What are the Benefits for an Employer of a Co-op Student?

• Opportunity to evaluate the potential for permanent employment based on performance rather than an interview

• Favorable publicity on campus, affecting students outside the co-op programs as well

• Opportunity to address lower priority projects with lower cost employees

• Co-op students tend to progress faster, go further, and stay longer than employees who did not have a co-op experience.

• Training costs decrease because a substantial portion is done at co-op salary rather than permanent salary.

How the Program Works - Employer Prospective

Employers should provide a job description and any requirements the co-op student must meet. The co-op office staff will provide resumes of those students interested in the position for pre-screening.  Interviews may be done on-campus, by phone, or on-site.  The co-op staff will arrange on-campus interviews for the employers.  Terms of employment (time period, salary, fringe benefits, transportation, etc.) are negotiated directly between the employer and the student.  A supervisor for the co-op should be designated and orientation to the company should be provided.  The supervisor should evaluate the co-op at regular intervals.  Recognizing that the co-op is a trainee, the assigned work should provide a varied experience for the co-op.  There is no obligation to hire the student for another work period or as a permanent employee. Click here for a document containing salary information based on previous co-op experiences.