internship involves one work period with an employer. A work period may last for one quarter or for two consecutive quarters. Summer internships are the most popular among students and employers; however, some employers offer internships in autumn, winter, or spring quarters as well.

Part-time job postings are available for students who choose not to pursue full-time co-op or internship employment. These opportunities appear as job postings in the online job search system.

ENGINEERING COOPERATIVE EDUCATION & INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Engineering students are eligible for initial registration with the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program when all of the following criteria are met:

Enrolled in the College of Engineering as a full-time undergraduate student
Student in good standing
Must be at least 18 years of age
Earned a "C" or higher in Math 151 or Math H161
Credits equal to three full-time quarters of study with a minimum of two full-time consecutive quarters at Ohio State

Architecture students are eligible for initial registration with the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program when all of the following criteria are met:

Enrolled in the School of Architecture as a full-time undergraduate student
Student in good standing
Must be at least 18 years of age
Completion of four full-time consecutive quarters at Ohio State

JOINING THE PROGRAM

Once registration requirements are met, the following steps will take you through the complete enrollment process.

Make the Candidate Handbook a close, well-known friend. It will provide you with the information needed to take full advantage of ECIP services and help you remember information from the ECIP 101 meeting..
Complete, sign, and drop off the gray Registration Card at our information counter in 199 Hitchcock along with a check or money order for the registration fee made payable to "Ohio State University". This payment will provide you with access to the online job search system throughout your undergraduate engineering degree.
Schedule an appointment for a resume consultation with an ECIP staff member. Bring a printed draft of your resume to your appointment.
Shortly after your payment, you will receive an email with your username and password to give you access to the online job search system. Attached to this email will be complete instructions for Using Your Account [pdf]. Review these instructions carefully and bring any questions to your first appointment with an ECIP staff member.
Meet with your Academic Advisor (student athletes must also meet with their SASSO counselor) to plan when a co-op or internship position will best fit into your schedule; develop an alternative plan as well. Know when you can work.

PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH AND ACTIVATING YOUR ACCOUNT

1. Create your resume

Create a resume using the ECIP template. You should tailor the headings and information included to fit your individual circumstances.
This templates are preformatted to be compatible with employer applicant tracking systems and provides pertinent information in an easy-to-find format for employers. Employers have repeatedly told us they find this format really helpful in evaluating candidates with little or no work experience.

2. Complete your online profile

Login to your job search account [new window]
Enter your username (OSU email address including "@osu.edu") and password, which is generated by the online job search system. (To change the initial password, click "change password" in Profile.)
Under Profile, complete the data requested in Personal Information and Academic Information. Selected data is automatically populated from the University Registrar's database. To correct your degree, major, graduation date, or overall GPA, see your academic advisor. To correct your work authorization, take appropriate documentation to the Registrar's office. Keep default values (yes) in Privacy fields for full service. Use the Completion Status table on your screen to ensure all fields are complete.

3. Upload your resume

Your account cannot be activated without a resume, so you will want to click Documents and click Add New to upload your resume.
We strongly encourage you to save your Word resume document with the filename "Lastname-Firstname.doc" so employers can easily find your resume among the hundreds of files named "resume" or "my resume".

4. Submit the Quarterly Activation Form

If you notice the words "Account Blocked" next to your name in your job search account, your account has not been fully activated!
Before you log out, click Home and click and submit the Quarterly Activation Form which is in the lower right corner of the Home screen. Activation is automatic unless there is a problem with your account. Read the online messages when you activate your account. These messages will provide you with information that is critical to your job search.
When your account is activated, you have direct 24/7 access to job opportunities. You can apply for and schedule on-campus interviews, you can apply for job postings, you can reserve space in employer presentations and workshops, you can search our employer database, your resume can be sent to approved employers, and employers who use our searchable resume books can find your resume.

