Students sharpen résumés and practice mock interviews to secure valuable co-op opportunities that shape their future careers

Rochester, New York – Students polishing their résumés and practicing mock interviews are seeing real results, as cooperative education placements continue to open doors to hands-on careers. For many undergraduates, these structured work experiences are not just a graduation requirement—they are stepping stones that transform classroom learning into professional confidence.

One student who knows this firsthand is Muhammad Rafikov, a second-year computer science major preparing for another major milestone. As he gets ready to attend a large spring career fair, his goal is clear: secure his second co-op placement. He plans to lean heavily on lessons learned during his first internship, which he completed last summer at a major technology company.

Like many students in career-focused programs, Rafikov is required to complete several cooperative education blocks before graduating. These co-ops typically last a semester and provide paid, real-world experience directly tied to a student’s field of study. For Rafikov, they have also become a path toward a long-held dream.

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His ambition to work in the tech industry started years earlier, during a high school trip to a corporate headquarters in New York City. That visit left a lasting impression and motivated him to pursue opportunities in software development. Once he began university, he quickly became active in student tech organizations and started refining his résumé with careful attention to detail.

That preparation paid off when he applied for an internship and advanced through several rounds of interviews, including a technical online assessment. Rafikov recalls dedicating countless hours to studying coding problems, focusing especially on data structures and algorithms.

“I also reached to one of my software development professors, Robert St Jacques, to do a mock interview—and he was more than happy to help,” said Rafikov, who is from Brooklyn, N.Y. “He said that if I’m stuck on a problem to think of the edge and base cases first—the things that will obviously work and not work—and then do the complicated stuff.”

Mock interviews proved to be a crucial part of his preparation. His professor, who has years of industry experience, treated the practice sessions much like real hiring situations. Students were encouraged not only to solve problems but also to communicate clearly and explain their thinking.

“Muhammad came to me with topics he thought he was weak in and I posed problems in those areas and gave feedback,” said St Jacques. “It’s important to have a dialogue during an interview—even an OA—and don’t make the interviewer guess what you’re doing or thinking.”

For Rafikov, the ability to speak openly during technical interviews became one of his biggest takeaways. He said candidates should not stay silent while working through problems, even when unsure of the answer.

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Rafikov added, “If you articulate yourself during the interview—even if you know you’re wrong, maybe you’ll help yourself or they’ll nudge you in the right direction. Interviewers are people too and they want to see you succeed. Say what you are thinking, so they know that you know your stuff.”

His journey to securing the internship included a moment of panic. Rafikov admits he has a habit of declining phone calls from unknown numbers. When the company called to deliver its decision, he initially rejected the call and later struggled to reconnect. Fortunately, the recruiters reached out again the next day, and this time he answered.

That call led to a summer spent working as an associate software engineering intern on a specialized team developing new systems. The experience gave him both technical growth and a glimpse into professional life within a fast-paced environment.

Outside of work tasks, Rafikov enjoyed exploring the corporate campus, commuting by bike, and even spending time at a different office location for part of the summer. The internship also allowed him to interact with peers from other leading companies, expanding his network and exposure to diverse ideas.

“Personally, it was one of the most fulfilling periods of my life as I was surrounded with like-minded and brilliant colleagues at the top of their field and given meaningful work that had lasting stakes for the wider team,” said Rafikov. “I also happened to learn a lot from my roommates, who were working for Nvidia.”

Now, as he prepares for another career fair, Rafikov sees his experience as proof that persistence and preparation truly matter. His story reflects a broader trend among students who invest time in polishing their résumés, practicing interviews, and seeking guidance from mentors.

For many, co-ops are more than temporary jobs—they are opportunities to test ambitions, sharpen skills, and build confidence long before graduation. And for students like Rafikov, each step forward brings them closer to the careers they once only imagined.