Hiring a co-op? Some things to think about…
It is that time of year again and a number of students have been asking for advice on which job offer they should rank. Their motivations for accepting a job (or ranking it in UW terms) are diverse but there are two general things I think employers might not think of. It could cost them hiring the student that they think will fit the best in the role they have available.
- Students aren’t totally motivated by money but don’t offer pay below the average wage for their program. With the number of programs out there to help you pay for a student, what does 1 or 2K more for a term really cost you? If you really can’t pay any more then focus on the next point…
- Sell the value they are bringing to your organization. For coders the allure of their code being used by their peers is huge. For others it is similar—they want to do things that other people will find valuable in the time they are working for you.
I haven’t spoken to one student that took a job simply because of the pay but I have spoken to many that have not ranked a job because they felt they would not bring value to a group or project or learn something from the person they would report to. I am certain they appreciate each and every employer that comes to interview them and offer them an opportunity but at the same time they faced with pressure from family, friends, and mid-terms… and I wouldn’t call it a gen Y thing because the same motivators existed 10 years ago that exist today… It is simply a confident, intelligent, and capable student thing. I think anyway.
Btw, this is no way official advice from my employer. It is simply advice based on my experience. It might not work for everyone.
