Work-Integrated Learning

Prepare a brief job description, which includes the following:

• A brief overview of your company (one paragraph)
• Job title
• Job description including major responsibilities of the position
• Minimum qualifications
• Salary (students typically earn $16 to $24 per hour)
• Any benefits that may be available, such as flex hours, gym access, etc.
• Length of the WIL experience
  • Approximate start/end dates
  • Dates should align with the WIL term date indicated in our chart
• Supervisor name and title
• Your full address, including the location of the job if it is elsewhere                       

Every workplace has its own health and safety policies determined by the nature of the organization. You should provide a copy of the company’s health and safety policies to the student employee to review. If the company does not have a handbook, some things to discuss with the student include:

• Required safety clothing and gear
• Restricted areas requiring special clothing or supervision
• Restricted foods and scented products due to employee allergies

Every workplace has tools, programs and processes used in the day-to-day operations. We recommend you to introduce the student to these items, define what their purpose is and provide an opportunity for the student to familiarize themselves with them.

Students complete an Individual Learning Plan as a requirement of their WIL experience. We encourage them to review their learning goals with their supervisor to ensure they are in alignment with organizational expectations for the role. Some examples of questions student employees may have are:

• What are the major goals of the company?
• How will I be expected to participate?

Other materials to share with a student include:

• Policies and procedures
• Pay frequency
• Absenteeism policies
• Dress code

A student’s co-op or work term may be their first experience working for an employer, or it may be a chance for them to change careers.

Students are eager to build positive relationships with their new colleagues. To get the most out of the student’s experience, you could introduce them to your workplace culture and offer advice on how to adapt to the environment. Some topics include:

• Terms and jargon used in your organization
• Cell phone use in the office
• Frequency and duration of breaks
• Introductions to team members and their workspace

The student’s immediate colleagues will be their best resource for learning about the job. They are the people that the student will be in contact with most frequently, and you will want the student to build good relationships with them.

You may wish to encourage the student to:

• Introduce themselves
• Join coffee breaks and lunch breaks
• Show an interest in co-worker's activities
• Familiarize themselves with office space and facilities

Be sure to show the student where to find:

• Washrooms
• Your office and the student’s supervisor’s office
• Copy room and office supplies