Can all University of Regina co-op based Master's program students find co-op jobs?

[changjiangzjj2004@outlook]

Does anyone know if all students of the co-op based Master's program in Electronics Systems Engineering at the University of Regina can find co-op jobs in line with major? In addition, can Electronics Systems Engineering master's students find professional jobs in Saskatchewan after graduation?

 

[raccoonboy]

For co-op, there are no guarantees. The number of students at U of R can fluctuate quite a bit from year to year, and the job market will determine how many co-op jobs are available. U of R has a good co-op job board and a good support system for co-op job seekers but you should be aware that a lot of the jobs posted there are outside of Saskatchewan. If you're looking for co-op work in line with your major, being open to relocating to somewhere like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver for your work term will greatly increase your chances of success.

If settling in Saskatchewan is your goal, there are a lot of government and private companies (SaskTel, SGI, SaskEnergy, Brandt, Evraz, and many tech startups) who use co-op as a recruitment pipeline for hiring after graduation. These positions might not always use your skills as much as you'd like them to but they are an good chance to prove yourself, network, and position yourself as a great candidate to hire after you graduate.

Saskatchewan is a cold and remote place that has some difficulty enticing workers to move there from elsewhere in Canada, and it has a smaller population to draw workers from, so skilled professionals tend to be highly in demand there.

 

[changjiangzjj2004@outlook]

For co-op, there are no guarantees. The number of students at U of R can fluctuate quite a bit from year to year, and the job market will determine how many co-op jobs are available. U of R has a good co-op job board and a good support system for co-op job seekers but you should be aware that a lot of the jobs posted there are outside of Saskatchewan. If you're looking for co-op work in line with your major, being open to relocating to somewhere like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver for your work term will greatly increase your chances of success.

If settling in Saskatchewan is your goal, there are a lot of government and private companies (SaskTel, SGI, SaskEnergy, Brandt, Evraz, and many tech startups) who use co-op as a recruitment pipeline for hiring after graduation. These positions might not always use your skills as much as you'd like them to but they are an good chance to prove yourself, network, and position yourself as a great candidate to hire after you graduate.

Saskatchewan is a cold and remote place that has some difficulty enticing workers to move there from elsewhere in Canada, and it has a smaller population to draw workers from, so skilled professionals tend to be highly in demand there.

Thank you for your time and your detailed answer, I can see that you know Regina and the University of Regina very well. I would like to find a coop job in Regina during my studies and stay in Saskatchewan after graduation in order to fulfill the provincial nomination requirements for international students. I already have a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from China, and I have been working for State Grid Corporation of China for more than 10 years as an electrical professional. The ESE Master's program at the University of Regina includes an 8-month co-op for credit, so in your opinion, do you think I can find a co-op job in an electrical or electronics related field during my studies? Thank you very much!

 

[raccoonboy]

It can definitely be done, and your resume sounds really strong - if you have good verbal communication skills and apply to enough openings you'll definitely land a position somewhere. But there's a relatively small number of co-op jobs available in Regina so there's always a possibility you won't find something. My advice would be to start networking and making contacts as soon as you get to Regina - get to U of R career fairs and to any industry events you can and try to sell the idea of hiring you as a co-op student to prospective employers (especially SaskPower, the provincial electrical distributor).

 

[changjiangzjj2004@outlook]

It can definitely be done, and your resume sounds really strong - if you have good verbal communication skills and apply to enough openings you'll definitely land a position somewhere. But there's a relatively small number of co-op jobs available in Regina so there's always a possibility you won't find something. My advice would be to start networking and making contacts as soon as you get to Regina - get to U of R career fairs and to any industry events you can and try to sell the idea of hiring you as a co-op student to prospective employers (especially SaskPower, the provincial electrical distributor).

Your answers are very helpful, thanks again for your patience.