Sometimes the workload is heavy but organizations can’t hire new full-time help. BU Co-op can help you create temporary positions to fill the gap.

• You need specialized talent:  If you are executing a special project and lack the people or the skills to take it to completion, BU Co-op can help bring your project to life without committing to a full position.
• You have employees on leave: Whether it’s illness, vacation, maternity leave, or short-term disability, BU students can ensure you won’t lose productivity when key employees are gone.
• You need interim employees: It takes about 90 days to fill a new position, plus another 30 days for the candidate to start. That’s 120 days, on average, that a position stays open and productivity suffers. Keep the ball rolling by hiring BU Co-op students while you coordinate place a skilled, permanent candidate.

Our recruitment options provide you a cost effective approach to hiring, training, evaluating and future talent.

Not a thing! There is no fee for participating in Brandon University’s Co-op Program. The only cost related to the program is the co-op student’s salary. 

As the employer, the salary for a Co-op student is determined by you, and is reflective of industry, market and location. Wages will also vary and depend on the discipline, the student’s experience, and the demand for students. Generally, salaries range from $15-$19/hr, but all we ask that fair and reasonable compensation be provided. Our Co-op Coordinator is available to help you with any of your salary questions.

Now may be the perfect time to consider taking advantage of the tax credits and the many other benefits offered for hiring students!

At no cost, our Co-op Coordinator will:

• Work with you to identify opportunities for co-op employment
• Provide you with an up-to-date salary survey to help you establish competitive pay rates
• Advertise your job postings
• Provide you with resumes of interested candidates
• Arrange interviews
• Extend offers of employment on your behalf
• Support you and your student during the work term

Typical work terms occur over four months (for example, May to August) but can be extended using two consecutive semesters. These eight-month co-op positions count as two co-op work terms, and will require separate evaluations for each four-month semester.

Although there are no hard deadlines for employers, we recommend that job postings close anytime following the first month of a new semester (this would be February for a summer work term).

Interviewing candidates within two weeks of closing a posting is preferable in order to ensure that candidates are still available and have not secured employment elsewhere.

We also recommend that the hiring process be complete at least two weeks prior to the end of the semester.

Job postings are usually submitted online here, or by e-mail at Co-op@BrandonU.ca . Once your job description has been posted in our online database, you will receive a confirmation e-mail, advising you of when you will start receiving resumes.

Note: that we begin posting four months in advance of the work term.

Yes! You can hire eligible students while they study or after they graduate. Some of the advantages of hiring international students include:

• Proven English skills and ability to understand Canadian culture
• Have courage to tackle the unknown
• Can excel in diverse workplaces
• Considered to be among the brightest and most highly motivated from their home countries
• Have technical expertise
• Help to diversity and enhance your organization

Our Co-op Coordinator will work with you and the student to ensure all required documentation is complete. To qualify, students must:

• have a valid study permit.
• be a full-time student.

Students must be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level and be studying in a program that:

• Is academic, vocational or professional training
• Leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
• Is at least six months long.
• Have applied for a Social Insurance Number.

For more information on hiring international students: Gov. of Canada Hire International Students.

Once you have met with our Co-op Program Coordinator, feel free to submit an interview request at your convenience.

The our Co-op Program operates on a Continuous Placement Process (we don’t wait for a set date to start placing students; job offers are made to students on a first-come, first-served basis), so we highly recommend our employers’ interview as soon as possible as student availability is subject to change.