WIL Guide for Industry and Community Partners

1. Assess your needs.

What are the current challenges or gaps where your organization might need short term support? Is there a project that requires more assistance? Do you need help collecting and analyzing data? Are you looking to refresh your digital marketing?

2. Understand the expectations for partnership.

All partners employing IPP students hold the same responsibilities as they would for any short-term or temporary employee. This includes the following:

• Providing paid full-time employment for three or four months.
• Determining the salary offered, employment status, benefits, etc. for the student.
• Honouring the acceptance of a job offer as a contractual obligation with the student.
• Maintaining Comprehensive General Liability coverage appropriate to their operations, including Employer's Liability and Workers' Compensation, where applicable.
• Providing feedback to UCalgary Career Advisor for mid-point and final check-in.
• Collaborating with our team.

After confirming your interest in partnering, our team will work with you to facilitate the recruitment and interview process and support any other hiring and onboarding needs, such as developing the job description.

This collaborative process is beneficial for connecting your organizational needs with the education, experience, and skills of our students.

3. Finalize the employment contract.

The employment contract guiding the work term will be between the employer and the student, with limited involvement from the University of Calgary. It is essential that the work term complies with applicable employment standards legislation and regulations that pertain to hiring short-term or temporary employees.

As part of the collaborative process, we will ensure the role meets the purpose of WIL by contributing to a student's career development, along with its application to their experience and education.

4. Begin the work term.

Suggestions and resources for a successful work term:

• Provide orientation and onboarding as you would for all new hires, including safety, workplace policies, and team introductions.
• Offer mentorship and ensure the student can easily engage with their manager and peers. Connections help create meaningful experiences, which can be strengthen by offering the opportunity for your existing team to mentor the student. See mentorship strategies.

• Connect with our team to assist you during the work term. We will conduct a midpoint check-in with you and the student separately to ensure the work term is progressing well.

5. Evaluate the experience.

Following the work term, we encourage you and the student to evaluate the experience and provide feedback.

• The University of Calgary will engage with you for a post-work term discussion and provide the opportunity to give feedback through a survey.
• You are encouraged to conduct an exit interview with the student to provide and receive feedback. See performance-assessment strategies.