EngagingStudentstoBuild YourTalentPipeline

ByCoraDupuis,Co-operativeEducation(Co-op)Coordinator,BrandonUniversity

I lead a work experience program at Brandon University, which is an opportunity for students to gain work skills as a part of their degree and for employers to build their talent pipeline.

A talent pipeline? What is that?

Simply put, it is having a group of high-potential, pre-qualified candidates on a shortlist when a vacancy becomes available. It is smart to be thinking about the talent pipeline for all of your organization's positions, but companies often struggle with attracting early-career candidates who are ideal for entrylevel roles. This is where students and work-experience programs like Co-operative Education or Co-op can help.

What is Co-op? And how can it help me build my talent pipeline?

BU Co-op works with you to create a role within your organization that would be ideal for a student to fill while still ensuring it adds value to your bottom line. There are many different ways that companies have done this. For example, some of our employers recognized that they needed some additional support during the peak vacation season over July and August They hired a student who started in May and did eight weeks of training alongside key people Then, those key people could take holidays in the summer, and business operations could continue Other organizations see our co-op students as future employees and use the four-month work term as an ongoing probationary period They hire the student full-time from May to August, and if the student is a good fit, the employer keeps them part-time throughout the school year When the student graduates, the employer has an emerging professional ready to join their team

If making a new position for a student w federal dollars (up to $5000) to support op Student Hiring Incentive, whereby em student for work performed during an a every time you hire a co-op student.

How

do I get started?

To learn more about how BU Coop and students can help your organization build your talent pipeline, please reach out to Cora Dupuis, dupuisc@brandonu.ca, or 204-571-7848. We have dozens of high-potential, pre-selected students who are eager to kick-start their careers this summer and add value to your organization