Fellowship FAQs
Know before you commit
Fellowship requirements: Ensure you can commit to the below items.
Live class Monday through Wednesday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, cameras on. Sessions are not recorded.
4-5 hours a week outside class for self-paced assignments, certifications, and your capstone.
At least 90% attendance.
Required in-person programming once a month in your region.
Required certifications for your track, including Google AI Professional Certificate.
An active job search, including interview practice and attending employer events.
Staying in touch with COOP about your employment for 12 months after you complete the fellowship. This will be done through 4 surveys we will ask you to complete.
If you have concerns about your ability to meet these requirements, email recruiting@coopcareers.org as soon as possible. We would rather plan with you now than try to course correct later.
Pre-program
-
To complete the fellowship and join the COOP alumni community, you must maintain at least 90% attendance, complete the required certifications for your track, complete your capstone project with your pod, and complete required assignments/badges/ and surveys.
We celebrate every job offer, and we encourage you to continue with the program even after accepting a new position.
-
First, ensure you’ve completed all onboarding steps in your onboarding email.
Next, the best way to prepare is to make sure your schedule is free during fellowship hours, and that you have 4-5 hours per week in your schedule dedicated to work outside of fellowship hours as well (there are required assignments every week that need to be completed outside of session hours).
Depending on when you’re accepted into the fellowship, you may be invited to pre-cycle events to learn more about COOP before the fellowship starts. Rest assured that we are hard at work getting everything ready for your first day!
-
Planned absences disclosed during the application process are shared with your program team before the fellowship begins, and your acceptance to the COOP Careers Fellowship is contingent on your ability to meet the 90% attendance requirement.
If your schedule changes, concerns arise, or you’re made aware of any new potential conflicts with the fellowship schedule before the program starts, email recruiting@coopcareers.org right away. In most cases, planned absences count against the 90% attendance requirement, so timely communication is key.
Please note that accommodation requests concerning attendance are very rarely granted; we are unable to make scheduling accommodations for job schedule adjustments, graduate classes, other programs, or other circumstances. Failure to disclose planned absences or scheduling conflicts can impact your eligibility for the fellowship and could lead to withdrawal of your seat.
-
The fellowship schedule is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm-9:30pm.
The schedule is generally:
6:30 p.m. program announcements
6:45 p.m. break out into assigned cohorts
7 p.m. lesson or workshop
8 p.m. break
8:15 p.m. activity or group work
9:20 p.m. program summary and closing reminders
9:30 p.m. program concludes for the night
Beyond program hours, self-paced assignments are typically due on Mondays and can be completed at any time during the week.
-
All fellows must maintain a 90% attendance rate in order to be eligible for completion of the COOP Careers Fellowship. To be considered present, fellows must join their Zoom link (or arrive at in person programming) by 6:30pm, must keep their camera on when meeting virtually, and remain in session until 9:30pm. Logging off early, arriving late, turning off your camera or abandoning the session, or failing to communicate attendance challenges in advance can all negatively impact your attendance rate and your eligibility for completion.
Missed sessions and content covered during an absence cannot be made up, and sessions are not recorded, so we encourage fellows to plan ahead to review session materials on Brightspace and consult with their cohort to catch up on missed content.
Attendance and participation expectations will be adjusted as outlined in a fellow’s approved accommodations.
-
During our program kickoff, you can expect to receive a warm welcome, learn about COOP’s history and future goals, and meet with your Program Manager and fellow community members.
Attending the first day is mandatory, as important information such as meeting times, Zoom links, and other logistics may be shared during this session.
-
Having a professional email is a reflection of your brand as a professional and will be visible to employers when you submit applications.
In addition to this, using another organization’s domain as your primary email means that that organization has access to and can control access to all data in your inbox and account.
Lastly, we cannot add you to the tools and platforms we use unless you have a personal Gmail account.
-
Cohort assignment depends on a number of important factors, including your region and track. Cohorts cannot be assigned until you have completed the required steps in your onboarding email.
Completion of the pre-program survey is especially important for us to be able to assign you to a cohort.
You will learn your cohort number during the first week of the program.
-
You will review the general schedule during the first week of the fellowship.
Because the HQ team is hard at work scheduling partnership events and booking time with industry leaders to enhance your experience, we cannot always provide a firm agenda for the entire semester, and any agendas that are provided are subject to change without notice. However, all required live programming will always happen during the same schedule (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 6:30pm-9:30pm local time), with some optional, but strongly recommended programming occasionally occurring outside this timeframe.
If you would like to review, each skill that we teach for each track can be found on our website under “For Applicants.”
-
You will need access to a functioning laptop (running Windows or MacOS not ChromeOS) with a camera, microphone, and reliable internet access for the COOP Careers Fellowship.
If your track involves Tableau instruction (data analytics and financial services), your computer should also meet Tableau’s technical requirements.
There’s no need to install anything prior to the program start date.
If you have concerns about your technology, please contact recruiting@coopcareers.org prior to the start of the fellowship.
