At Waterloo, we have thousands of co-op students from 120+ programs available to hire each term.
Choose the hiring approach that works for you.
WaterlooWorks is our free recruitment platform that connects employers with Waterloo talent. Our platform includes two co-op job boards to support different hiring needs. Most employers use the Full-Cycle Service job board, which provides access to Waterloo's structured recruitment process and dedicated support. Employers requiring greater flexibility can use the Employer-Student Direct job board.
The following comparison highlights the unique benefits of each approach, helping you choose the option that best aligns with your hiring goals, timeline and level of recruitment support.
| Compare | Co-op Full-Cycle Service job board | Co-op Employer-Student Direct job board |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Employers who want the largest student reach, structured hiring timelines and support throughout the process. |
Employers who want flexible timelines, direct student communication and more autonomy over the hiring process. |
| Why use this board? | Reach a large pool of Waterloo co-op students actively seeking employment, compare qualified candidates and get expert support at every step. |
Recruit on your timeline and fill positions quickly as needs change. Access Waterloo co-op students year-round to hire in the current term and beyond. |
| Student reach |
Maximum visibility with co-op students who are actively seeking employment for the upcoming work term. |
Visible to all co-op students, regardless of work term availability. Employers should confirm candidates’ eligibility, as schedules may affect funding or tax credits. |
| Recruitment timeline | Recruiting begins four months before the work term starts. During this time, employers move through three hiring cycles. Each cycle follows set dates for posting jobs, reviewing applications, conducting interviews and completing Waterloo’s rank/match process. | Post jobs for the upcoming work term or up to six terms in advance. Set your own timelines for posting, applications, interviews and offers. |
| Hiring process | WaterlooWorks is the one stop shop for your recruitment process management. Collect and manage applications with built-in filters, sorting tools and pre-screening questions. Schedule interviews with support from our co-op team. Hold interviews through our internal webcam platform or in-person. Submit rankings and extend offers. | Employers collect and manage applications, coordinate interviews, extend and manage offers directly with students through their own process. Once a student accepts an offer, contact our service team in Waterloo Works. Or, have your student sign the Student Employment Acknowledgement Form and submit it to WaterlooWorks.EPS@uwaterloo.ca. |
Interested in hiring a graduating student for full-time work? Hire on the Graduating and Full-Time job board. To learn more about the various WaterlooWorks job boards, visit WaterlooWorks Help: Get started or connect with your account manager.
Co-op hiring guide
WaterlooWorks is designed to help you reach the largest co-op student talent pool in Canada. Our online recruitment system uses hiring cycles to take you through the hiring process and our dedicated team will help you throughout the process.
Recruitment dates
Hire a co-op student anytime! Our co-op program runs year-round. So, our students are always available to hire for work terms that last four or eight months. We’ll help you find the right student for your organization on your timeline.
Recruitment resources
Why hire Waterloo co-op students?
