What Do I Do About Finding Work?

What is this program?

The purpose of Cooperative Work Experience (commonly called Co-op or CWEE) is to combine work experience with classroom instruction to assist students in acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be successful in a chosen occupation.

What are the benefits for students?

• Provides an opportunity for career decision making in a profession
• Improves work performance that leads to a job, raises, or promotions
• Increases communication between you and your work supervisor
• Earns units toward a degree
• Stimulates your individual motivation in your work setting
• Reinforces the connection between college classes and work
• Broadens your skills with your employer

How do I enroll?

Career Work Experience is for students enrolled in career oriented majors. This program provides supervised work experience, paid or volunteer, at a work site that is directly related to the student's career goal, and, along with other on-campus lecture and laboratory courses, in an integral part of the student's major. Students must be concurrently enrolled in at least one other course that qualifies for the degree or certificate in their career/occupational major. Classes offered include:

General Work Experience is for students who want to explore career and work experience opportunities. This program, designed to help students develop career and workplace culture awareness, combines classroom instruction with paid or volunteer work experience, utilizing the community's business, industry, government and non-profit agencies as expanded educational sites.

Service Learning is for students who are co-enrolled in a course that offers a Service Learning option. Service Learning integrates community service with academic learning, focusing on meeting community needs and achieving course objectives.

Can students receive transfer credit for Work Experience?
A transfer-level Work Experience option is available. Transfer of Work Experience credit is accepted at some CSU campuses. Students are advised to check with a Cabrillo College counselor.

Additional assignments required for Cooperative Work Experience Education transfer credit
Based on the discipline of study, students are required to write a research report, to complete an expanded reading assignment, and to present an overview of their work experience learning objectives, activities, assignments, outcomes and evaluation to an appropriate group/audience.

Is it for me?

To help you decide whether the program is for you, ask yourself these questions --

1. Will applying what I'm learning in school to a work setting help me learn more easily?
2. Will applying what I'm learning in school to a work setting reinforce my class content and strengthen my job performance?
3. Will discussing my career skill development with my supervisor help him or her see my motivation and initiative?
4. Do I plan to enroll in at least 7 units this semester?
5. Does a Cabrillo program of school and related work meet my needs now?

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Leslie Read, the CWEE Coordinator, or the CWEE Office in Bldg 1500 #1553A. Office hours are Mon. through Thurs. 1-4 pm. The office phone is 831.477.5650.