Employer events

Students around working
Funding workshops

When: January, May, September

About: Stay ahead of the curve with our Funding Workshops. Learn about the latest funding opportunities, upcoming deadlines, and insider tips to maximize supports for your next hire. Ask questions directly and gain practical guidance to make your funding applications successful.

Registration details to come.

Students around working
Employer roundtables

When: January, May, September

About: Join our small-group Employer Roundtables to connect with peers, exchange best practices, and explore solutions to shared challenges. These sessions are a great opportunity to network, discuss real-world scenarios, and gain insights that you can apply immediately.

Past employer roundtables have focused on Indigenous student talent and Attracting, Hiring, and Working with Gen Z Post-Millennial Student Talent.

Registration details to come.

Students around working
Employer info sessions

When: Ongoing

About: Looking to connect with emerging talent? Our free virtual info sessions offer an easy and effective way to showcase your organization, highlight opportunities, and engage with motivated students. Build your talent pipeline without the logistical headaches.

Connect with the Careers Hub team to know more.

Employer partner resources

Discover all the ways you can engage with OC students - from WIL pathways and the Careers Hub App to on-campus recruitment and beyond. This guide helps you build meaningful partnerships, attract talent and leverage all the resources we offer to employers.

Employer partnership guide

Students around working

Employer funding

Funding for Co-op and WIL

Engaging with student talent from Okanagan College can help to connect you with your next long-term hire, access help with a project or help to bridge seasonal peaks in your operations. At Okanagan College we have over 13 programs that have an optional or required co-op, our students also engage in other forms of WIL (work integrated learning) including Applied Research, Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, Clinical Placements/Practicums, Service Learning & Work Experience. The resources provided here share information about federal and provincial funding for employers to engage with students in the different forms of WIL.

To access general information you can visit the resources below for general fact sheets and links. Click each tab to see detailed information on funding that may be relevant for your business or organization.

CEWIL Employer Toolkit Employer Funding Guide

Hire an OC student using Careers Hub

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Careers Hub, Okanagan College's cutting-edge, web-based student recruitment app and online job boards! With Careers Hub, you can effortlessly tap into a diverse pool of highly skilled and talented individuals by posting your Co-op, Graduate, Full-Time, Part-Time, Indigenous Internship, Apprenticeship, Seasonal/Temporary and Volunteer opportunities, with ease.

Okanagan College  offers a broad range of programs to help you meet your need for well-trained employees. At OC, graduates typically become available in January, April and August. In in some training programs, graduation occurs year round allowing employers to hire from an ongoing skilled group of candidates.

We recognize the value of co-operative education in combining classroom and work experience and in providing opportunities to develop and maintain essential links between today's employers and tomorrow's employees. Our instruction standards are high and we endeavour to maintain close contact between our students and faculty. We know from experience that our strong classroom learning environment is enhanced by the on-the-job training and practical experience that our students can gain from co-op work terms in your workplace. Co-op jobs are 12-16 week, full-time, and employer paid opportunities which compliment a student's program of study. Co-op work terms are January-April, May-August, and September-December, depending on program timelines. 

 

Smiling Okanagan College student in black shirt and striped pants sitting in a chair in the Centre for Learning Atrium holding a notebook with a backpack sitting at their feet.
Creating an effective job posting

We recommend including the following information in the Careers Hub job posting fields for advertising and hiring OC students. For further information about hiring a co-op student specifically, please refer to the Co-op Employer Handbook below.

  • Job description including types of activities, role, type of work performed, and responsibilities
  • Identifying and targeting students by program of study (i.e. Business, Culinary, Carpentry etc.)
  • Clearly articulating educational and experience qualifications 
  • Communicating additional qualifications (i.e. Class 5 BC Drivers License, safety tickets, PPE etc.)
  • Providing a salary range (as per Provincial pay transparency laws in BC November 1, 2023)
  • Deadline for applications
  • Instructions on how to apply
  • Documents required (examples include: cover letter, resume, professional references, driver's abstract, unofficial academic transcript, etc.)
  • For co-op, sharing total length of duration, including number of months and date ranges, noting that work terms are 4 months in length that can be stacked totaling 4, 8 or 12 months
Civil Engineering program student looking into surveying equipment while another student manually records data set
Post a job
Post a job to OC Careers Hub Contact Us

Co-op employer handbook

  • Review employer information on the Careers Hub webpage and explore co-op program brochures for student availability timelines (pg. 2) and program information
  • Post a job in Careers Hub, provide a job description, qualifications and salary for the position you want filled, employers can select the manner in which they would like to receive student application packages and the required documents 
  • Employers will select students they want to interview and make interview arrangements directly with students. Interviews can be conducted at the employer's business, virtually or by telephone
  • Employers make a job offer to the successful student with an accompanying Letter of Offer for the student to review and have record of the terms of condition, title, agreed salary and further details
  • Students report their Work Integrated Learning (WIL)/Co-op work term in Careers Hub and employers need to approve their reported work term in the Careers Hub platform

The success of any organization is dependent upon the caliber of the people within the organization. You can build a better work force and achieve a higher degree of success in the business world by proper utilization of a co-op program.

