Krista F. is a Communication major with a concentration in Integrated Marketing. She recently completed a co-op experience with Urban Bike Project, a local nonprofit. There, she helped with updating the organization’s website, posted news and announcements on their social media platforms, prepared brochures/business cards, and attended their events where she took photos to post on their website/social media sites. Read on to learn more about how Krista is making the most of her education here at WilmU.

What would you like to accomplish after you graduate?

I want get out of the financial field where I sit in an office all day, working 8-5. I plan to start work in my field where I can design, participate in marketing events and begin doing what I love!

Do you feel co-op has helped you get closer to attaining your goals?

Absolutely! I loved the hands-on experience, and feel even more confident that I chose the right career pathway. I feel that I gained experience with using social media platforms, building websites and writing for the public (experience that I didn’t have before this co-op experience).

What made you decide to pursue a co-op position?

I was so anxious to begin working in my field, but felt discouraged that many employers require 1-3 years experience in the field for entry level positions. When I saw Wilmington University’s emails that announce co-op positions, I jumped on the opportunity.

What has been your favorite part of your co-op experience?

My favorite part of the co-op experience was learning hands-on how to use the internet as a marketing tool, taking photos at the organization’s events to use in social media posts, and seeing the positive impact that my marketing efforts made for Urban Bike Project! It was a lot of fun!

Would you recommend the co-op program to other students?

Yes yes yes! Co-ops are a great way to give students that experience that they need to get their foot in the door.

What’s stopping you from building your future? Learn more about the Office of Cooperative Education at our website or by sending an email to capcoop@wilmu.edu.

Joyce M. is a current graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Management (MSM) with a concentration in Human Resource Management.  She graduated summa cum laude from Wilmington University in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. While pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, she completed a co-op experience at the University Relations department right here at WilmU. While there, she learned about organic and paid social media posts, digital advertising, Google AdWords, and Google Analytics. Upon graduation, she turned her co-op experience into a way to support herself while she continued on to pursue her MSM.  Read on to learn more about the co-op program in Joyce’s own words.

Do you feel co-op has helped you get closer to attaining your career goals?
One of the reasons that I decided to come to WilmU from the community college I attended was because of the professional-oriented degrees. I really wanted to do a marketing/social media internship my senior year to gain both experience and learn new things hands-on. My co-op helped me to apply a lot of what I learned in the classroom. Social media is everywhere and being familiar with it is an increasingly important skill set. I am more confident in my social media and marketing skills as a result of this experience.

What was your favorite part of your co-op experience?
My favorite part of my co-op experience was learning about Google AdWords. There is a lot of data that you can obtain from Google to help direct marketing campaigns and decide what type of advertisements to run. Having this data enables marketers and advertisers to make more informed decisions.

Would you recommend the co-op program to other students?
I would highly recommend that juniors or seniors do a co-op. I think that it is a great way to apply what you have learned and learn new skills on the job. The business landscape can change very quickly and learning new things and adapting to a constantly changing environment is imperative to a successful career. A co-op teaches you how to learn and adapt on the job.

What’s stopping you from building your future? Learn more about the Office of Cooperative Education at our website or by sending an email to capcoop@wilmu.edu.