9 reasons why employers love co-ops

A co-op job, short for “cooperative education“, is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. In the context of employment, especially for students, it has several key features:

• Work-Integrated Learning: Co-op programs provide students with an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in their field of study. This integration of study and work is typically facilitated by an educational institution.
• Paid Employment: Unlike some internships, co-op positions are typically paid, offering students not only valuable experience but also financial compensation.
• Academic Credit: Students often receive academic credit for their co-op experience. This integration with their academic program means that the work they do is directly related to their field of study and contributes to their overall education.
• Alternating or Parallel Schedule: Co-op programs can be structured in different ways. Some involve alternating periods of classroom study with periods of full-time work, while others follow a parallel model where students work part-time while continuing their studies.
• Career Relevance and Development: These roles are usually in fields directly related to the student’s major or career interests, providing a significant step towards their future career. It offers not just work experience but also professional networking opportunities and skill development.
• Employer Engagement: Employers who offer co-op positions are typically engaged in the educational process, ensuring that the work experience is meaningful and relevant.

A co-op job is an excellent way for students to gain real-world experience, develop professional skills, and make industry connections, all while completing their education. This model benefits students, educational institutions, and employers, creating a bridge between academic learning and practical application in the workplace.

One way for employers to leverage experiential recruiting is through providing co-op opportunities to students. Co-ops offer a wealth of benefits for both the candidate and employer, and to uncover why they’re a game-changer for employers, we’ve gathered insights from nine industry professionals, including Executive Recruiters and CEOs. These benefits range from the opportunity to evaluate prospective employees to fostering low-risk project innovation.

Evaluate Prospective Employees

Co-ops give companies the chance to examine prospective employees in an actual workplace setting, giving them firsthand experience that demonstrates a candidate’s abilities, flexibility, and work ethic.

I wish I could narrow my response down to one answer, but there are many benefits worth mentioning. These benefits include cost savings, new perspectives, increased productivity, DEIB initiatives, and more.

Chandra Aiken, Executive Recruiter and Owner, Easy Choice Recruiting

Boost Brand Among Youth

Implementing co-op programs is a strategic way to improve our company’s brand recognition and appeal among the younger demographic. When students have positive co-op experiences, they often share these with peers, creating a word-of-mouth effect that enhances our reputation as an employer. 

This increased visibility and positive perception among the emerging workforce can be invaluable for future recruitment efforts.

Ryan Zomorodi, COO and Co-Founder, Real Estate Skills

Cost-Effective R&D Contributions

In my experience, co-ops provide a cost-effective solution for research and development initiatives. Students are often eager to work on cutting-edge projects and can contribute significantly to R&D efforts. 

This arrangement allows us to advance our research goals with a lower investment compared to hiring experienced professionals, which can be a crucial factor for startups or small businesses.

Tom Golubovich, Head of Marketing, Ninja Transfers

Extended Candidate Assessment

One key reason co-ops are excellent for employers engaged in experiential recruiting is that they offer prolonged and in-depth engagement with potential hires. Unlike brief interviews or resume evaluations, co-op programs allow employers to observe candidates over an extended period, gaining a comprehensive understanding of their work ethic, problem-solving skills, and collaboration abilities.

This extended interaction enables employers to make more informed decisions about a candidate’s fit within the company culture and their potential for long-term success. Co-ops essentially serve as an extended trial period, offering employers a nuanced perspective on a candidate’s capabilities and compatibility with the organization. This firsthand experience proves invaluable in making strategic and well-informed hiring decisions.

Catherine Cooke, Co-Founder, Upskillwise

Infuse Current Industry Knowledge

I see co-ops as a way to enhance our company’s adaptability. By continuously bringing in students, we expose our teams to new technologies and methodologies that are being taught in academia. This exposure keeps our workforce adaptable and up-to-date with current trends, which is essential for staying competitive in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

Michael Nemeroff, CEO and Co-Founder, Rush Order Tees

Foster Internal Leadership Growth

As a business expert, co-ops offer a valuable avenue to enhance the efficiency of a company’s management structure. When you bring in new talent, particularly students through co-ops, you’re creating an opportunity for your existing team members to step into leadership roles. This dynamic allows your current employees to lead and manage incoming talent, providing them with a platform to supervise and mentor students. 

From the employer’s standpoint, leveraging co-ops means you don’t have to micromanage every aspect of your team, including the new talent. Instead, you can channel your energy into critical decision-making areas, such as strategic planning. This strategic delegation fosters an ownership mindset among your employees, granting them the autonomy to manage certain tasks, including supervising new talent. 

In essence, choosing co-ops as a hiring strategy is a deliberate move to enhance the management dynamics of your business.

Jack Vivian, Chief Technology Officer, Increditools

Efficient Future Hiring Channel

Experiential recruiting is most effective when it provides an efficient future hiring channel. Recruiters can achieve this smoothly through co-ops. Through co-op programs, recruiters can develop a robust connection with students. It will work like networking for both sides. 

As a result, recruiters can persuade students to join their workplace after completing their studies. This will also give them an edge over other companies that wish to do the same. Sometimes, students can apply for jobs at the company if they have had a positive experience working through the co-op program. Thanks to this, recruiters won’t have to exert much effort to attract employees to their company.

Tom Vota, Marketing Director, Gotomyerp

Strengthen Community Engagement

In my opinion, co-ops strengthen our company’s engagement with the local community and educational institutions. This engagement enhances our social responsibility profile and builds strong relationships with local talent pools. It positions our company as an active participant in community development, which can be beneficial for both public relations and long-term recruitment strategies.

Mark Varnas, Principal SQL Server DBA and Consultant, Red9

Low-Risk Project Innovation

I believe co-ops are invaluable for testing and developing new projects or business areas with minimal risk. Students can be assigned to innovative projects where their fresh perspectives and eagerness to learn can be maximally utilized. 

This arrangement allows us to explore new ideas without the full commitment of permanent staffing resources. It’s an excellent way to experiment and innovate within a controlled environment.

David Gaglione, Founding Partner, PS212