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Many universities have co-operative education or internship programs. They function differently from school to school, but generally companies and organizations post jobs with the co-op office, which members of the co-op programs then apply and interview for (if they are short-listed). It works like applying for regular jobs, except that as a co-op student you are still considered to be a student, and you are learning while you work at your job.
The co-op coordinator usually visits you at your job site, to ensure that both you and the employee are happy with how the work term is going. In return for this, students pay a co-op fee, must abide by the co-op regulations in how they interact with employers, and often complete a report about an aspect of their job or the company that they worked for. Co-op terms last the length of a regular school semester; students usually have to complete a minimum number of terms to fulfill the co-op requirement that entitles you to have "co-op" on your diploma. Co-op students may work at a variety of companies, or stay with the same company for their co-op terms.
Some students, especially if they want to travel or work in a particular field, generate their own co-op term or internship. Making contacts at career fairs or conferences is a good way to find your own internship, or you can approach someone in a company directly and find out if the company takes interns.
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