Updated as of March 2023
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we know that you and the co-op students you employ continue to face unique challenges. That’s why we’ve increased our flexibility to help you tap into the best available talent from Waterloo.
If you’ve already hired co-op students, thank you! This page can help you find additional funding, plan for your work term and support your co-op student if they'll be working remotely. Our process will continue to run as usual during your work term - you’ll still receive messages and support to help guide you along the way.
On this page, you can learn more about
Hiring a student: Flexible ways to bring co-op talent into your organization
Whether you’re a long-standing employer or brand new to hiring, we’ve outlined some flexible approaches and resources to help you bring Waterloo talent into your organization.
Note: For fall 2023 recruitment, we are offering limited bookings for in-person interviews at the Tatham Centre.
1) Flexible hiring process
You asked we listened! For some time now, we’ve heard feedback from our employers that shorter recruitment cycles would help with your planning so you don’t need to wait as long to find out who you’ve been matched with.
Here’s what our flexible hiring process looks like:
- Choose from six different employment cycles to suit your schedule. Instead of our usual “first” and “continuous” employment cycles, there are more cycles to make the hiring process faster and the first match of the term happens earlier in the recruitment process.
- Interviews are available remotely (virtually) to maximize flexibility for both employers and students.
- 7,000+ of the best and brightest students from 120+ programs are available to hire each term.
Please note: this does not apply to employers hiring Pharmacy and Architecture students who have their own unique sequences.
2) Shorter work terms with flexible start and end dates
Do you have an open role that requires three to four hours each day?
Does your organization have project-based work for three days a week?
Are you not quite ready to hire today but think you might need someone a few weeks from now?
Talk to your Account Manager!
Flexibility around work term start and end dates
- Fall 2022 (September - December) work term:
- The fall 2022 work term can range from 12-16 weeks, giving your organization the freedom to employ student talent in a way that suits your current needs.
- The fall term starts on September 6, 2022, but you can post a job, interview and hire into October. You can be flexible with the start and end dates of your student’s employment.
- Winter 2023 (January - April) work term:
- The winter 2023 work term can range from 12-16 weeks, giving your organization the freedom to employ student talent in a way that suits your current needs.
- The winter term starts on January 9, 2023, but you can post a job, interview and hire into February. You can be flexible with the start and end dates of your student’s employment.
For a full look at our hiring dates and deadlines, visit our recruiting dates webpage and talk to your Account Manager.
To submit a posting, log in to WaterlooWorks and select “Post A Job.” For help, visit our WaterlooWorks Help page.
3) Invite a former co-op student to return for a work term
Did you have a great co-op student last term? Was there a remarkable student who worked with you in the past? Were they a great fit for your team? Invite them to return for an upcoming work term!
Inviting back a former student simplifies the recruitment process and allows you to spend less time onboarding and training. Your organization can benefit from the student’s familiarity with your organization, environment, projects, operations and processes. Returning co-op students can help generate new ideas and innovations that you didn’t have the chance to explore during previous work terms.
If you’re interested in inviting a former co-op student to return, please contact your Account Manager by sending a message in WaterlooWorks.
4) Consider available funding opportunities
If you are facing financial challenges or budget cuts but still want to hire a co-op student, there are several resources available to you.
Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
- A variety of funding opportunities are available for employers to hire students for experiential learning. This funding is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada. View our SWPP funding webpage for additional details.
- Please note: any employer experiencing changes to a work term that has already been approved for SWPP funding should reach out directly to the appropriate SWPP funding partner immediately to communicate these changes.
SWPP funding for UWaterloo faculty and staff members who employ students
- The eligibility requirements for Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) have changed. Post-secondary institutions will no longer qualify for SWPP funding as of April 1, 2022.
There are also several grants, tax credits and funding programs that subsidize, and sometimes completely cover the cost of your hire, regardless of your business size. Browse our webpage about funding opportunities to learn more.
Please note: some exceptions may apply if you will be engaging a student as an independent contractor.
5) Hiring a co-op student as an independent contractor
Good news – we're now allowing co-op students who are physically located in Canada to pursue independent contractor positions for their work terms, as long as they meet our work term requirements for co-op credit.