While each track is different, most tracks use the following platforms for teaching technical skills: Coursera, Brightspace, and Google Suite.
Reminder: You will need a personal Gmail account that is not work or school affiliated.
-
COOP’s Social Work team provides case management, connections to community resources, referrals, and psychoeducational and peer support groups. The team also develops and facilitates community-building and well-being workshops, known as “Heart” workshops, that address challenges Fellows may experience during their career journeys.
For example, Heart workshops offer practical strategies for navigating psychosocial stressors, managing rejection and uncertainty, building confidence, and developing skills that support well-being in the workplace and everyday life.
-
Our Social Work team will share a Request for Services (RFS) form during the initial Heart workshop.
After submitting the form, you will receive consent forms to complete before a social work clinician reaches out to coordinate an initial appointment.
If you are experiencing challenges that may affect your ability to participate in or succeed in the program, you can request Social Work support. You may also contact a member of the Recruiting team if you need help navigating program-related concerns. Before February 17th, 2027, email recruiting@coopcareers.org. After that, contact your program manager.
-
Absolutely!
We offer learning accommodations based on fellows’ individual needs and COOP’s available resources, which you have the opportunity to request in the pre-program survey.
If you request a learning accommodation on your survey, a member of our Program team will contact you to discuss the learning accommodation(s) you are requesting. Any accommodations made are at the discretion of program leadership.
You may also fill out the accommodations request form which can also be submitted before or during the program. For requests submitted before January 19, 2027, please allow up to three weeks to receive a decision.
During program
-
Once you have been assigned a cohort in a respective track, reassignments are not possible.
When you begin the fellowship, we expect you to honor your commitment to your cohort, captains, and track.
If you are interested in learning about one of our other tracks, we encourage you to build relevant connections within the COOP network, and to take advantage of ongoing supplemental workshops and opportunities offered to fellows and the COOP alumni community.
-
If you have a timing conflict at any point throughout the program, you should immediately contact your program manager.
We understand that life happens and will do our best to work with you. As a reminder, 90%+ attendance is required in order to complete the fellowship.
If you learn of a schedule conflict before the fellowship begins, reach out to recruiting@coopcareers.org.
-
Email your captain and program manager as early as possible if you need to miss a session. All absences count toward the 90% attendance requirement. If you have special circumstances or an approved attendance accommodation, discuss with your program manager how this applies to your situation.
-
Yes!
We will organize optional, in-person networking, social, and professional development events with other cohorts. Generally, these are open to any fellows local to the region in which they are held.
At times, you may have joint cohort sessions as well.
In addition to these touch points, individual pods, cohorts, and tracks often take the initiative to organize social events.
Once you complete the fellowship, you will also be added to our alumni communities, which provides even more opportunities to network with other tracks and cohorts.
-
Our Employer Partnerships team hosts events where you can meet hiring managers, learn about companies, build your network, and practice essential interview skills and prep. Events scheduled during program hours are required, but due to employer availability, many fall during traditional business hours (M-F, 9am-5pm), which are optional yet highly encouraged.
Wear business casual and use the skills you learn during the fellowship to help you follow up with the people you meet. It is normal to feel nervous at first, but your captain and program team will help you prepare, and every event is preparation for the interviews ahead.
-
Many fellows find full-time employment while still enrolled in the fellowship, and we consider this a success!
While we encourage you to embark on your career as soon as the opportunity presents itself, please keep in mind that we still expect you to keep your commitment to the fellowship and your community in order to graduate and join our lifelong alumni community and access alumni-only benefits.
If you receive a full-time offer, please reach out to your program manager, especially if there may be a potential conflict with your new schedule.
We have an accommodation process for fellows who receive full-time employment while in the program.
Any accommodations made are subject to the discretion of program leadership.
-
If you need support with COOP-related work/material, your program manager will work with your captains to set guidelines on how to contact them for assistance outside of program hours.
We also encourage our fellows to lean on their cohorts and the larger COOP community as resources.
-
Your weekly agenda, materials, and assignments live in Brightspace, an online learning environment you will gain access to during the first weeks of the fellowship. Captains will also post updates and reminders in your cohort's dedicated Google Chat. Check these platforms regularly first; building the habit of finding answers on your own is part of preparing for the workplace. When you can’t find answers on your own, ask your captains or your cohort for support.
-
Once you’ve completed the COOP Fellowship, you cannot re-enroll in a different track.
However, as a COOP alum, you have lifelong access to a wide range of alumni services designed to support your continued growth.
These include our online communities to connect with peers, a job board with our employer partners, virtual and in-person events with employers, and free career readiness tools to practice interviews, explore careers, and connect with mentors.
-
COOP is not a job placement program, nor do we guarantee that you will get a job as a result of completing the fellowship.
We are proud that our employer partners love to hire our fellows, but not all of them will have open roles during your fellowship cycle.
While our Employer Partnerships team may organize special events and opportunities to network with our employer partners, it’s your responsibility to take advantage of these opportunities and build the skills you need to be eligible and competitive for open roles. Our Employer Partnerships team also manages a COOP-exclusive job board with job postings we’ve sourced from our employer partner community.
