Tips & Supervisor Requirements
Supervisor Tools & Requirements
What鈥檚 involved in supervising a co-op student?
Now that you鈥檝e hired a student, it鈥檚 time to extend a warm welcome. Here are some guidelines on how to set your student up for success, and what to expect from 51猎奇入口Co-op during the work term.
Remember that for some students, this may be their first time working in a professional environment, and they may need extra support during their first month.
Need an overview of Co-op best practices?
Co-op Student Success: Tips for Employers
These tips will help you get the most out of your co-op student鈥檚 contribution.
Before day 1: provide background information to the student
Arrange a 鈥榳elcome orientation鈥�
You鈥檒l promote engagement between employees and co-op students. Orientation could include a department walkthrough, an overview of your organizational chart, and a staff-wide introductory email.
Rotate students through multiple departments
You鈥檒l help co-op students build a holistic understanding of company operations.
Allow students to invite senior staff to lunch or coffee
You鈥檒l enhance students鈥� connection to the company and provide opportunities to learn about your organization鈥檚 culture.
Include students during staff meetings and training sessions
You鈥檒l give co-op students the opportunity to practice meeting etiquette and develop a greater understanding of departmental responsibilities. Plus, even if the training isn鈥檛 relevant to students鈥� current positions, you鈥檒l help them learn new skills.
In large organizations, coordinate 鈥榗o-op student coffee socials鈥�
You鈥檒l encourage students to share ideas, experiences, protocols and training.
Assign a supervisor
Assign your student a supervisor who will keep track of the projects that the student is working on, outline your organization鈥檚 expectations, and mentor the student.
Provide a thorough orientation
Describe your organizational structure and the student鈥檚 role. Outline your expectations, including projects or tasks, your policy/perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence tools (e.g., Chat GPT) in the workplace, behaviour and professionalism, confidentiality or safety policies and more, and provide training where necessary. This is also a good time to identify links between the co-op job and the student鈥檚 academic program.
Check in regularly
Schedule regular check-ins to assess the student鈥檚 work load and progress, provide feedback, and adjust duties and responsibilities as needed. These feedback sessions are also an opportunity to encourage the student to participate in meetings or attend workplace functions to learn more about the organization.
Facilitate meetings between students and professional contacts
You鈥檒l promote the exploration of co-op students鈥� career goals and the ways these goals align with your industry.
Involve current students in the hiring of the next co-op student
You鈥檒l give co-op students the opportunity to learn how your organization screens and interviews applicants, and reduce work for the hiring manager.
Include students in extracurricular and social activities
You鈥檒l increase co-op students鈥� familiarity, comfort and sense of commitment to coworkers and to your organization.
Ask students to complete a presentation about their experiences
You鈥檒l help students develop presentation skills and illuminate opportunities for improvement.
Learn about how to create an inclusive and accessible work environment
Learn how to support inclusive and accessible workplaces through guidance on and inclusive work-integrated learning, including and .
Ask your student about the work term submission
All co-op students must complete a work term submission. Submissions are often about a project or learning opportunity that the student found valuable. Discuss the topic with the student to determine if the content may be confidential. Most submissions are due after the work term has ended and are evaluated by the co-op coordinator. If the submission contains confidential information, you may mark the submission instead.
What if you have problems with a co-op student?
At the first sign of an unusual situation (behaviour problems, medical emergencies, etc.), contact your co-op coordinator, who will work with you to resolve the problem. If you鈥檙e considering firing a co-op student, we ask that you discuss your concerns with your co-op coordinator.