CO-OP TOUR

Cooperative Education - Tips for the First Day

1. Get Enough Sleep – Enough sleep will ensure you are focused and ready to meet new people and absorb lots of new information. If you are not naturally an early riser, start getting enough sleep and changing your sleep and wake-up times a week or two prior to the first day of work. It takes quite a while to train your body to regular “working” hours.

2. Test Your Transportation Beforehand and Be Punctual – Make sure you know how long it takes you to get door to-door in all types of traffic and then add another 10-15 minutes. Then you will know exactly what time you need to leave your home every day to be on time.

3. Prepare the Night Before – Pick your clothes; pack your lunch; pack your notebook and anything else you require the night before. You will ensure the clothes you need are not in the laundry and that you don’t forget anything you need.

4. Dress appropriately – Watch what other people are wearing when you go in for an interview. Wear clothing to fit in to the workplace. Be well-groomed. It sends a message of efficiency and reliability. Unkempt sends a message of disorganization.

5. Listen, Learn and Take Notes – Pay attention to instructions. Use a small notebook to take notes on anything/everything – colleagues/positions, responsibilities, who to contact for help, systems and rules of the organization, projects, tasks, acronyms, questions…. Learn co-workers’ names quickly.

6. Ensure you have a Positive Attitude – Be enthusiastic and ready to learn.

7. Ask Questions / Ask for Help – No one expects you to know everything. Make sure you clearly understand so you can get the job done correctly. Ask beforehand to ensure you know the details. Ask in the middle of the assignment if something requires further clarification. Communicate openly and honestly about problems or challenges. It is much better to ask than to waste time having to do it over again.

8. Use Time Productively and Take Initiative – If you find yourself without something to do, ask what to do next when you have finished a task. Volunteer to help

9. Leave the Personal Technology Off – Work is not the place for social networking on Facebook; texting friends; or personal activities. You are at work to do work. Turn off your cell phone or other personal devices and don’t use company computers for these activities.

10. Understand You Will Have a Steep Learning Curve – Relax and Have Fun. It will take time before you feel comfortable with your tasks and responsibilities