Signaling "student-oriented" job opportunities enhances job attractiveness in work-integrated learning programs

Employers are an important part of a post- secondary institution’s work-integrated learning program. Employers are motivated to attract student talent to fill their student positions. Employers post student job advertisements and students apply. This process can be competitive as employers compete for student talent. This research study looks at what attracts students to jobs based on the job posting, beyond things like the amount of pay and company name recognition.

Key points

• Job postings that outline aspects of the role that are important to students attract more and better-quality applicants. For example:
  • the ability to learn new things
  • an opportunity to make a positive impact
  • a connection to the student’s academics
• A job posting that outlines these aspects without a plan to follow it through are less attractive to students than a job posting with a clear plan to follow through on student commitment.

Featured in: Waterloo News