Important Notices

Your first Forestry Co-op Newsletter!

Your one stop shop for Forestry Co-op stories, statistics and best practices. Each month you can find relevant information and read about what co-op students are currently learning on their work term. Industry Partners also have a voice here – sharing tips from interview sessions, providing feedback on your applications and detailing the work term experience from their perspective.  We need to choose a name for this newsletter and you can help! The student who submits the winning name will be given a tote filled with Forestry Swag! Send your newsletter names to tony.loring@ubc.ca by April 4, 2014.

Forestry Co-op connects with industry...

The Faculty of Forestry and the Forestry Co-op Program went to Kelowna to participate in the ABCFP conference. We met with industry representatives to talk about the value co-op students can provide their organization. One of these discussions was with Tolko co-op recruiters who were busy re-establishing their co-op hiring activities on the forestry side of their operations. They expressed how much they valued the co-op student’s ability to commit to more than four months to a work term. Longer terms provide employers with added value after investing in training.

Job Search - How are you doing compared to others?

Latest co-op numbers for summer 2014: 479 Jobs posted (348 BSCN, 234 BSF, 213 BSFS and 53 BSCW) 716 Applications submitted 216 Interviews have taken place 87 of 130 (67%) have secured jobs 3 students hired to work internationally (2 in Finland, 1 in Germany)

Are you an international student? International students going on a co-op work term need a work permit! To start your application you will need a letter from your Co-op Coordinator confirming your acceptance in the program. If you have not already done so, speak to your coordinator and begin your application today! Click here for more information.

Update From The Field

Khalil Walji's Co-op Work Term in South Africa!

Since I have arrived the majority of my work has been in assisting in a Marie Curie project funded by the United Nations. The goals of the project are to look at climate change, specifically drought, and its effect on tree growth in Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster forest stands. I have been involved in setting up a baseline plot to compliment three plots that have already been established. We have measured DBH, heights of the trees, cored roots and measured crown compaction numbers for the dominant and suppressed trees within the stands. This stand data is paired with localized climate data (temperature, precipitation, wind direction) that is collected on a weekly basis. Nine trees are also cored weekly to see how growth is affected over a short time period.

Do you want to go away? We currently have two placements in the works for South Africa to begin in January 2015. If this is something you would like to do contact tony.loring@ubc.ca.

Employer's Point of View

Do you ever wonder what employers say about you?

We have taken the initiative to approach employers after your interviews to collect feedback that might help you with your current or future job searches.  Overall their input fell into two categories:  The Good The Not So Good To get specific feedback about your performance, contact tony.loring@ubc.ca.

Examples of what you did well: Researched the company prior to the interview and showed more than a passing interest in their activities Conducted yourself with great respect, professionalism and politeness Took the time to consider their answers before blurting out a response Spoke well and demonstrated enthusiasm for the learning opportunities that the position could offer Prepared thoughtful questions to ask the employer after the interview was complete Examples of what raised a "red flag" for employers: Being negative or demanding with regard to what you would or would not do for the employer Asking about the possibility of taking time off during the summer Not asking any questions or asking questions that could have been answered by reading their website Putting a reference on your list who did not give a good reference Not knowing how the job you are applying for fits into your career plan (or not having a career plan)

Safety matters...   Most employers agree that a student's ability to understand the importance of safety is a top concern. Employers want to know that you have safety training coupled with an awareness of why safety issues are important in the field. Be prepared to answer questions about safety and to talk about past situations where you dealt with safety issues.

Don't have a driver's license? Get one! Most employers require students to have a valid driver's license so make sure you get one ASAP!

You Have a Voice...

Send us your ideas for the next issue of the Forestry Co-op Newsletter. Tell us your thoughts! What would you like to see changed about the program? What do you love about the program? What content do you want to see in future editions of this newsletter? If you are a senior co-op student we would love to hear your story. Now that you are on your last co-op term, how has the program benefited you? Maybe you will be featured in our next newsletter!

Do you have a job for co-op students? Send your posting to tony.loring@ubc.ca today!