5. Attend Your Resume Consultation

Revise your resume based on feedback received during your appointment.
The first resume that is uploaded will be designated as your default resume and is the one that will be used for resume referrals and resume books. If you revise your resume or upload more than one version, be sure that the correct one is designated as the default resume. You must have a default resume to be included in referrals and resume books!

KEEP YOUR JOB SEARCH ALIVE WITH QUARTERLY UPDATES

For every quarter you wish to continue your job search, you should complete the following update steps between the Wednesday following finals week and the first Friday of the new quarter in order to have your job search account reactivated and your resume in circulation.

1. In your job search account, update the "Personal Information" and "Academic Information" sections with special attention to these fields:

Current Address
Phone Number
Major GPA

2. Update your resume. While reviewing your resume for updates, pay close attention to the following sections:

Current Address and Phone Number
Overall GPA - It should match the information in your job search account.
Honors and Accomplishments - Add any new memberships or team projects.
Experience - Add any new responsibilities and achievements.
Availability - if listed on your resume, make sure it is up-to-date.

3. Double check to make sure that your profile in your job search account matches your resume!

4. Could it help to have your resume reviewed again? You are welcome to schedule an appointment with one of our ECIP staff members. Call 292-6651 or stop by 199 Hitchcock Hall to schedule.

5. Upload your revised resume into your job search account and be sure to designate it as your default resume.

6. To notify us that you are still looking, complete the Quarterly Activation Form. Quarterly updates ensure that student information is up-to-date and that students are still seeking (and the student's preferred job type and available quarters are correct).

CONNECTING WITH EMPLOYERS

ECS has several ways to help students and employers connect. An employer may use any one or more of these services to connect with students. You need to actively apply for job postings and to sign up for on-campus interviews and not just passively hope an employer will find you.

On-Campus Recruiting
On-campus recruiting is one of the most valuable job search services available to registered students. These employer visits offer candidates convenient opportunities to meet with recruiters for an initial round of interviews that may lead to a company site visit or an immediate job offer. On-campus interview opportunities will be extended to you through your job search account. Frequently check for upcoming interview dates and recruiting events. There are two types of campus interviews:

Preselect: Employers schedule interview dates well in advance of a campus interview visit, enter a job description and specify qualifications. You must meet the employer's qualifications or complete an "override request" form (available from our office) to apply. You apply when the application window is open (typically about 3 weeks prior to the interview) by clicking the "submit" button on the job description page, which submits your resume for consideration. Employers log on to review the applicants' resumes and decide who will be "invited", "alternates" or "not invited." Invited candidates can sign up for interviews when the sign-up window opens; alternates get second priority.
Open: Employers enter a job description and specify qualifications. You don't need to submit your resume in advance. Qualified candidates can schedule interviews on a first-come, first-served basis.

Job Postings
Approved employers post jobs through the online job search system and candidates submit both a resume and a cover letter to express interest in the position. Your cover (application) letter should be inserted in the Notes section of Application Status which can be found to the right of the position description under Job Postings.

It's best not to limit your search by location. Many employers choose "unspecified" for location; if you limit your searches to a specific state, you will miss employers actually hiring for your preferred location.

Special note to students with undeclared engineering majors: Since students' degrees and majors are imported from university records, students with undeclared engineering majors will only be able to apply for job postings initially. Once an engineering major is declared and added to university records, students will also be eligible for on-campus recruiting, resume referrals, and resume books.

Resume Referrals
Approved employers ask ECIP to run a database search to identify candidates who meet that employer's specified criteria. You will receive an email alerting you that your resume has been sent and to whom. You can log in to your job search account, search for that employer in the Employer section, and review the profile, check out the website, etc. Interested employers will contact you directly by phone or email. Be sure to reply promptly! Even if you're not interested, please be polite and say "no thanks."

Searchable "Resume Books"
Approved employers may choose to conduct their own searches of the active candidate database and may contact you directly.

