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Co-op Education

Tips for Creating a Co-op Job Description

  1. Include a clear job title.
    Most co-op student job seekers search for, and filter, posted co-op job opportunities by job title. Choose a title that reflects the position (e.g., “summer co-op/intern market research assistant” is clearer than “summer student”).
  2. Identify the ESSENTIAL qualifications and skills, and those that are important.
    Great co-op student candidates may avoid applying to a job if they don’t have every qualification, so be specific about what’s required and what would be an asset. This may include degree requirements/certifications, work experience, software knowledge, soft skills, etc.
  3. Be clear about what the role entails, why it’s important, and how it fits within the larger organization.
    Provide specific details on what is expected of a co-op student and the level of support they will receive. If there’s someone in a parallel position currently, check in with this person for an update on the current responsibilities as the role may have changed since the last time it was posted or a job analysis was conducted. How does the role fit within the organization? How much responsibility is involved and what is the reporting structure? Remember, what seems obvious to you may not be evident to co-op student applicants.
  4. Describe your workplace culture.
    Include information about the organizational culture so that candidates get a sense of what your organization is like beyond the posted position.Is your organization entrepreneurial, with flexible work hours, dress code and time off? Are your work hours structured? What are the expectations for innovation, support and learning? Will co-op students be able to share ideas, work on passion projects, meet with and/or present to senior leadership?
  5. Describe the type of work style that you’re looking for.
    What type of personality will fit well within your organization? Do you have staff members who are interested in changing all the time, or staff members who follow protocol well?
  6. Be direct.
    Avoid using workplace or local jargon. This is your chance to be descriptive and clear.
  7. Point out what makes your organization and industry interesting.
    Is your organization growing? Is the industry changing? Sell the positives of your organization, industry and this position to attract co-op student candidates who are excited about contributing their skill set and energy.
  8. Address salary expectations and other benefits.
    It may be helpful to list a salary range or explain that salary will depend on experience. This will help candidates determine if the remuneration fits with their budget constraints. Listing additional benefits such as training, transportation, and opportunities for permanent positions following the co-op term can also help your posting stand out.
  9. List contact information.
    Include details on how applicants should submit their applications, and to whom they should address their applications.
  10. Include the following information, if appropriate:
    Job location, whether the role is full-time, permanent or temporary, remote or office based, and an outline of the recruitment process.
  11. For co-op positions, list the competencies that you’re looking for.
    If you’re posting a co-op position, consider including the core, program-specific, intercultural and professional competencies that students can expect to develop on the work term.
  12. For co-op positions, ask for feedback.
    If you’re posting a co-op position and have a current co-op student in your workplace, ask this student to contribute feedback. They may be able to provide insight on what would attract another student to the role and/or ways to enhance the experience.

Source: https://www.uvic.ca/coopandcareer/assets/docs/employer-docs/job_posting_tip-sheet-2020.pdf

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