TECH 2890 Report Guidelines

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Answer all of the following Objective questions included in the report template.
• Each objective response must begin on a new page.
• Leave the Objective Statement at the top of each page, as formatted in the report template.
• Each response should be at least 1 page in length, double spaced. If you answer the question completely, providing insight and examples, the length should take care of itself.

COVER SHEET: This page should include:
• Your Name
• Major
• Level of co-op (TECH 2890)
• Job Title
• Company Name
• Company Address
• Brief Company Description
• A photo of yourself representing your daily activities at your co-op site.
(NOTE: This photo may be used for BGSU promotional purposes.)

OBJECTIVE 1: RESUME
Complete an updated resume. An updated resume including your current co-op position must be submitted with the co-op report. You can find a Sample Resume under the “Documents” link of the Co-op Blackboard page (where you accessed this report).

A resume is required even if you have secured future employment. (e.g., working with the same employer, etc.) Each student is required to have a current resume on file with the Office of Cooperative Education, posted onto your Place Pro account.

Your resume may be an employer’s first impression of you. Be sure your resume represents your best effort.

OBJECTIVE 2: ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Prepare an organizational chart that includes your current position. Hand-written or hand drawn organizational charts will not be accepted. You can find a Sample Organizational Chart under the “Documents” link of the Co-op Blackboard page (where you accessed this report).

Construct a professional looking chart that illustrates formal relationships and job functions and those people responsible for those functions. Some companies do not have an organizational chart. If this is the case, you should discover the relationships mentioned above and create your own.

Small companies are easy to depict. Large companies may be impossible to depict, and may not fit on one page. If you are completing a co-op with a large company, you need only illustrate that department of the organization which you are working. Ask your supervisor or locate company literature (e.g., Annual Stockholders Report, company manual, website, promotional materials) for assistance if needed.

OBJECTIVE 3: RESPONSIBILITIES & ROLES
Describe your responsibilities and the responsibilities of your supervisor and immediate co-workers. This will help you understand how to discover who to talk to when you need to accomplish a task at work, how the company is structured, etc.

Using the organizational chart you completed in Objective 2 as a guide, describe (on a separate page) the responsibilities of the individuals on the chart starting with yourself, then work upward through the ranks explaining the responsibilities of persons in positions above you.

OBJECTIVE 4: COMPANY BACKGROUND
Describe in detail the company background, including:
• Mission Statement
• “About Us” or brief history of company
• What is the company’s relationship to its local community?

Compose a page that responds to this objective. This will require research. Your company’s marketing literature, annual report and/or website are good resources for answering this objective. (You must cite any information you have not written yourself if you use as a source) If you are located in the heart of production activity, this assignment is simply a matter of observation and organized description. Be specific in your descriptions and provide examples.

OBJECTIVE 5: COMPANY CLIENTELE
Describe and provide examples of, your company's primary clientele (customers) and how they are established and served. After providing these examples, suggest methods and provide examples of how your company could improve upon their current techniques.

You should develop a response to this objective that would highlight your understanding of your employer's vital interests. If need be, see your supervisor for specific examples and ideas.

OBJECTIVE 6: DISCOVERIES
Identify any skills, insights, epiphanies and/or work habits developed during the co-op. Describe and provide examples of the impact these newfound abilities and feelings have (or did not have) on your career goals and future course selections.

Each co-op experience should enable the student to gain some additional competencies. Just as important, each co-op enables the student to become more aware of personal feelings and career goals. It is important for one to recognize what one can do, what one likes to do and what kinds of activities one has no interest in pursuing. Each co-op has important effects on the career development of the student. If the student makes an effort to specify and clarify these changes, they are in a better position to plan for their future.

OBJECTIVE 7: ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Write this response as it relates directly to your major. This is your opportunity to contribute examples specific about your major area of study that you have accomplished at this point in time.

Describe and provide examples of a report, special assignment, task or project you worked on during your co-op. You can do this by first stating the objectives of the project/activity followed by a description and outcomes. Be sure to include your specific role in contributing to the project, citing examples in your description.

If you completed more than one special project, please explain those as well. Do not be too quick to decide this objective does not apply, you can relate many of your co-op duties to answer this objective.

OBJECTIVE 8: COMPANY POLICIES
Review the company's employment policies: hiring, advancing, evaluating, firing, retiring, etc. After having done so, describe and provide detailed examples detailing your understanding of these procedures and explain if you think the policies are appropriate or need adjusting.

Possible sources to research this information:
• Supervisor(s)
• Human Resources
• Company website and/or literature

The questions to answer are:
• How does the company recruit hourly and salaried employees?
• What union considerations facilitate or complicate the process?
• Is there a "promote from within" policy?
• How frequently are employees evaluated?
• What wage/salary increments can be expected?
• Is there a profit sharing plan?
• What are grounds for termination?
• How are employees terminated?
• What is the "benefit package?"
• What are the retirement plan options?

OBJECTIVE 9: JOB DESCRIPTION
Prepare an effective job description. The job description should describe your current co-op position.

Job description should include:
• Job title
• All duties associated with this position, essentially, what you will be doing
• All requirements/skills needed to obtain this position
• Software/computer knowledge necessary
• Hourly rate of pay
• Any other special requirements

Research the current job market, using those methods learned while searching for your co-op positions and find an actual job description that closely matches a position you wish to obtain upon graduation. Include this job description in your report (using the ‘copy-paste’ method). Site the source where you found the job description.

OBJECTIVE 10: JOB SEARCH
The concepts of “who you know” and “networking” (among others) are elements that enhance your opportunity to secure an appropriate co-op work experience. Respond to the 4 questions below providing examples and justifications for your responses in each:

1. Describe in detail the resources and process you used to secure your co-op. Provide examples of the different resources you used, for example: newspaper advertisements, Place Pro, web search, previous employer, etc.
2. Explain how many positions you actually applied for and how many interviews you participated in prior to accepting your current co-op position.
3. What was your comfort level during the interview? Where you prepared? What will you change/improve upon prior to your next interview?
4. What did you learn from your job search that will assist you in securing your next position and what will you do differently to increase your chances of securing said position?

OBJECTIVE 11: CO-OP INFORMATION
Please indicate the semester and year you expect to participate in your remaining co-op experience(s) and how you plan to search for and obtain your remaining co-op position(s). Justify how the tasks and responsibilities of your future co-op(s) will increase.

Also rank your current co-op experience in terms of outstanding, average or poor and provide justifications for your ranking.

OBJECTIVE 12: CO-OP EVALUATION
Please respond to the following questions with
1. Ranking (1-4)
1) Strongly Agree
2) Agree
3) Disagree
4) Strongly Disagree
2. Elaboration

QUESTION 1: My co-op search process provided me the opportunity to learn more about my chosen industry and how to secure a beneficial work experience directly related to my major.
1. RANKING:
2. ELABORATION:

QUESTION 2: My co-op supervisor provided me with daily supervision and feedback.
1. RANKING:
2. ELABORATION:

QUESTION 3: The co-op application and registration process was easily navigated.
1. RANKING:
2. ELABORATION:

QUESTION 4: The Blackboard page was a useful tool for submitting my co-op report.
1. RANKING:
2. ELABORATION: