Employers agree that graduates who have undertaken a period of work experience during their degree gain lots of the skills essential for success at work. They are more mature, with strong abilities in teamworking, communication and interpersonal skills, and they have an awareness of the workplace culture.
This is what some employers have to say about CoOp:
"Experience prior to CoOp isn't necessary, what we are really looking for from CoOp students are enthusiasm, initiative and a willingness to get stuck in."
"Ultimately, 50% or our graduate recruits will come in via the placement route."
"I believe that a four-year degree with a work placement period is the best way of building some of the other skills in the ideal graduate, some of the interpersonal stuff. And I don't see any other way of doing that. You can't expect the degree to do everything."
"The CoOp programme allows us to look at students at work and assess them as potential employees."