New Year! New semester! And for a lot of Waterloo students, new co-op!Â
As I start my fourth co-op term, I feel a bit more confident now that I (usually) know what to expect. Despite that familiarity, though, starting another placement is always a little nerve-racking. So, to minimize those nervous feelings and drive my ambition, I start new positions with one goal in mind: making myself noticeable.
I can’t take credit for this idea — I actually received that feedback on my second co-op term. It’s the best work-related advice I’ve ever received though, and I’ve made it my primary goal ever since.
So, how do you make yourself noticeable?
Before my introverts run away screaming and crying, this really doesn’t have to be as “spotlight-y” as it sounds. Just don’t let people forget you. This could mean a lot of things, but I’ll highlight the main ways I’ve remained noticeable enough for returning job offers.
1. Ask questions, make comments
Wow, what basic advice. You’d think so, right? Doesn’t change the fact that a lot of people, especially nervous students, will avoid voicing their thoughts to avoid looking stupid. Unfortunately, that fear of speaking out can sometimes be perceived as indifference.
Believe it or not, managers invite you to those “boring” team meetings for your benefit. Even if the agenda doesn’t pertain to your specific role, you can still learn a lot if you actually pay attention and engage in the conversation. One of the main reasons I received the “be noticeable” advice was because I wasn’t engaged enough. I would go to meetings at my second co-op, and when someone asked if I had any anything to add, I’d respond “nope, all sounds good me!” Sure, my response made me sound like an easygoing person, but all they’re thinking is you just listened to us talk for a whole hour and you don’t have any questions?Â
Don’t pretend like you know those 10 acronyms they kept using. Don’t act like you understand their jargon-filled goal of “streamlining pipeline management to optimize the sales funnel”. Instead, be like “I’d love to ask you more about XYZ!”, or “X project sounds interesting, is there a way I can help support?” If you can’t come up with anything right away, take 10 minutes after the meeting to reflect on everything that was said.
Ask questions, make comments — don’t just be a fly on the wall.
2. Come out of your shellÂ
I like to unwind alone, so spending my lunch break at my desk watching How I Met Your Mother is incredibly appealing to me (which is what I did at co-op #2). But I made an effort at my 3rd placement to eat lunch with my co-workers. Of course, that’s easier when you’re in-person everyday and your co-workers are all your age (which was the case for me), but I also reached out to people older than me who weren’t on my team.Â
I was interested in learning more about public relations, so, after two months of debating, I finally reached out to the company’s Global PR Director for a coffee chat. I was super nervous, but I’m so glad I did! We basically met in the break room for a half hour conversation: I asked him a bunch of questions about his career journey and current role, he asked about my goals and background, and we had a great discussion. I wasn’t trying to market myself or network the path for my future; I just treated it like a regular conversation, and it was one.
Talking to people is better than staying in your shell! The Global PR Director remembered my name, spoke to me regularly, and accepted my LinkedIn request. Who knows where that might lead? Plus, my co-workers became my friends that I genuinely enjoyed hanging out with, and I learned that I actually like working in-office!
3. Impress your manager
If you do your job really well, people won’t forget you anyway. However, if you’re co-op student #25 and don’t know much about what you’re doing, it’s easier said than done.
While producing high-quality work should always be a priority, you could still impress your manager by:Â
- Being well prepared: Before your first day, familiarize yourself with every aspect of the organization and your job description. Make an info document for yourself, create a list of questions, meet with your manager after you accept the job offer — however it is you prepare, do it thoroughly and do it well.
- Brushing up on skills: Will you be working with certain apps or tools you’ve never heard of? Or maybe familiar platforms you haven’t touched in a year? Brush up on those skills so you’re not too rusty on your first day. It’ll show you’re committed to delivering strong results.
- Being innovative: You might be in charge of social media, but did you notice how outdated their website is? Let them know. Do their competitors have more effective marketing approaches? Point that out. Did all the new terms and concepts confuse you in your first week? Make an onboarding document to help the next co-op student. Do things they don’t ask you to, come up with new ideas, and make their lives easier.
- Having strong communication: Some managers will set up frequent meetings with you to go over your tasks, and others will give you a list of priorities for the month and let you run with it. Having an open line of communication, especially in the second scenario, is really important. Ask how often they’d like to be in the loop on your work. Update them, answer their emails, ask for an extension if you’re running behind; just be open and honest.
- Taking notes: Sometimes it’ll seem pointless to write everything down. Do it anyways. My manager asked me to send him the name of a stakeholder that was mentioned in our meeting the other week — I can’t tell you how happy I was that I actually wrote it down. Plus, it’s always great to refer back to notes so you don’t accidentally ask something that was already answered!
No one’s perfect. Sometimes you’ll screw up, say the wrong thing, or miss something you shouldn’t have. You live and you learn! Take those valuable lessons into your next chapter and make sure people remember your name.