ExL employer Checklist

• How to create quality WIL placements

  Getting started

  • Think about your business objectives. What skill gaps do you have? What projects or project pieces do you want to complete? What problems do you want to solve in your organization?  Can you align you goals with those of the student? 

  • Depending on the skills or the type of role you are looking to bring a student on board for connect with the Education Developer – WIL (ctl@cnc.bc.ca) to discuss your business goals. 

  • Determine the benefits a WIL student can bring to your organization. 

  • Identify what you can offer the student, and how you will create a learning environment. 

  • Articulate measurable outcomes for you organization and for the student.

• Assessing your needs

  • List the skills you would like your work-term student to possess. Consider both hard and soft skills: focus on any niche skills missing in-house. 

  • Examine your to-do list, as well as your wish list. Where can the student fill project gaps? Develop a draft task list for the student.  

  • Determine the length of time you would like to partner with the student. How many hours per week and for how many weeks? 

  • Determine what you will need to support the student regarding space, budget, and staff resources.  

• Designing the position

  • Review your business objectives. Create a position that fits both the work you need and want to be completed—and the student’s academic goals. 

  • Consider the level of expertise you require, the length of the work term, and the program expectations. Can all stakeholders be satisfied?  

  • Be flexible. Depending on the applications you receive and the candidates you meet, you may be inspired to take the position in a different direction.  

  • If it is a paid position, what salary is your organization able to pay the student employee? Over 15 federal and provincial funding programs are available to offset expenses as an incentive to employers to open their doors to Camosun students. Ask your WIL Education Developer about these while you are creating your position.  

• Writing a compelling job description

  • Tell students about your organization, the culture, your goals, and your vision.  

  • Summarize your business objectives and why this position exists. Students will want to be certain of their goals. 

  • Highlight what your organization offers students who are learning and developing their skills. Students want to work with firms that provide mentorship, guidance, and opportunities to develop their professional skills. 

  • State the base-level qualifications you are looking for, highlighting skills and attitudes over traditional work experience. Include a brief overview of the primary responsibilities - a list of tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities that the potential student candidate would be working on 

  • Outline the salary range if you are offering a “paid” WIL opportunity. There is funding available in certain sectors or for certain kinds of businesses. For non-profits it is suggested that you budget for a student worker or two over the fiscal year, although there is often funding available for non-profits as well. For information on funding please see the funding list and/or contact:  

  Education Developer

  Email -  ctl@cnc.bc.ca  

  Mobile – 778-349-0710