Job Shadow Program
Ohio State's Job Shadow Program is a one-day opportunity for students to spend time with an engineering employer, observe engineers, and learn more about careers related to specific majors. The event takes place at various company facilities throughout Ohio during the week of Ohio State's spring break.

ADDITIONAL JOB SEARCH RESOURCES

Students' Evaluations of Their Co-op & Internship Experiences: "What's the real scoop on that employer?" "What do those co-ops really end up doing on the job?" Find out what other students have said about their co-op and internship positions, good and bad, before accepting an offer! These evaluations are kept on file for your review and will soon be available for review on our website.

Engineering Career Services' Website: Check out on-line handouts and links to helpful information on interviewing, evaluating job offers, salary statistics, links to other helpful sites and more!

NACElink: Current engineering students as well as many alumni may us NACElink Connect, an online national job board for all types of employment, including full-time and part-time jobs, internships, and co-op positions. NACElink Connect is a service provided by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Career Exploration Software: A software package called FOCUS can guide you through an eye-opening analysis of your skills, interests and values so that you can then compare them with multitudes of occupations. Compatible occupations can also be explored for educational, skill, and life style requirements.

Career Library: Located in Engineering Career Services in 199 Hitchcock Hall. (This space is also used as a waiting area for campus interviews.) The career library contains a variety of employer information (paper, video, electronic), computer terminals for web access, co-op and internship reviews of their employers, and other publications with helpful job search information.

Career Fairs: Obtain a listing of Ohio State's career fairs from the information counter or through your job search account. Interact with employers who are eager to meet Buckeyes. Since these are large events, we recommend that you determine which employer booths you will visit prior to the event. Be prepared with copies of your resume and dress professionally.

Job Choices: Annual publication containing great job search advice and examples of resumes and letters, as well as an index of employers actively recruiting engineering students. This is free to you thanks to employer donations.

SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING

In order to obtain an offer, you need to be able to effectively communicate your skills to an employer. In preparing for an interview, you will want to practice answering questions using the Circumstance / Action / Results (CAR) or Situation / Task / Action / Results (STAR) technique. You will also want to review your resume and be able to discuss any item listed.

Your job search account makes it easy for you to conduct pre-interview research! Start by clicking on the job title and carefully reviewing the description. How do you fit? Does the information list key traits that are sought in potential employees? What especially interests you about the job? (Prepare to discuss this in your interview.) What questions do you have about the details of the job? (Make a list to ask in your interview.)

Next, click on the company name and review the employer profile information the company has entered for you. What interests you about the company and industry? What questions come to mind?

Finally, click on the company's url to check out the website. Your questions not only gather data to help you assess whether this is a fit for you, but also prove that you've researched the company and are interested in that company.

At the conclusion of the interview, be sure to send the employer a thank you letter to emphasize your continuing interest in the company. A sample is available in the Job Choices publication you receive when you register and the student resources section of our website. For assistance in writing this type of letter or for additional interview tips, take advantage of the services available to you through Engineering Career Services.

Attend interviewing workshops. The dates and times of these workshops may be found under the Events or Calendar headings in your job search account.
Read the interviewing and job search correspondence articles in Job Choices.
Schedule an appointment with an ECIP staff member to address questions specific to your situation or to follow up on interview feedback from an employer. (If we receive interview feedback from an employer, we will send you an email suggesting that you come in for coaching.)

