Student Spotlight: How to Leverage Co-op Rejection to Maximize Your Job Search

Name: Mia Mendoza

Program: Media Studies

Co-op Positions & Employers: Outreach & Engagement Coordinator | UBCO Co-op (8 months)

Current Co-op Role & Employer: Marketing Intern | Flare (4 months) 

How did your co-op experience shape your current career path and professional identity? 

Before joining the Co-op Program, as an Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, I was fortunate to have a bit of work experience already. I started working quite young and have always enjoyed working as a way to learn and gain practical skills. By the time I started co-op, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted—I had a very rigid view of my career plan. 

Being thrust into an incredibly competitive job market forced me to shift that plan. I had to learn to be okay with uncertainty and rejection. It was tough, and it felt like I was being humbled relentlessly. This is where I learned to lean on my values and resources and really figure out what sets me apart. 

The struggle to land a role led me to the Co-op Office—I was confused and running out of time to secure a position. Then, Carly from Academic and Career Advising told me about the Outreach & Engagement Coordinator position. I never saw myself in a business development role, however, I felt passionate about the program’s mission of equitable employment for all students. I decided to take the leap and apply for the position. It was the best decision I could have made. There was so much to learn.  

I am now currently 2-months into my second co-op role at Flare, a cybersecurity tech start-up, which is a completely different world. I never knew I could learn this fast, and that really excites me. I’ll report back with more updates soon (on my LinkedIn, LOL). 

Describe a specific co-op project or experience where you made a meaningful impact on your organization. 

A primary driver of my success during my position as an Outreach & Engagement Coordinator was my commitment to creating opportunities for students and small businesses. I worked hard to create job opportunities by connecting with employers. In the process, I met inspiring value-driven professionals that wanted to see students succeed. As a result, I’m happy to say I was able to generate 30 new job opportunities for co-op students in my time at the Co-op Office! 

I am also really proud of my experience as a TA for COMM 202 – Career Fundamentals during my co-op. I had the opportunity to teach everything I was learning in real-time to students that were going through the exact same thing I did. Through this part of my role, I taught practical career skills and was able to support students directly – which was incredibly meaningful to me! 

What valuable skills did you gain during your co-op work term(s), and how are they still relevant? 

Like I mentioned earlier, I never saw myself in a business development role. However, my experience at the Co-op Office piqued my interest in data analysis. I learned how to analyze early career job market trends, dissecting how these affect our students. Based on this data, I developed an outreach strategy to optimize what positions our students were looking for, through skills like program marketing, sales, and research. In a tough job market, you really learn how to get creative.  

After this experience, I began looking for more of a technical role that could still blend my love of creativity and a fast-paced environment.  

In my Marketing Intern role, I’m currently working in a highly technical industry where my role leans more towards marketing operations. I get to learn even more about how data can inform decision-making!  

Beyond all these skills, one of the most valuable things I learned was patience (more on this later). 

How has networking and mentorship influenced your career? 

Let me tell you: networking and mentorship = everything! 

I’ve had the privilege of having amazing mentors from the start—beginning with the guidance and support of my parents.  

My role within the Co-op Office is testament to the power of networking and the opportunities it creates. As an Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, I was in a unique position where networking was a critical part of my day-to-day. I’ve made so many valuable connections that led me to other opportunities. But even beyond tangible opportunities, these connections also gave me the confidence and audacity to ‘just try’ – even if it feels out of my league.  

I recently had an opportunity to teach a workshop on networking and mentorship with Kabangka – a non-profit empowering Filipino youth in their leadership and career development. I often think networking is like planting seeds. 

Nurture the relationships that align with you – be truly generous – and I promise great opportunities will find you! 

Describe a challenge you faced during your co-op experience. How did you overcome it?

Rejection is a challenge I have had to navigate from two distinct perspectives: as a candidate applying for roles, and as an Outreach & Engagement Coordinator trying to secure partnerships for our co-op program. While I took pride in my ability to craft strong applications, I still faced numerous rejections. Similarly, in my coordinator role, there were instances where I felt I had perfectly conveyed the value of the program, only for a company to decline to post a position. Honestly, there were moments in both experiences when I felt completely defeated, but these setbacks have become invaluable learning opportunities. Here is what I have learned: 

First, I prioritized learning how to de-personalize rejection. There are so many factors to landing a role or establishing co-op partnerships —such as internal company capacity, economic shifts, or timing—that have nothing to do with my aptitude as an employee or as a person. 

Second, I learned to view rejection as just information. In both situations, I focused on the learning opportunity rejection can generate. What can I learn from this experience? What can I do better next time? How can I go about this differently in the future? How can I still turn this into an opportunity that can help myself or others? 

Third, I learned that a “no” today doesn’t mean ‘no’ forever. By keeping the door open and remaining professional, I treat every rejection as an opportunity for growth and a reinforcement that everything happens for a reason.  

What advice would you give to students about maximizing their co-op experience?  

Building on that, to my fellow students, I would like to leave you with this:  

• Get to know the people at the Co-op Office – they’re there to help you (sometimes in really helpful ways you may not have expected)! 

• Surround yourself with ambitious and supportive people – build your network in whatever way feels true to you. 

• Learn out loud by posting on LinkedIn. It’s not as scary as you think! 

Finally, something I wish I’d known earlier is that navigating the start of your career requires immense patience—a valuable skill built through experience and rejection. True resilience is found in your lowest moments; it is the quiet decision to keep trying, even when you don’t want to and even when it’s difficult.  

Whenever you feel this way, I hope you can lean on your community. And when you’re ready, try again.