Recruit future-ready co-op students for the federal government

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Future-ready talent to help implement change.

Our students are global leaders who deliver high-impact work in a variety of areas. From research, health and technology to policy and sustainability, our students deliver solutions for the future. To stay ahead and lead innovation, hire Waterloo co-op students — your sustainable talent strategy.

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Find the right talent today.

Connect with Raymond! 🚀

Raymond Li

Raymond is an industry strategist with the University of Waterloo’s Co-operative Education department. He can help guide your recruitment strategy and answer questions about recruiting top co-op talent.

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Why hire Waterloo?

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#1 in Canada for hands-on experiential learning

Maclean’s Student Voices Survey 2022
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120+ co-op programs and more than 26,000 active students available to hire

as of 2024
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#1 graduate employment rate

QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2022

Roles co-op students can fill

Tap into valuable skills of Waterloo co-op students in areas such as:

Business and administration support services

Sample jobs

Sample job responsibilities
Business analyst Analyzes business requirements, improves processes, conducts data analysis, documents findings and facilitates communication among stakeholders.
Customer support liaison Serves as a liaison between customers and internal teams, addresses inquiries, resolves issues and ensures customer satisfaction.
Office administrator Manages administrative tasks, oversees office operations and supports staff to ensure smooth and efficient functioning.
Project management co-ordinator Co-ordinates project activities, timelines and resources to ensure successful execution and delivery.
Documentation clerk Maintains accurate records and organizes documentation to support efficient operations within the organization.
Financial analyst Analyzes financial data and provides insights to support strategic decision-making within the organization.
Marketing specialist Develops and executes marketing strategies to promote products or services and enhance brand awareness.
Web designer Creates visually appealing and user-friendly websites by combining design principles with coding skills.

Environment protection and sustainability

Sample jobs

Sample job responsibilities
Sustainability analyst/co-ordinator Assesses and co-ordinates sustainability initiatives to promote environmental responsibility within an organization.
Environmental technician Implements and monitors environmental procedures and protocols to ensure compliance and sustainability.
Safety research assistant Supports safety research initiatives by conducting data analysis and literature reviews and assisting in project coordination.
Risk management Assesses and mitigates environmental risks to ensure regulatory compliance and minimize negative impacts on ecosystems and communities.
Geological assistant Assists geologists in data collection, analysis and fieldwork to support geological research and exploration efforts.
Junior planning officer Supports planning activities and assists senior planners in the development and implementation of urban or regional plans.

Information and Technology

Sample jobs

Sample job responsibilities
AI engineer Develops and implements artificial intelligence algorithms and systems to solve complex problems and enhance automation.
Biostatistician Analyzes biological data using statistical methods to derive insights and support research in the life sciences.
Computer programmer Creates and maintains software applications by writing, testing and debugging code to meet specific requirements.
Health service modelling Utilizes data analysis and computational methods to model and optimize health service delivery for improved patient outcomes and resource allocation.
Interactive media developer Designs and develops interactive digital media experiences using various multimedia elements and programming languages.
Machine learning developer Creates and deploys machine learning models and algorithms to extract insights and make predictions from large datasets.
UX/UI developer Designs and develops user-friendly interfaces and experiences to optimize user satisfaction and interaction with digital products or platforms.

Public health
Sample jobs

Sample job responsibilities
Health promotions assistant Supports health promotion initiatives by co-ordinating outreach activities, educational programs and community engagement efforts.
Student kinesiologist Assists in the implementation of kinesiology programs and activities to support student health and fitness goals.
Corporate events co-ordinator Plans and co-ordinates corporate events to ensure seamless execution and achieve organizational objectives.
Junior policy analyst Supports policy analysis and development initiatives through research, data analysis and policy evaluation.
Market researcher Collects and analyzes market data to provide insights and recommendations for strategic marketing decisions.
Communications associate Crafts and disseminates engaging content to support organizational communication goals and enhance brand presence.

Research and analysis
Sample jobs

Sample job responsibilities
Research analyst Analyzes data and conducts research to provide insights and support decision-making processes within an organization.
Business analyst Evaluates business processes and requirements to recommend improvements and solutions for organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Macroeconomic analyst Analyzes macroeconomic trends and indicators to forecast economic conditions and inform strategic decision-making.
Financial analyst Assesses financial data to provide insights for investment decisions and strategic planning within an organization.
Interactive media developer Designs and develops interactive digital media experiences using various multimedia elements and programming languages.

Fund your next hire

Hiring a co-op student through the subsidies and grants below can be an affordable way of building a sustainable talent strategy!

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Through SWPP, Canadian organizations that offer full-time employment opportunities for full-time Canadian post-secondary students can receive wage subsidies.

Funding will cover up to 50 per cent in wage subsidies (to a max. of $5,000) per co-op student hired for each 12–16-week work term. Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70 per cent of their wages subsidized. Eligbility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term.

Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit  

Large corporations can claim 25 per cent of expenditures, up to $3,000 per work placement. Small businesses can claim 30 per cent, up to $3,000. Each work placement must be at least 10 weeks and up to 4 months. This tax credit is available for each eligible work placement. Employers may have multiple work placements at the same time and throughout the year.

The tax credit is per eligible work placement and there is no cap. If an organization decides to hire for an eight-month work term, or two students for four-month work terms, both would be considered as two work placements and would be eligible for a total tax credit of up to $6,000.

Industry-leading companies hire co-op students