WaterlooWorks help: Getting started

WaterlooWorks is our online system created to help students at Waterloo find work. It’s also our main method of contacting you, so be sure to sign in regularly and check your Waterloo-assigned email account for message notifications.

It’s your responsibility to confirm that the following information is accurate and up-to-date on WaterlooWorks:

• Your co-op status (found in the "Co-op" tab; you must be on a study term and unemployed to apply for jobs through the WaterlooWorks Co-op job board)
• Profile/contact information (found in the “My Account” section)
• Study/work sequence (found on the “Co-op” tab)
• Unofficial grade report (found in the “Documents” tab and updated each night through the Registrar’s Office; check that grades are accurate)
• Co-op student record (previous co-op job titles/employers, evaluations, etc.)

Some of this information (e.g., grade report, profile) is pulled from Quest, so you may need to contact the Registrar’s Office if you notice any issues.

Back to top

Before you do anything else, we need you to read and accept the terms and conditions on WaterlooWorks, and set your intentions to let us know how you’ll be looking for jobs.

We need to know if you’ll be looking for jobs on WaterlooWorks, finding your own job outside the system or returning to a previous employer.

To accept the terms and conditions:

1. Scroll to the “Co-op Sequence - Summary” section on the dashboard
2. Click “Click Here to Accept” in the section for the upcoming work term

3. Read the terms and conditions thoroughly, and click “Accept”

To submit your job search intentions:

1. From your dashboard, scroll to the “Co-op Sequence - Summary” section and select either:
   • Returning to a previous employer: You are returning to an employer that you have worked for during a previous co-op term. You have organized this yourself and do not intend to use WaterlooWorks to apply for the position. Please select the employer name from the drop-down menu
   • Participating in the job search: You are planning to search and apply to jobs through WaterlooWorks. This option is also suitable if you will be conducting a combined search using both WaterlooWorks and searching externally
   • Finding your own job: You are planning to obtain/are in the process of obtaining a job by searching on your own. You do not plan to search and apply to jobs through WaterlooWorks
   • Other You are not planning to pursue any of the above options this term. Perhaps you are planning on taking a term off or are opting to complete a study term. Please include a brief explanation of your term intentions when prompted in the box that appears next to "Comments"
2. Click “Submit”
3. You will need to submit your intentions to access jobs on WaterlooWorks. If your plans change throughout the term, please update your intentions. It is important to submit updated intentions as it helps your co-op advisor understand what kind of support you require

Back to top

Before you start searching for your first co-op job, your co-op advisor will reach out to introduce themselves, but you can always find their contact information in WaterlooWorks. Your co-op advisor will support you throughout your co-op career at the University ─ including when you’re applying and interviewing and throughout your co-op work terms.

Co-op advisors are aligned with each faculty and know about your academic program, co-op journey, transferable skills and job opportunities. Your advisor is a dedicated resource to help you succeed through your recruitment and co-op work terms.

When to contact your co-op advisor?

If you:

• Have questions related to co-op
• Want help finding co-op jobs
• Need support with applications, interviews and rank/match process
• Have questions/concerns during your work term

How to contact your co-op advisor?

There are a few ways you can get in touch with your co-op advisor:

• Send a WaterlooWorks message - In WaterlooWorks, find your co-op advisor's name on your dashboard and use the "Send a message" tool to reach out.
• Book a meeting - Use the MS bookings link, listed beside your co-op advisor's name, to book a meeting.
• Drop-in - Co-op advisors have virtual office hours for impromptu conversations from 2-3 p.m. ET on Monday-Friday.
• Call - You can also call your co-op advisor using the number listed in WaterlooWorks.

Please note that it may take one to two business days for your co-op advisor to respond, but they will be in touch as soon as possible.

Back to top

Back to top

We use the details in your Skills Profile to send you information about additional job opportunities that you may be interested in.

Please keep your Skills Profile and job location preferences up-to-date each term to help us target these opportunities accordingly.

To complete your skills profile:

1. From your dashboard, click the blue “Update Skills Profile” button
2. Click to expand the various skills headers and choose your skill level where appropriate
3. Click to expand the Locations section and select all the countries and locations you are willing and able to work in
4. When you’re finished, click “Save” at the bottom of the page

To opt-out of receiving additional job notification messages:

• You can opt-out of receiving these additional job notification messages at any time
• To do so, update your preferences within the "Contact me about additional job opportunities" section of your Skills Profile

Back to top

Throughout the co-op process, you might need to submit forms as you work to find employment and complete your work terms. Remember that forms can take some time to process, so be sure to read carefully, include all necessary details and review all details for each specific form below.If you have questions, select "Send a message" from your WaterlooWorks dashboard and select the appropriate category for your situation:

• For Arrange Own Job forms, select "To my advisor" and your message will be directed towards your dedicated co-op advisor.
• For interview conflict forms, select "Interviews" and your message will be directed to one of our interview coordinators.

Submit a form	Login to WaterlooWorks > Select "Submit a form" > Select appropriate category and sub-category based on your situation. Use the “Save as Draft” button to save until you are ready to submit the form. Fill out the form with as many details as possible. When you're ready to submit the form, select the "Submit" button. Please note: Your form will not be visible to staff or considered officially submitted until you select the "Submit" button.
Edit a form	Login to WaterlooWorks > Select "My forms" > Click "View" to open the form you want to edit. Click the menu icon to expand your action options. Select "Edit form" Make any necessary edits to the form and click "Submit" when you're done. NOTE: If the "edit form" option doesn’t appear, your form has already been claimed by a staff member and is locked for editing. Select "Send a message" from your WaterlooWorks dashboard and select the appropriate category to see if it is possible for a staff member to make the change on your behalf.
Check the status of a form	Login to WaterlooWorks > Select "My forms" > Review the category and sub-category to view the status of your form.

Back to top

Tell us about your experience and overall satisfaction with the co-op process while you were searching for jobs or on a work term! Your anonymous feedback will help us to better understand your overall experience and improve our services and supports.

To tell us about your experience and overall satisfaction with the co-op process while searching for a job:

• Fill out our Recruiting Term Co-op Student Experience Survey (optional and confidential)
• From your WaterlooWorks dashboard, click “View Work Term Record” and then “Recruiting Term Experience survey”

To tell us about your experience and overall satisfaction with the co-op process on a work term:

• Fill out our Work Term Co-op Student Experience Survey (optional and confidential)
• From your WaterlooWorks dashboard, click “View Work Term Record” and then “Work Term Experience survey”

Back to top