Co-operative Education Consultant (Political Science, BA)

Robyn Naylor, Fanshawe College

By: Claire Jordan, Career Centre Peer

Robyn graduated from Laurier in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She began her degree with the dream of working in policy to assist in curriculum development at a high level but soon realized her passion for programs and services that contribute to enhancing students’ experiences while attending post-secondary education. After graduating, she worked at Georgian College in an academic upgrading position, which involved helping people gain the high school credits and skills needed to facilitate a career shift. Robyn then spent many years supporting people at multiple Employment Ontario service providers while obtaining her Career Development Certificate with Conestoga College. Robyn then secured a 6-month contract as an Employment Consultant at Fanshawe College, and after networking with her peers, applied for her current position as a Co-operative Education Consultant.

Robyn’s typical week varies depending on where her students are in the co-op cycle. Robyn works with students at 3 levels of the co-op process: people who are preparing for co-op involve Robyn delivering employment preparation workshops (level 1), people who are searching for a position for their first work term (level 2), and people who are currently participating in a work term or are searching for their second one (level 3). For all students, she reviews work term agreements to ensure everyone is progressing well as they progress through the program. Robyn also conducts midterm monitors, checking in with students to track their growth and answer any questions. The role requires a balance of administrative and interpersonal work, so being comfortable working both with others and independently is important.

In terms of education, most jobs in Robyn’s field require a bachelor’s degree. Still, many people working in the field complete a master’s in education or a related discipline and additional certification programs to build the skills they need when supporting students. As an undergraduate student Robyn completed many writing assignments and says she uses her writing skills daily when writing work term agreements and other documents.

Robyn’s passion for student success shines through, and her favourite part of her role is staying connected with students throughout their degrees. Supporting students where they are and being able to track and measure success is an energizing part of her role. However, the role also comes with a heavy caseload and requires a strong ability to navigate labour market trends to best support students looking for work.

According to Robyn, working as a co-op consultant requires strong interpersonal, empathy and active listening skills since students need targeted support to meet their specific needs. It is important to listen to provide varying options for students instead of what you might perceive as the ‘best’ option for them. Since the work can be draining, especially when the labour market is not in favour of job seekers, a positive attitude is key. Finally, Robyn emphasized the importance of teamwork when supporting a student and knowing when to provide a referral to other resources or departments that might support the student better.

Robyn highlights the value of networking in the job search process. In her experience, people in the student support field are open and eager to help interested students, so contacting people who work in postsecondary student services and student success offices will help you learn more about these types of roles to determine the area of best fit. Above all, Robyn advises students to pursue a career that works best for them and to use their networking skills to gain a deeper understanding of a career, which will help them more meaningfully reflect on their own career goals.