Student Employment Services
GCC maintains a Student Employment Services office for current students, former students, and alumni. Services include referral for full-time and part-time positions and job placement. The office works in conjunction with counseling on job-readiness skills, career counseling, counseling seminars, and testing. Call 856-415-2154 for information.

Cooperative Education Program
Cooperative education is based on the idea that learning takes place in many different settings — both inside and outside the classroom. The purpose is to create a total learning experience through which students will gain not only specific skills and a broad range of knowledge, but also a sense of professional, financial, and personal responsibility. Cooperative education at GCC integrates organized and supervised employment experiences with regular classroom study.

College credits may be earned for work experience if students’ jobs are related to fields of study or career goals. Appropriate learning objectives are identified and approved for evaluation. Flexibility is built into the program by offering work experience options and related classroom seminars. Students may earn up to six credit hours in certain programs. Additional credits may be earned as free electives. Call 856-415-2154.

Co-Op Advantage to Students

• It gives reality to learning. Students find that studies have more meaning when work experience is coordinated with classroom instruction.
• It increases educational motivation by engendering a sense of professionalism.
• It stimulates personal growth. Students discover that experience can provide them with opportunities to broaden their outlook and shape their behavior patterns to meet demands of their future.
• It provides orientation to the world of work.
• It provides finances. Students with limited finances earn money for a college education which otherwise might have been unattainable.
• It provides experience that is often required for permanent employment.
• It enables students to discover new career opportunities and get paid for their experience.

Cooperative Education Program Options
The cooperative education program offers two options for students — parallel and extended day. Each option requires that an application for employment or approval for a position be submitted to the Cooperative Education office. A permit to register must be submitted at registration. A seminar is held on campus, and regular interaction with a faculty coordinator is required.

The parallel option is designed for students who wish to be employed in a career-related position on a part-time basis (7–20 hours per week) while attending classes. The program supports supervised work experience based upon learning objectives. The extended-day option is for students who work full-time (21 or more hours per week) and attend classes part-time. This option provides direction and individualized career development. Extended-day students may select co-op work experience credits while taking at least one other course at GCC.

For more information, see the Cooperative Education listings under Course Descriptions in this catalog, or call 856-415-2154.

Career Web Sites

Career Key:

A center to assess your career interests and explore information pertaining to occupations.  http://www.careerkey.org.  Search the web for free Careerkey sites.

NJ Next Stop...Your Career:

A website to use as a resource in exploring careers and occupations within the State of New Jersey.    www.NJNextStop.org

The Riley Guide:

Comprehensive listing of career resources.  Great place to start your quest for career information!  http://www.rileyguide.com/careers.html

Also try these:

http://career.missouri.edu/students/majors-careers/skills-interests/career-interest-game/   Career Interests Game from the University of Missouri

www.monster.com The largest online job search page available.  Also links to a variety of other career and employment resources

http://college.monster.com/?wt.mc_n=monstertrak  This tool converts majors to career options.

http://www.salary.com/  Find out what your credentials and experience are worth across the country  

http://www.bls.gov/emp/  Search for occupational information on a variety of careers and find out career projections, starting salary, and educational requirements.

http://www.matchcollege.com/ Provides information on colleges across the United States.

If you wish, schedule a session with Mr. Ortiz at your convenience by calling 856-415-2197.