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 recruiting timeline. This table outlines the typical hiring dates for each work term:
| Co-op work terms: | When to hire: |
|---|---|
| Winter 2026 (January 5 - April 24, 2026) | September - December 2025 |
| Spring 2026 (May 11 - August 21, 2026) | January - April 2026 |
| Fall 2026 (September 8 - December 23, 2026) | May - August 2026 |
About our co-op hiring cycles
The most popular way to hire a co-op student is to post a job through our recruitment system, WaterlooWorks. Post your job on the Full-Cycle Service job board to follow our hiring cycles. A hiring cycle refers to the time allocated for posting your job, reviewing applications, interviewing students, ranking candidates and matching with a student.
Cycles 1-3:
- Each cycle is 3–4 weeks with defined dates to post jobs, conduct interviews and rank students.
- On the final days of each cycle, employers are matched with students based on how they ranked each other.
- In cycles 2 and 3, jobs are posted daily.
- Cycles are designed to give employers and students time for decision-making, as they can consider multiple options when ranking.
Direct offer phase:
- After cycles 1-3, you can continue to hire by making direct offers to students.
- In this direct offer phase, you can post jobs on WaterlooWorks and arrange interviews on your own, directly with students.
- The rank/match process is not used. Contact your service team for support.
Full-Cycle Service co-op hiring dates
It’s not too late to hire a co-op student for winter 2026 (January to April)
- Direct offer period: Begins after the last match on December 1. Applications are available at 9 a.m. (ET), 2 business days after your job is posted. Employers schedule interviews and make offers directly to students. Your service team is here to help at any point, including during the direct offer period.
- Holiday closure: The University of Waterloo is closed between December 24 and January 4.
- February 16, 2026 is the last day a student can start work to earn a standard co-op credit for the winter 2026 term.
Pharmacy Full-Cycle Service co-op hiring dates
Employer-Student Direct co-op hiring dates
Use the Employer-Student Direct job board to hire co-op students flexibly outside of Waterloo’s hiring cycles.
- Post jobs for any term, even in advance (not limited to the upcoming term).
- Jobs are posted for two weeks (unless otherwise specified) and applications are not collected in WaterlooWorks.
- Contact students directly to schedule and host interviews (not in WaterlooWorks).
- Manage offers directly with students. Consider asking students to sign the "Student Employment Acknowledgement Form" when you make an offer.
- Contact your service team if a student accepts your offer. Alternatively, if your student hire signed a "Student Employment Acknowledgement Form", CEE will contact the student for any additional details.
- Some students may not be available based on their academic schedules.
Graduating students and alumni hiring dates
- Employers can recruit Waterloo alumni year-round.
- Use the Graduating and Full-Time job board on WaterlooWorks.
- WaterlooWorks will keep jobs posted for two weeks. Candidates will apply and interview directly with the employer.
Contract, part-time and volunteer hiring dates
- Employers can recruit Waterloo students year-round for contract, part-time, volunteer and summer positions.
- Use the Contract, Part-Time and Volunteer job board on WaterlooWorks.
- WaterlooWorks will keep jobs posted for two weeks. Candidates will apply and interview directly with the employer.