KEYS TO SUCCESS IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

Complete all quarterly update steps between the Wednesday following finals week and the first Friday of the new quarter.
Be fully prepared to interview during autumn quarter…even if you are seeking a summer position. 70% of co-op and internship on-campus interviews takes place autumn and winter.
Check Jobs every 3 - 4 days for on-campus interviews and job postings…don't miss any opportunities.
Create Search Agents to automate your search. (But ask for help to make sure you're doing them correctly.)
Check your email frequently…for employer messages, special announcements, changes in interview schedules, and other information that could affect your job search.
Respond quickly to interview invitations…Those students invited to participate in an on-campus interview will have a limited time, approximately 2 days, to schedule an interview online before the schedule is opened up to other students. Although invited students have priority scheduling, interview time slots fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
Research employers…information is easily accessible online through links provided in your job search account. Employer information is also available in the ECS Career Library. Recruiting booklets, annual reports, product/service information, and evaluations from past students will provide information so that you can impress employers with your knowledge about the company and position, ask intelligent questions, and convey sincere interest in their opportunities.
Attend workshops…for interview skill improvement, for job search strategies, and for professional correspondence tips. Check Events or Calendar in your job search account for dates/times.
Attend employer information sessions…to be better prepared for the interview and to demonstrate interest. Candidates who are not able to attend an information session without informing the employer may risk eliminating themselves from further consideration.
Obtain interview feedback…to help you identify what you do well and what needs some improvement. If you receive an email regarding interview feedback, schedule an appointment with an ECIP staff member to discuss the feedback so that you are better prepared for the next interview.
Follow the Professional Code of Conduct…These are the rules for using ECIP services.
Contact the Director when difficult situations arise…for support and guidance. Lack of communication surrounding difficult situations often results in negative consequences.
Schedule an appointment…for any question or concern surrounding your job search. That is what we are here for!

A NOTE ON JOB SEARCH LETTERS

An ECIP staff member can review and help you fine-tune your letter(s).

Cover Letter or Application Letter: A letter that accompanies your resume when you apply for job openings other than those associated with on-campus interviews. Job Choices and the example found in the handouts posted on our website are excellent resources for advice on how to write this document.

Thank You (or Follow-up) Letter: Ideally a follow-up letter to thank the employer and reiterate interest in the opportunity should be sent within 48 hours of your interview. Job Choices and the example found in the handouts posted on our website are excellent resources for letter-writing advice and examples.

MANAGING OFFERS & WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ACCEPT A JOB

It is contrary to professional ethics and the policies of this program to continue interviewing once an offer has been accepted verbally or in writing. Do not accept an offer until you are prepared to commit to that job. All offers require a timely response; either an acceptance or a decline. Do not leave an employer "hanging." We strongly recommend that the offer be obtained in writing (e-mail's OK) so that the terms are clear.

You don't need to accept on the spot!

Ask the employer when s/he needs your answer. You should have at least three days to think it over - often you'll have longer. Not sure if it's right for you? Make an appointment with an ECIP staff member to talk this over and plan your best approach.

Managing Multiple Job Offers

Consult with an ECIP staff member if you have any difficulty with, or questions about, handling offers. (Don't wait until the employer's deadline - you might not be able to get an appointment in time!)

If you need more time...

If you need more time before making a decision, you might say something like, "I'm very interested in this offer but I'd like to think it over. Is there any flexibility in your response deadline? I have already committed to interviews with other employers and would like to honor those commitments. [Or: This is a big decision for me, and I'd like to think it over carefully before making a commitment.] Could I get back to you with my answer by...[date]? Once you've agreed upon a new date, be sure to meet that deadline.

Accepting an Offer: Job Acceptance Paperwork and Engineering 689

Job acceptances can be reported by completing a Work Assignment Form (WAF) or by submitting the information online under Report your offers/hires/plans. This form serves as notification that you have found a co-op or internship position and no longer need to have your resume circulated. This form also enables us to collect data required by the College and to enroll you in Engineering 689 to document your co-op or internship experience on your transcript.

When reporting your job acceptance , you should also review the "Leaving Campus Checklist". The checklist is available as part of the Work Assignment Packet [pdf] and can be obtained from our information counter in 199 Hitchcock Hall.

To receive a "Satisfactory" grade in Engineering 689, an Employer and a Student Evaluation must be submitted to ECIP for each work term by the deadline indicated on the Academic Calendar. For example, two sets of evaluations would be submitted during a six-month internship; one set at the end of each quarter.

