By now, I’m sure everyone in HR has considered hiring students. Whether you’re currently doing it, or adamantly against it, you know that co-op programs across Canada provide subsidized employment opportunities and act as a trial placement for potential long-term recruits. You also know the amount of resources required to train a student with little workplace experience. So is it worth it?
As a former co-op student and current co-op employer, I always get excited when we welcome a new co-op recruit to Learnography. Here are some of the reasons why:
- A continuous injection of new faces adds life and energy to the office.
- Students are oblivious to cliques and office gossip, and encourage others to be more inclusive.
- The Co-operative Education Tax Credit offers up to $3,000 per 12-16 week work term for Ontario-based co-op employers, and many other similar programs exist.
- 4-month streams allow you to really hone your interview skills, and notice distinctions in the attitude and aptitude of students from different programs.
- Training a student to do your tasks is a helpful learning opportunity for both of you. They will ask questions you have not considered, and offer solutions you wouldn’t have thought of.
- What most students lack in precision, they more than make up for in speed.
- Short work terms allow you to try out new positions or task assignments with minimal cost. If it works, great! If not, it’s over in 4 months.
- Young’uns who are still in school are more up to date on the latest tech than we could ever hope to be.
- Every student you work with becomes a mouthpiece for your company. If you treat them right, they will spread the word, and you will get better clients and job candidates.
- Let’s be honest: we can all use the extra set of hands.
By understanding and harnessing these advantages, you can get more out of your co-op program. Also, keep in mind that the co-op process can take on many forms. You can create a permanent position, and hire students to fill it through a series of one-year contracts. You can also create a temporary position for four months to handle a specific project or a high-workload time of year. Challenge yourself to try something different, fail forward, and learn from your students. If you have any questions about co-op programs or how to get involved, I’d be happy to lend an ear.
By Kate Salmon
I’m a communications specialist and general word nerd from Ottawa, Ontario. Upon learning that in the 21st century I could still get a degree in rhetoric, I went to the University of Waterloo to do precisely that. Now I get to continue my learning journey at Learnography, a non-profit education consulting organization that really practices its principles of continuous development. With a great team of former educators who are dedicated to creating transformative learning experiences, we are changing the face of corporate training.
I live in Toronto with my cat and my curmudgeonly but endearing roommate.
Photo by Lars Plougmann, edited by Kate Salmon