By Heather Liau

For the 5,200+ employers who hired B.C. co-op students last year, working with a student can be an ideal way to get short-term projects done.

There is a wealth of added benefits to hiring a co-op student, especially if done through B.C.’s post-secondary institutions. B.C.’s co-op programs are much more than a job posting service, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that employers often make co-op a regular part of their talent resourcing strategy, contributing a combined $133 million to B.C. co-op student wages each year.

Why Hire a Co-op Student

• Get Stuff Done
  Co-op students are a great staffing solution for short-term projects, peak periods and temporary leaves. Students are available year-round for four, eight, or sometimes 12 month terms, and specialize in a diversity of disciplines, including business, engineering, science, liberal arts, tourism, trades and more.

 

• Access Pre-Screened Candidates
  B.C.’s co-op programs do much of the legwork to pre-screen candidates, so you have access to high quality applications. Before they are accepted, students have to meet a number of criteria, which vary by institution, and typically include GPA, minimum credit hours and completion of training designed to prepare students for the workforce.

 

• Reach Targeted Student Audience
  Rather than advertising with the usual suspects of online job boards and being flooded with applications of varying relevance, posting with B.C. co-op programs allows you to market your opportunities to institutions and degree programs of your choice. Co-op staff promote job opportunities to students on your behalf through closed online job boards, emails and face-to-face meetings.

 

• Feed Your Talent Pipeline
  Working with co-op students on a short-term basis is a low-risk way to find star employees to hire after graduation. You can assess students’ skill sets and test for cultural fit throughout the co-op term; it’s almost like a four or eight month interview.

 

• Tap Into the Support of Co-op Offices
  Co-op offices support your recruitment process by promoting your jobs, coordinating interview schedules, and providing on-campus interview rooms if needed—all at no extra cost. Once students are on their work terms, co-op staff also support their success in the workplace by conducting a site visit midway through the term and providing guidance for any challenges, in the event that they should arise.

Funding Sources to Hire Co-op Students in BC
There are a number of funding sources available that can support your co-op hiring. Check the funding list posted by the Association for Co-operative Education in BC/Yukon.

Notably, Canada Summer Jobs is one of the biggest sources of annual funding, and its deadline is coming up soon (January 30, 2015). Act fast if you’re eligible to apply.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create high-quality summer job opportunities for students between the ages of 15 and 30. Find out more about eligibility & application details.

I’m Ready to Hire. What’s Next?
The Association for Co-operative Education in BC/Yukon represents 15 post-secondary co-op institutions and offers a one-stop website that helps you identify the programs you can hire from and post jobs with as many of them as you would like.

These institutions do not charge a posting fee, as their goal is to help students secure meaningful, paid work experience and support employers with finding the right match for their short-term work needs.

Heather Liau is Co-Chair of the External Relations Committee with the Association for Co-operative Education in BC/Yukon (ACE). She is also Manager of Marketing & Industry Relations with the University of British Columbia’s Arts Co-op Program.