Co-op Job Description Outline

How to write a successful co-op job description to post on CUHire.

Required Fields
JOB OVERVIEW
Job Title	An accurate job title will help you receive more applicants. Tip: Try removing terminology such as “co-op” and “student” from your job title to foster a sense of empowerment in the position and stimulate higher levels of participation and contribution from your successful candidate!
Organization & Department	Insert organization and department.
Location	Include whether the position is remote, on-site, or hybrid and include address for on-site work.
JOB SUMMARY
The next generation of talent look for jobs that align with their values and provide purposeful work – increase the success of your job posting by following these 5 steps: Showcase why the role is important and the value it brings to your organization or team. Celebrate your organization’s culture and the positive impacts you make on your community. Highlight any additional learning benefits or opportunities for professional/skill development or student bridging so the applicant can see how the position will benefit them. Reference Carleton’s 10 Career Competencies in your job posting – this will help applicants make connections to their academics and career path. Make the right first impression – the tone, language, and details that are included or excluded in your posting will demonstrate your organization’s values and culture, and help promote your opportunity! Tip: Websites such as TalVista and Gender Decoder can help you optimize your job descriptions for greater inclusion and reduce bias in your hiring process – quickly check if your job description has any subtle linguistic gender-coding or problematic words that may have a discouraging effect on woman, racialized, neurodivergent or other unrepresented applicants in your candidate pool.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Providing clear details about the role will help you get the right candidates! Tip: Being transparent about what the key duties and responsibilities are for the role will clarify expectations, help applicants prepare for the interview process, and promote self-efficacy in your successful candidate – “I know what to do and how to do it!”
REQUIRED SKILLS
Highlight the skills applicants need to succeed in the role or that may give them an edge in your workplace. Tip: Including the desired non-cognitive skills/personality traits in your job posting, i.e. motivated, conscientious, dependable, self-disciplined, flexible, etc, can positively impact on your success of finding the right talent for your role, organization and culture. “Hire for personality, train for skill!”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Compensation & Benefits	Include the salary, or a salary range, to help attract the right applicants. (Co-op students seek fair and competitive wages – click here to view our 2021 Salary Survey) Tip: Research shows job descriptions that reference company culture get more applicants – be sure to celebrate any unique perks, additional benefits and/or wellness initiatives at your organization! You’ll be happy to learn that all of Carleton’s co-op programs are tax credit -eligible (available to eligible Employers in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba). You may also qualify for additional funding or subsidies to assist with the cost of hiring Co-op students. Click here to learn more.
Other Requirements	Be sure to include any additional requirements for the role or your organization such as language requirements, citizenship, and/or a specific type of security clearance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion	Applicants want inclusive workplaces so be sure to highlight your organization’s EDI strategy to tap into a wider range of applicants with diverse backgrounds, identities, and skill sets! Emphasize your organization’s commitment to EDI by providing concrete examples of current initiatives within your organization and including a clear statement in the job posting about your organization’s commitment to equal employment opportunities and diverse hiring. This way candidates know that their unique skills and experiences will be recognized and welcomed.
Application Details or Instructions	Do you have specific accessibility accommodations or equitable hiring practices for your interview/recruitment process? Share them here, along with clear and transparent expectations.