Hire a co-op student

Co-operative education (co-op) is a work-integrated learning option for Durham College (DC) students. Co-op offers students full-time paid work experiences, with each work term lasting 12 to 14 weeks in duration. The Experiential Learning team supports employers throughout the co-op recruitment process and up to the completion of the work term. Employers can apply for the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit of up to $3,000 per co-op student, per work term.

What are the benefits of hiring a co-op student?

There are many advantages of hiring a Durham College co-op student. Here are some commons reasons:

  • Students are a vital source of talent to fill temporary staffing needs or short-term projects.
  • Students bring energy and a deep motivation to work – our students are the top students in their cohort as they have met specific GPA cut off requirements.
  • Students complete an extensive 14-week Co-op and Career Preparation course helping to enhance their career planning skills and apply these skills to secure and effectively prepare for their co-op work term.
  • Hiring a student aids in the vetting of hiring future employees.
  • Students give employers the opportunity to mentor students and play a crucial role in shaping their futures.
  • Your organization’s profile in the community and on campus will be increased.

Which programs offer co-op?

Program descriptions are available by visiting https://durhamcollege.ca/programs/co-op.

How to hire a co-op student

You can post a position on DC’s Hired portal or email us at co-op@durhamcollege.ca - our staff is here to assist you every step of the way.

Recruitment process

Step 1: Post your co-op position

There are two ways to post a co-op position:

  • Visit the Hired portal at https://hired.durhamcollege.ca. Create an employer account or log into your account (if you already have one). Use the job posting form to enter the details for the co-op opportunity . Once your posting has been submitted, we will publish the co-op opportunity or contact you for more information. Once approved, the position will be live on Hired for co-op students to view.
  • Email your posting directly to us at co-op@durhamcollege.ca and we will post the opportunity on Hired for you. We will reach out to you if we have any questions. You will receive an email with your account information and confirming your job postings.

Step 2: Review applications

Once the deadline of your co-op opportunity has been reached, a bundle containing the names of the candidates along with their applications will be sent to you. Applications may consist of cover letters, resumes, grade reports or all of the above as per your request.

Step 3: Interview candidates

Once you have screened and selected the candidates, there are two ways in which interviews can be conducted.

  • You can reach out to the candidates and schedule interviews yourself.
  • You can contact the Co-op office, and we will schedule interviews on your behalf. Once the interview schedule has been confirmed, we will contact you with all of the details.

Step 4: Make an offer

Once you have selected the student(s) you would like to hire, there are two ways an offer can be made:

  • You can reach out to the successful student and make the offer.
  • You can contact the Co-op office, and we would be more than happy to extend the offer to the student.

Step 5: Finalize

Once an offer of employment has been accepted by a student, they will present you with a Work Term Agreement form. This form is signed by you, the student and the college and will be kept on file in the Co-op office.

Tax credits and funding

There are a number of grants, tax credits and funding programs that subsidize the cost of your hire, which may help to offset your costs.

Below are two funding opportunities that employers often take advantage of:

Co-operative Education Tax Credit

A key financial benefit to companies that hire a co-op student is the Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC). Ontario businesses that hire students enrolled in a post-secondary co-operative education program are eligible for the tax credit. The tax credit is based on salaries and wages paid to a student during a co-operative education work term. Corporations can claim 25 per cent of eligible expenditures (30 per cent for small businesses). The maximum credit for each work placement is $3,000.

Durham College’s Co-op office will provide employers with a letter of certification to use in the CETC application.

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

SWPP gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) works with Employer Delivery Partners. Employer Delivery Partners are a group of recognized associations and organizations that represent the interests of employers in industries. The ESDC works with businesses and post-secondary education institutions to:

  • provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements; and
  • create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to recruit students for these placements.

Student work placement activities can include, but is not limited to: mentorship programs, co-op placements, practicums and applied research projects.

FAQ

How can I contact the Durham College Co-op office?

General Email: co-op@durhamcollege.ca
Website: www.durhamcollege.ca/coop
Post a job with us: https://hired.durhamcollege.ca

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TEAM:

Co-Operative Education Co-ordinators
Anna De Grauwe
anna.degrauwe@durhamcollege.ca

Camille Bacaksizlar
Camille.Bacaksizlar@durhamcollege.ca

Director, Experiential Learning
Amanda Brown
amanda.brown@durhamcollege.ca