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Student Employees Help Fill the Summer Void

Many organizations can benefit from fresh, eager workers.

There are many reasons why summer students contribute to easier transitions while full-time employees are on vacation.

Here are some ideas on the "why" factor and how to create a positive relationship that works for both the people in your organization and the new, but temporary, employee:

*Source: Barbara Bowes, "School's Out! Student employees aren't simply cheap labour -- they're a pool of talent waiting to contribute to your company," Winnipeg Free Press, 29 June, 2002. For more information and resources about hire-a-student programs in Manitoba and Canada, visit our website at ibexpayroll.com.

 

The Why Factor

The How Factor

It's an opportunity to cultivate young talent for your company;

Establish the purpose of student employment in your company;

Student employees create a pool of qualified candidates for future jobs;

Look past simply providing vacation replacements and help with workloads;

It's a chance to evaluate a potential employee or the "try before you buy" concept;

Provide meaningful work experiences that are focused, at the right skill level, and can be quickly mastered;

Student employees help with the seasonal upturns in your business;

Provide a good job description with clear roles and responsibilities;

Students help smooth over workflow gaps resulting from vacation schedules;

Ensure proper training is provided when the student beings the job. Be sure to review all workplace safety requirements;

Students have good energy and enthusisasm and are highly productive;

Ensure that students understand their work hours and break times. They can't just leave at 3:30 p.m. and call it a day;

Student employment has public relations value as your company will be seen as being a good community citizen;

Undertake the same scrutiny in your recruitment and selection process as you would for a full-time employee - hire someone who has the skills you need, not just a warm body;

Student employment helps spread the word about your positive work culture.

Establish a peer relationship with another employee so the student is integrated into your business as quickly and successfully as possible;

 

Ensure the student is assigned a supervisor who can oversee skill development and provide coaching when required and make sure the student knows who to go to for help;

 

Provide some specific student mentoring on a weekly basis;

 

Include students in all company functions wherever possible;

 

Provide a variety of experiences when possible;

 

Conduct a performance appraisal at the conclusion of the student employment contract. Meet with the student to provide face-to-face feedback - this is greatly valued by students and will also help you to make decisions regarding their future employment;

 

Review the summer work project with students and assist them to understand what skills they have learned that will benefit them in full employment;

 

Offer a reference while the experience is still fresh in your mind.

 
 

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