Cooperative Education

First Formal Interview: Details

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

1. Note that before you can go on co-op, you must first pass a Co-op Preparation course (CS U222 or 223).
2. Schedule a 30-minute meeting (two fifteen-minute blocks) with your faculty coordinator at http://myneu.neu.edu. (Log into MyNEU, click on the "Self Service" tab, and click on "Faculty Calendar" in the bottom right corner.)
3. Once you have an appointment set up, return to MyNEU and click on MyNEU COOL (right beneath the Faculty Calendar link).
4. Fill out the Personal Information tab in the MY PROFILE section.
5. Use the Resume Upload feature in the MY PORTFOLIO section to upload the most current version of your resume. Click "For Review" to upload it as a .doc file rather than a .pdf. If you have multiple documents, be sure to select the correct one as your default.
6. Dress in FORMAL BUSINESS ATTIRE. For men: two-piece suit or jacket, tie, trouser socks, shined shoes. For women: two-piece suit (dress or pants), blouse, pantyhose or trouser socks, shined shoes.
7. Bring with you to the interview:
   • A paper copy of the resume you uploaded into COOL
   • The Co-op Quiz, completed (including autobiography, etc.) . Co-op Handbook can be obtain from http://myneu.neu.edu.
   • Verification of your citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or drivers' license + SS card)
   • A sample cover letter, addressed to your co-op coordinator, explaining why you should be allowed to go on co-op.
   • Un-Official transcript, which my be obtained from http://myneu.neu.edu.

AT THE INTERVIEW

• Treat the entire meeting as a practice interview. Your faculty coordinator will evaluate and critique your appearance, articulation, demeanor, and overall "interview persona".
• Your resume and cover letter will also be critiqued, and your faculty coordinator will make suggestions to help you improve them. Note that your resume MUST be a "tech-style" resume.
• Your resume SHOULD NOT be a Microsoft Word template (or the COOL "Resume Wizard" template), because anyone who sees lots of resumes (like an employer or a co-op coordinator) can recognize a template on sight. Templates are quick and easy, but a resume needs to look like you've devoted some effort and creativity to it.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Revise your resume as your co-op coordinator suggested, and upload the new resume as a .doc (click "For Review") and .pdf (don't click "For Review") file into COOL.
• Complete any other co-op preparation components you may be missing before your Final Clearance meeting.
• During the semester before you're scheduled to go on co-op, complete the Final Clearance meeting and the Seeking New Assignments meeting.
• See your coordinator any time you have questions about co-op.