-
COOP is not a job placement program, but we are committed to helping you develop the skills you need to launch your career. Your job search is an active part of the fellowship and throughout the fellowship, you can expect to:
Complete and update your resume and LinkedIn profile to COOP standards
Practice interviews, including telling your story and walking through your capstone
Attend employer events that fit your track and goals
Apply to roles and track your applications
Follow through on opportunities the team shares, and share results and learning with your captain so they can provide support
If you are working part-time or in an underemployed position, keep applying for full-time roles.
-
While some time is provided during fellowship hours to work on activities designed to solidify your understanding of a topic, most fellows will need to spend 4-5 hours per week outside of fellowship hours to ensure all assignments are completed in order to meet program completion requirements.
Notably, capstone projects often require additional time outside of scheduled hours to complete.
Events with COOP’s employer partners, like info sessions, open houses, mock interviews, etc., often occur during traditional business hours (9am-5pm), so we also encourage fellows to keep their schedule flexible to the best of their ability.
In addition to this, all certifications required for your track must be completed outside of program hours.
We recommend ensuring you reserve at least 4-5 hours per week outside of fellowship hours to work on certifications and other work.
-
Your job search continues with COOP's support through ongoing alumni programming for up to 8 months. We will check in with you regarding your employment for 12 months after the fellowship ends. Please respond to COOP communications after the fellowship; it helps us support you and improve the program.
-
When meeting virtually, Fellows observing Ramadan may arrive up to 15 minutes late to program (or 15 minutes after sundown if it occurs after 6:30 p.m.) and may coordinate an additional break during sessions for prayers as needed. Approved arrivals within the allowed window are considered excused and will not negatively impact a fellow’s attendance.
Fellows also may remain off-camera during observance if they wish; off-camera time during observance is an exception to the camera-on policy and will not negatively impact a fellow’s attendance.
For in-person events and programming, fellows observing Ramadan may arrive up to 25 minutes late to program (or 25 minutes after sundown if it occurs after 6:30 p.m.), and will have access to a refrigerator for food storage as well as gender separated spaces for prayers.We encourage over-communication, so if you feel you may need additional flexibility during Ramadan, or you need accommodations for another religious holiday, please connect with your captains and program team.
-
Yes. Employers expect AI skills, so AI is part of what we teach. Every track requires the Google AI Professional Skills certificate, and some assignments require the use of AI tools. We respect that fellows hold a range of views on AI, and you are encouraged to apply your own values in how you use it.
Monthly onsite information
-
Fellows are encouraged to arrive 15–20 minutes before their scheduled program start time.
New York City: All on-site programming will be held at Civic Hall in Manhattan’s Union Square, which is located at 124 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003.
San Francisco Bay Area: All on-site programming will be held at Year Up United, located at 2201 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612.
Los Angeles: All on-site programming will be held at ASU California Center Broadway, located at 1111 S. Broadway Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Chicago: All on-site programming will be held at TechNexxus Venture Collaborative, located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606.
Please note that fellows will need to bring a valid, state-issued ID or driver’s license to be checked in.
-
In-person programming helps fellows build relationships, culture, and community, enhancing the COOP experience and strengthening your network.
Additionally, we know that most employers are hiring for hybrid or in-person work; with in-person programming, fellows practice showing up in a professional, physical space.
We also often schedule major milestones (like mock interviews or group presentations) to take place in-person, to better simulate the workplace experience.
-
Your on-site programming schedule will be shared during the first few weeks of the fellowship.
Please note that COOP fellows are only allowed on-site at our physical locations on the days designated by their program managers, unless otherwise noted.
We welcome individual cohorts, pods, and tracks to take the initiative to meet outside of their in-person schedule to build even stronger connections with the COOP community.
-
Please note that there is no virtual option for fellows that cannot attend their scheduled in-person class day.
If a fellow cannot attend class on a day they are scheduled to be in person with their cohort, that day will be counted as an absence. The student should follow up with a captain or program manager regarding any work to be completed.
As a reminder, COOP requires a 90%+ attendance rate to be eligible for completion.
-
Most in-person days will focus on workshops, resume reviews, and other group activities. However, there may be some in-person days that focus on training-specific content tied to various platforms and technical skills.
-
Overall, dress code is casual for the majority of in-person days, with business casual attire required for partnership/networking events.
Please remember that when you are at COOP, you are representing both COOP and your professional brand; don’t wear anything you wouldn’t wear to a job interview.
-
Before March 1st, 2027, email recruiting@coopcareers.org. After that, fellows should email both their captain and program manager as soon as possible to alert them of a delay or absence. This creates a record of the request, and practices the key skill of proactive communication that is required in workplaces.
-
The fellowship includes required in-person programming once a month, during regular program hours (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, from 6:30pm-9:30pm). Please plan for travel time and transportation costs.
Dates will be shared during the first few weeks of the fellowship and may differ across regions and/or tracks.
Donate