The Performance Evaluation [pdf] is designed to promote a discussion between you and your employer regarding your success in meeting the employer's expectations and goals for future assignments. The Experience Evaluation [pdf] is your opportunity to provide ECIP and future candidates with honest feedback about your co-op or internship experience.

The evaluation forms are available on our website but can also be completed online. Under Co-op & intern students (ECIP), click on ECIP manage work records. It is your responsibility to make sure ECIP receives a copy of both evaluations at the end of every quarter.

ENGINEERING 689 - WHAT IT IS & HOW IT HELPS YOU

Students working full-time during autumn, winter, and spring are automatically enrolled in Engineering 689.

What is Engineering 689?

Engineering 689 is a zero-credit course with no meeting times
Engineering 689 is graded S=Satisfactory or U=Unsatisfactory based on ECIP's receipt of your student and employer evaluations
It appears on your transcript as "Professional Experience" for each quarter enrolled
The fee is half of one credit hour which is approximately $240 for Ohio residents

Why Enroll?

Engineering 689 is the means by which a student maintains full-time enrollment while working. Engineering 689 will not maintain student athletes' full-time status at this time.
For some employers, enrollment in 689 is a prerequisite to employment since enrollment in such a course fits the legal requirements outlined in Ohio Revised Code Section 4141.01(A)(3)(e)(ii). These employers will call us to verify enrollment.
In Ohio, as in many states, co-op and internship experience counts toward the 4-year field work requirement needed to obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) license. (Note: only experience from the junior year onward applies.) Transcript notation through Engineering 689 formally documents your co-op or internship position.
Students receiving financial aid who are not enrolled in 689 risk being required to begin repaying their loans. If you are not enrolled in any classes, the Office of the University Registrar will consider this a term of non-enrollment. Although 689 does not equal 12 hours of classes or allow you to receive financial aid while you are co-oping or interning, 689 does verify that you are a continuing full-time student on co-op/intern so that falling into premature loan repayment can be avoided. Students receiving financial aid should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid when enrolled in Engineering 689 so that eligibility for financial aid can be reviewed.
Engineering 689 is the prerequisite for the Professional Practice in Industry (PPI) course. Ask your academic advisor for more information.
Many students are covered under their parents' car and health insurance policies. Frequently, insurance companies require verification of full-time enrollment. We can only provide this verification for students enrolled in 689.
To pick-up athletic tickets during the quarter you are working. You will need a letter from our office verifying your full-time status.
To use on-campus recreation facilities, if you're working locally. Students enrolled below four credit hours are not charged the RPAC membership fee but are eligible to purchase a membership. You will need a letter from our office verifying your full-time status.
Students who are working outside of Columbus and who want to waive their residence hall contracts need to be enrolled in 689.
You must have health-insurance to participate and enrolling in 689 ensures that you do

Financial Aid and Scholarship Can Be Lost Without Making Advanced Arrangements

If you are receiving financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) through the University, you will not receive funds the quarter you are working (you're getting paid by your co-op/internship employer instead).

For scholarships, you can meet with Dave Donley, the College Scholarships Coordinator (donley.2@osu.edu or 614/292-7694).
For loans and grants, you should make an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor to inform him or her that you will be on a co-op or internship assignment and to review your eligibility for financial aid. A Financial Aid Counselor is available in the College of Engineering every Thursday afternoon by appointment 614/292-2651 or on a walk in basis, with the exception of summer quarter and quarter breaks. Students can also call 614/292-0300 for an appointment in Lincoln Tower.

If you don't take care of this in advance, you could jeopardize your future aid. It is your responsibility to take care of these arrangements before you leave campus.

YOUR NEXT ECIP SEARCH

Once you have been successful in finding employment, your access to the online job search system is suspended so that you are not mistaken for an active candidate.