If you have an independent contractor job that you’d like to advertise to students on WaterlooWorks, reach out to our team of hiring specialists or talk to your Account Manager. They’ll be happy to discuss your hiring needs and help you post your job so that students understand the independent nature of the role.
Please note: Students must work from within Canada in any credited independent contractor role.
6) Add pre-screening questions to your job posting to expedite your selection process
To expedite and simplify your hiring process, you can now add up to five pre-screening questions to your job posting in WaterlooWorks.
Adding pre-screen questions will let you filter through résumés faster. You can quickly see which candidates have the specific knowledge, skills or attributes required for your job. It can also help you identify other criteria to help you review your applicant list.
Learn more about adding pre-screening questions to your job description.
7) Hiring students to help you transition to a digital workplace
Do you need help transitioning your organization, business or customers to a virtual platform? Hire our tech-savvy students to help you with digital marketing, web design, video marketing, online sales and more.
Learn about how our students are being prepared to help your business transition to a digital workplace.
8) Advertise your jobs with Virtual Employer Information Sessions
If you're looking to connect with students to help advertise your job openings, we’d be happy to help you host a Virtual Employer Information Session.
These online events are a great way to connect with students and attract candidates by highlighting your company culture and the types of positions you are hiring for. We’ll even help you promote your session on social media.
To learn more, reach out to our Employer Information Session team.
Ready to get started? Fill out the registration form and our team will be in touch.
Current University travel policies
Effective February 28, 2022, the Government of Canada has adjusted the global travel advisory for many destinations around the world. The University, along with Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), has reviewed these changes and updated our guidelines for co-op work terms outside of Canada:
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For Fall 2022 and Winter 2023, CEE will approve eligible co-op work terms for in-person or remote jobs where the student is located outside of Canada
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In alignment with the University’s international travel guidelines, students must be fully vaccinated to travel internationally.
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CEE will continue with existing policies and will not approve work terms in locations listed on the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) website as high risk (i.e., “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel”).
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If you have students who have committed to working remotely for you, we ask that you discuss any potential changes of work location with your student and provide options and support.
Important notes for all employers:
Many destinations and jurisdictions require individuals to work in the country where the employer is located. Employers and students may also have to comply with specific regulatory requirements to work across borders.
It is your responsibility to research and meet any restrictions and requirements. Please clarify your expectations around work term location and discuss any relevant details during your interviews with students. We cannot provide citizenship information for students or consult on employment decisions made between employers and students.
We cannot advise or consult on the legality of remote work arrangements (see below).
You must discuss any changes to previously agreed-upon work term arrangements with your Account Manager before presenting changes to your hired student(s).
The University of Waterloo does not provide advice related to vaccines in job postings or in the workplace. We recommend that employers and students with questions on this topic seek their own legal advice.
Remote work terms
Wondering how to hire and manage co-op students working remotely?
As the University accommodates in-person offerings, many students may prefer to work remotely. This may have implications for how you hire, manage and support your co-op student(s) based on the legal restrictions/requirements of your company’s location and the location of the student you hire.
When hiring Waterloo co-op students, we expect you to do your due diligence about the legality of remote work and investigate any inter-country restrictions and any legal/logistical implications that remote work may have for you and the student(s) you hire (e.g., payroll, workplace insurance).
Although rules vary by location, we’ve collected some key questions employers should consider when hiring a remote worker from Canada. The University cannot consult or advise in any manner related to legal requirements. If you have questions, seek independent legal counsel.
We've also connected with co-op employers and students to collect best practices to help transition your co-op students to work from home.
Navigating your work term
Completing your Student Performance Evaluations
Near the end of every work term, supervisors are asked to assess their co-op student's job performance by completing a Student Performance Evaluation (SPE). If a student’s work term is shortened, you will still be asked to complete their SPE. It is required for students to receive credit for their work term.
Please evaluate your student(s) based on the work they complete before the end of the scheduled work term. You'll receive reminder messages from WaterlooWorks with a link to complete the SPE.
Looking to hire for full-time positions?
Some of our students are graduating this term! If you’re interested in hiring a graduating student, post your full-time job on WaterlooWorks today.