Co-op Provides

  • An opportunity to evaluate potential career employees without obligation or commitment to permanent employment
  • A proven cost-effective method of meeting both immediate and long-range human resource needs
  • Can reduce future recruiting costs - co-op employment aids in the vetting of students for future hiring of motivated and skilled employees
  • A source of innovative year-round help: January-April, May-August and September-December
  • Access to a pool of screened, motivated employees for special projects, peak periods, vacation relief or maternity leave coverage without costly advertising and dozens of unsuitable resumes to wade through 
  • A means of contact with OC providing the opportunity to become involved and to be an influence in the education process

Training and Productivity

Co-op students require shorter training periods than might be anticipated for two reasons:

  • Co-op programs provide students with specific job skills prior to their work terms
  • Co-op students are motivated, eager to learn and make a productive contribution to their employees

Employing First Work Term Co-op Students

A key factor in operating a successful co-op program is the hiring of first term co-op students. The advantages are:

  • The availability of students is significantly better for the first work term. Due to the tendency of students to return to first work term employers, as many as 50 per cent may not be available for second and third work term interviews. Those who are available are generally students who have chosen to change employers to broaden their experience
  • It offers the possibility of experienced students returning for successive work terms

Funding may be available to contribute to your costs as an employer.

Visit our Employer Funding page for up to date information on funding during COVID-19 and how you could fund your next co-op position.

Co-op students require shorter training periods than might be anticipated for two reasons:

  •   Co-op programs provide students with specific job skills prior to their work terms.
  •   Co-op students are motivated, eager to learn, and make a productive contribution to their employees.

A key factor in operating a successful Co-op program is the hiring of first term Co-op students. The advantages are:

  • The availability of students is significantly better for the first work term. Due to the tendency of students to return to first work term employers, as many as 50% may not be available for 2nd and 3rd work term interviews. Those who are available are generally students who have chosen to change employers to broaden their experience.
  • It offers the possibility of experienced students returning for successive work terms.
  • It provides an opportunity to train a "new" person to the employer's own standards.

OC Co-op Program Guidelines include the following criteria:

  • Each work term is developed and/or approved by the institution as a suitable learning situation.
  • Students are engaged in productive work rather than merely observing.
  • Students receive remuneration for work performed.
  • Students' progress on the job as monitored by the institution.
  • At least 30 percent, and normally 50 percent, of a student's total co-operative education experience is spent engaged in career-related work terms.

What is the going rate for hiring a Co-op Student?

Salaries are established by the employer. Aspects to consider are: the industry, the experience (work and prior co-op work terms), the number of years of study and the economic conditions. You can locate labour market information here. You can locate information on living wages here.

What are my responsibilities as an employer?

To maximize the benefit of a co-op work term, an  employer will be expected to provide:

  • Offer 12 to 16 weeks of full time paid employment.
  • Employment that is related to the student's field of study.
  • Accurate, informative job descriptions.
  • Letter of offer presented to the co-op student.
  • An orientation to familiarize the incoming student with the employer's situation and expectations.
  • Supervision of students by individuals who understand and are interested in Co-op.
  • Increasing responsibilities in successive work terms for returning students.
  • An exit interview to discuss the student's performance and future plans.

How do students prepare for work terms?

All students participating in co-operative education prepare for their work terms through a series of pre-employment information sessions and classroom instructions. The content of this information is based on information obtained from employers regarding what they expect from students during work terms.

  • Resume and cover letter writing
  • Interview preparation
  • Professionalism
  • Typical first day of orientation
  • Office protocol
  • Tips for succeeding in the workplace

How are student work terms evaluated?

  • All students and their employers are contacted for a midterm check-in during each work term. The coordinator reviews the midterm student evaluation form based on the student's job duties and performance, quality of work, attendance and punctuality
  • Satisfactory completion of work term(s) is required for a Pass grade on the student transcript. Work terms are assessed on the completion of the co-op requirements.
  • At the end of each work term, the supervisor is asked to complete an Employer Evaluation of the Co-op Student form provided by OC. The employer is encouraged to discuss this final evaluation with the student and then return the form to the Co-op Office
  • Students must complete a written work report for submission to the Co-op Office

How does OC benefit?

  • Opportunity to build closer ties with employers through more direct communication
  • Student co-op work terms provide opportunities to enhance program curricula. Co-operative education programs attract motivated and enthusiastic students to the College.

What are OC's responsibilities?

  • To develop and maintain a relevant curriculum reflecting the needs of employers.
  • To prepare co-op students for their work terms with appropriate skills and attitudes.
  • To provide an effective mechanism for the placement of co-op students.
  • In summary, the co-op office will, if at all possible, provide any information or service that will enhance the educational and employment benefits for both students and employers.
     

OC Co-op Program Guidelines

  • Each work term is developed and/or approved by the institution as a suitable learning situation.
  • Students are engaged in productive work rather than merely observing.
  • Students receive remuneration for work performed.
  • Students’ progress on the job as monitored by the institution.
  • At least 30 per cent, and normally 50 per cent, of a student’s total co-operative education experience is spent engaged in career-related work terms.
     

Funding may be available to contribute to your costs as an employer. Please review the "What are the benefits to employers?" section above for more information. 

Careers Hub
Address

1000 KLO Road
Kelowna BC V1Y 4X8
Canada

Phone
250-762-5445
1-877-755-2266 (toll-free)
Email
careershub@okanagan.bc.ca
Office Hours
Sunday: Closed
Monday - Friday: 8:00-4:00
Saturday: Closed