Early Career & Student Opportunities 

At Ariel, co-op assignments hold true significance to our business. With guidance and structure in a team environment, our co-op students are given the opportunity to make a real impact on the business. In turn, participants gain enriching and diverse experiences and work side by side with experienced leaders to power their careers and make a difference.

Ariel looks for dedicated, enthusiastic, and promising talent. Our co-op recruitment process also considers students' academic records, interpersonal skills, work experience, hands-on mechanical experience, flexibility, and their adaptability to work in a team-based environment.

During the student's time at Ariel, they will progress through a variety of learning opportunities, including classroom instruction, an operations experience, on-the-job training, research, hands-on projects, and other work experience. As a result, the co-op student will begin to develop the following skills and behaviors:

1. Work with a team of professionals while demonstrating critical thinking skills, business work ethics, and technical abilities. 
2. Perform tasks and responsibilities with extra attention to detail, completeness, and accuracy.
3. Plan, initiate, manage, research, report results, and follow through on projects while demonstrating leadership skills, communications skills, and business knowledge.
4. Contribute to project quality by applying technical skills, critical thinking, and academic coursework.
5. Demonstrate professional behavior, follow-through, business etiquette, time management, and interpersonal skills.
6. Communicate with co-workers at all levels within the organization in a variety of work situations by listening attentively, asking well thought out questions, presenting information appropriately and effectively, writing and speaking clearly and succinctly, taking the initiative to keep their mentor and Co-op Program manager informed of work progress, and handling confidential information appropriately.
7. Build working relationships in a professional manner by taking accountability, following up, and establishing trust.

Ariel’s program can be multi-rotational, and students are given the opportunity to receive cross-functional exposure.  A Co-op student’s initial rotation begins with orientation. During this training, students learn our safety procedures and requirements, program expectations, computer systems, ISO standards, and more. Following orientation, they will progress through the Operations Experience track of guided learning with skilled professionals and on-the-job trainers. Departments include, but are not limited to, Assembly, Bill of Material (BOM), Drafting, Machine Shop/Specialty Shop, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain.

Following their Operations experience, students begin their assigned co-op rotation. Students receive an Individual Development Plan (IDP), “customizing” their experience, and end-of-rotation performance evaluations from their mentor(s).  They also meet periodically with the Co-Op Program Manager for curriculum updates, soft skills development, feedback, questions and answers, and coaching.

When students return for their second rotation, they may be assigned to a different department, depending on their degree, strengths, and areas of interest.

The Co-op Program Manager guides the students on their professional development throughout the program. As the student begins their experience with Ariel, the manager will assign the student to a Mentor, who will provide guidance on Ariel’s organizational culture and professional development.

Both the Mentor and Co-op Program Manager will:

• Prepare and plan a valuable learning experience for the student.
• Communicate goals for the co-op assignment and student performance exceptions (expectations?).
• Show commitment to the student by providing necessary training, tools, and resources for their tasks and projects.
• Meet regularly with the student and provide feedback on performance and productivity.
• Encourage the student to participate in professional activities.
• Address any concerns or issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Provide a performance evaluation for the student and to the student's university.
• Wear many hats and play many roles, such as counselor, coach, adviser, and primary contact.

Co-op students are required to give an oral presentation summarizing their experience and accomplishments at the end of their second rotation. The presentation is given to a team of selected senior managers, their Mentor, and the Co-op Program Manager. Presentations usually last about 20 minutes and are a great opportunity for students to outline their project outcomes and learning experiences, and express gratitude to those they worked with.