For students returning from an internship, complete the required update steps. Because co-op positions are intended to continue, co-op students seeking a different opportunity must first submit a Account Reactivation Request Form [pdf] to the ECIP Director, describing the circumstances surrounding the decision to seek another position. This process gives the Director the opportunity to discuss the students' new goals, to guide them through professional resignation procedures, and to provide feedback to the employer if needed. If approval is given, students should complete the required update steps.

If you plan to seek another position while on a co-op or internship, get approval from your immediate supervisor to take time off prior to scheduling on-campus interviews. If you are not able to make it to campus for interviews, please do not schedule on-campus interviews. You should change the objective on your resume to indicate you are out of town and available for telephone interviews only.

YOUR SENIOR JOB SEARCH

Well over half of all on-campus recruiting for graduating seniors occurs during Autumn quarter. Plan to transfer from the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program to Graduating Senior/Graduate Student (GS) prior to the autumn quarter of your last year - Spring or Summer quarters are ideal. This may mean transferring your registration as many as four quarters before you graduate if you are a summer quarter graduate.

Information on transferring your account [pdf] to graduating senior status, upgrading your resume to professional status, a suggested timetable, and so forth, can be found on our website or obtained from our information counter in 199 Hitchcock Hall.

Since most on-campus recruiting occurs during Autumn quarter, it's not recommended for graduating seniors to accept a co-op or internship during this quarter. If graduating seniors decide to accept a position for Autumn quarter, they should get approval from their immediate supervisor to take time off for interviews.

KAPPA THETA EPSILON

Kappa Theta Epsilon (KTE) is the national honorary society which recognizes co-op and intern students with exemplary academic and work performance. KTE promotes and reinforces the educational value of practical experience among students, faculty, and employers; supports the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program; provides information and mentoring to prospective co-ops; and provides networking and campus leadership opportunities to its members.

You are eligible to join this group of students who excel academically and professionally when you meet the following requirements:

GPA of 3.0 or better
At least 50 hours of completed Ohio State coursework
Completion of a successful work term as an OSU co-op or intern
Strong performance evaluations with ratings of either "very good" or "outstanding"

Applications for membership are available in 199 Hitchcock Hall.

ETHICS AND EXPECTATIONS

The policies and procedures adopted by the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program serve to provide excellent customer service and consequently excellent opportunities for employers and students. All registrants with the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program are expected to follow the Professional Code of Conduct below.

I will present my qualifications, interests, and availability honestly. I understand that any deliberate misrepresentation of this information can disqualify me from ECIP services.
I will report my employment to ECIP for data-gathering purposes, regardless of the source of the position.
I will only schedule an interview if there is a genuine interest in a position. I understand that interview cancellations must be made at least two business days prior to the scheduled interview. Missed interviews or "no shows" result in lost opportunities for other students, and they reflect poorly on OSU. Two unexcused interview absences will result in ineligibility for on-campus interviewing for a quarter. A third unexcused interview absence will result in my ineligibility for one year.
I will no longer pursue other employment opportunities once I have accepted a position, verbally or in writing. I understand that reneging is unprofessional and may be cause for dismissal from ECIP.
I will commit to the terms of employment agreed upon between the employer and me, e.g., working the employer's required work terms for a co-op position. I understand that written permission from the Director is required before leaving a co-op arrangement. Without that permission, I will be ineligible to use future ECIP services.
I understand that my job search is my responsibility and that the role of ECIP is to offer support by providing career guidance and by providing additional links to employers to enhance my opportunities.

Our policy on appointments
An appointment is a commitment. Appointments allow us to focus on your issues without distraction or interruption. Advanced cancellation of appointments is expected. Missed appointments result in missed opportunities for other students seeking help and are unprofessional and discourteous. A pattern of missed appointments will result in delayed access to job search services. Appointments are required for initial resume reviews (not needed for updates), job change requests, and any concern that might benefit from substantial discussion.

