Greffard: Co-op experience provides ticket to dream job

Convocation is a time of celebration and excitement but it can also bring anxiety; graduation marks the end of student life and the beginning of life in the “real world.”

For Kristin Greffard, the transition has been seamless, thanks to her work experience with UVic’s Co-operative Education Program. The recreation and health education graduate student landed her dream job within 24 hours of completing her final work term—she’s currently training in Vancouver to become a municipal police officer with the Victoria Police Department.

Kristin completed four work terms, including working on a research project through the Brain Injury Program of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, acting as youth coordinator for the James Bay Community School youth program, and helping to implement healthy workplace plans as a wellness coordinator for the BC Ministry of Environment.

“It took a lot of work but the payoff was priceless,” says Kristin. “My co-op positions weren’t necessarily connected to my career of choice, but they gave me a better appreciation for the people and initiatives in my community and that has been invaluable.”

The co-op program also taught Kristin skills like goal setting, time management and how to embark on a job search. These skills paid off. Twenty-four hours after completing her work term, she was sworn in as an officer in training.

Kristin will spend the next seven months training in Vancouver before being posted back in Victoria.

She’s excited about the future and encourages other students to seriously consider incorporating the co-op option into their education at the university. “Co-op helped me reach my goals by giving me the opportunity to build the skills I needed to pursue my career of choice,” she says. “Now I’m ready to take the next step.”