Establishing and Maintaining Your Professional Image with Employers

As a co-op or intern from Ohio State, you serve as an "ambassador" for the University and College. Please keep this in mind - professional behavior during all recruiting events and on the job will support a positive reputation for the University, the College, and ECIP.
You are expected to adhere to the interview "no show" policy. It is contrary to professional ethics and the policies of this program to continue interviewing once an offer has been accepted verbally or in writing. Do not accept an offer until you are prepared to commit to that job. All offers require a timely response; either an acceptance or a decline.
Co-op work schedules are arranged between the student and the employer based on the employer's staffing needs and the student's academic schedule. It is your responsibility to clarify your work schedule before accepting a position. (This includes understanding how many quarters as well as to which quarters you are committing.) Your employer depends on you to honor all work commitments.
If you experience problems with your job, you should first discuss your concerns with your immediate supervisor or your employer's Human Resources Manager. If you need additional advice or assistance, promptly contact the Director of the Engineering Cooperative Education & Internship Program. Students who resign from a co-op or internship position without prior written permission may become ineligible for ECIP services.
While you are on campus, it is your responsibility to maintain contact with your employer to assure your return for subsequent work periods and to clarify the dates that these subsequent assignments will begin.
Please note that under Ohio law, co-op and internship students are not eligible for unemployment compensation. Co-op and internship students are hired for a limited time period and are not "laid off" at the end of the work term.
Failure to comply with program expectations may result in temporary or permanent suspension of your account.

YOUR 24/7 JOB SEARCH ACCOUNT

When your account is activated, you have direct 24/7 access to job opportunities: you can apply for and schedule on-campus interviews, you can apply for job postings, your resume can be sent to approved employers, and you can search our database of several thousand OSU engineering employers. The following are components of your job search account:

Profile: This puts your information into our candidate database. You will complete the Personal Information and Academic Information fields. Most academic data fields and the work authorization status field are imported from the University Registrar's system.

To correct errors in your major, graduation date, or overall GPA, see your undergraduate academic advisor. For errors in work authorization status, take appropriate documentation to the Registrar's office.

Updates from the Registrar will be imported nightly. Keep privacy field values set to yes (the default), in order to be considered for all career services.

Documents: Upload your resume(s) in this section. Your account cannot be activated without a resume. The first resume uploaded is automatically designated as the default resume, which is used for resume books and resume referrals. If you upload a later version of your resume, it will NOT be automatically designated as the default - you must click "make default"!

Employers: This section provides you with a window into the ECS employer database. Browse employer profiles, run a quick search using key words, and designate Favorites to review and contact later. (Please remember that this is a fairly new system; fields are still being populated and additional data and functionality will be added over time.)

Jobs: This is where you submit resumes for both on-campus recruiting (on-campus interviews) and job listings (ads). You can set search agents to create automated searches and email alerts. Ask and ECIP staff member for help to get started. Note the posting codes: P and O refer to types of on-campus interviews. J indicates a job posting (an advertisement).

Interviews: Schedule interviews, view and reschedule interview times, or cancel interviews if within the deadline.

Events: Click here to see lists of upcoming career fairs, employer information sessions associated with on-campus interviews, and ECS workshops and presentations.

R.S.V.P.: An abbreviation meaning, "please respond". You should sign up for any event that you plan to attend. This may be done in the Event listing.

Information Sessions: These employer presentations usually take place within a few days of an employers' on-campus interview date. Their goal is to provide specific information to prepare you for interviewing, to hand out applications or other forms, and to offer an opportunity for informal interaction. If you are scheduled to interview with an employer who is hosting an information session, the employer will expect you to attend this session.

Calendar: Click here to view (by date) interview sign-up deadlines, ECS workshops, information sessions, career fairs, and other employer visits to campus. You can also add your personal events, if you wish.

Help: One nice feature of this software is that the help on each page is limited to just the specific section you are in - so you can actually find what you want to know! Please use the feedback box in your job search account to let us know if a section needs more "help."


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The Ohio State University

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