Co-op for Employers

COE co-op students are in high demand with many job options. In today’s highly competitive job market, you want to attract the students who best fit the job and your organization—and it all starts with the job description. Here are a few tips:

• Define your business needs and identify how the co-op student will contribute to your organization.
• Consider projects, timelines, planning, processes, required skill sets, communications, and management. Develop key responsibilities and rank them in order of priority.
• Be as comprehensive as possible when describing the job, and ensure that its responsibilities are both important and achievable.

Northeastern offers a streamlined tool to match Northeastern partners and learners with co-op, internship openings, and full-time and part-time employment opportunities. More than a million employers have leveraged Symplicity to post jobs, find top talent, and manage on-campus recruiting, and we are proud to be a part of the Symplicity family.

Submitting a new co-op or internship position (or reposting a current one) is easy, and it’s all done through NUworks—Northeastern’s one-stop-shop for job postings. Just follow the instructions on NUworks to complete the online form, and remember to select “Engineering Department” or “Engineering-MGEN” from the college dropdown menu. If you know your primary co-op contact, select the appropriate department, and then choose your contact. If you do not already have a co-op contact, you will be contacted by a COE co-op coordinator.  Either way, your position will get posted.

Employers

Co-ops, full-time, part-time jobs, and internships can all be posted in NUworks.

If you have any questions about posting your position, please contact your Co-op Coordinator.

These examples are taken from actual co-op job descriptions, but are changed to preserve the identity of the company, and do not represent currently available positions. We recommend all postings begin with a brief paragraph about the company and how the position fits within the organization. You may want to add any unique components of the job or about the company culture to set your organization apart.

Below are links to sample job descriptions for a variety of majors within COE Departmental Co-op.  These examples are taken from actual co-op job descriptions, but are changed to preserve the identity of the company, and do not represent current available positions.

• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Data Analytics Engineering (Graduate Only)
• Energy Systems (Graduate Only)
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Management (Graduate Only)
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Operations Research (Graduate Only)

For sample job descriptions for the Multidisciplinary Engineering majors below, please contact an MGEN Co-op Coordinator directly. Our students have a depth and breadth of knowledge, skills, experiences, and interests in their fields, so we would love to connect with you to discuss examples that best fit your hiring and industry needs.

• Computer Systems Engineering (Graduate Only)
• Cyber-Physical Systems (Graduate Only)
• Information Systems (Graduate Only)
• Software Engineering Systems (Graduate Only)
• Telecommunication Networks (Graduate Only)

• Co-op Subsidy and Reimbursement Opportunities

• Employer Tips for Remote & Hybrid Co-ops

Please view the Cooperative Education and Career Development Employer Handbook, which describes the role employers play in the co-op process. Students are your employees, exclusively, during the co-op period. They are full-time, temporary workers, and we request that they be treated in the same manner as other full-time staff.

When Hiring a Co-op Student, Consider the Following Responsibilities:

• Per federal law, the student should be hired as an employee, not as a contractor.
• Throughout the co-op, ensure ample work is given related to the job accepted.
• Help the student develop learning outcomes at the beginning of the co-op.
• Provide mentorship and training to the student throughout the co-op.
• Notify your Co-op Coordinator of any concerns as they arise.
• Complete a student evaluation at the end of the co-op.

For additional information on best practices for training, enhancing the co-op experience, learning outcomes, student evaluations, and addressing student issues please refer to Best Practices for a Successful Co-op or contact your Co-op Coordinator.

When you become an employer partner of Northeastern University, you work with a dedicated Co-op Coordinator to assist you throughout the co-op process. This expert faculty member works within the structured program to support you and students throughout the co-op process.

Your Co-op Coordinator(s) can help you to:

• Align employer needs with candidate pools and university timelines
• Identify qualified candidates
• Facilitate a successful co-op experience for students and employers
• Address any issues or concerns while a student is on co-op

In addition to placing students in co-ops across the U.S., students are able to participate in co-ops across the globe. The College of Engineering has a dedicated Global Co-op team to work with our global employer partners in order to help navigate the process of sourcing and hiring a student from Northeastern. This also includes partnering with U.S. multinational employers with global positions at their locations abroad.

Tips for Global Employers:

• Students speak fluent English but are not required to speak the language of the country (unless stated in the job description)
• Scholarship funds are available to students to help with travel costs
• International travel support team members are available to work with students
• Students are compensated similarly to local interns
• Assistance with housing is appreciated by not required

For additional information about global co-ops, please contact the Global Engineering team.

• Do I need to make a long-term commitment with the University to become a co-op employer?
  Co-op does not require a long-term commitment. You decide every six months whether your organization will continue to hire co-op students.
• Are students unenrolled from Northeastern while on co-op and must an employer provide benefits?
  Students continue to be recognized as full-time students while on co-op and only require company benefits if state legislation requires it. Students should be considered temporary, full-time workers, but not independent contractors.
• Is there a fee for employers participating in the co-op program?
  No!
• Is there an obligation to hire a student after a job description is posted?
  While we hope that you will hire, posting a co-op position does not obligate you to hire a student. We understand that staffing needs and financial resources may change.
• How do I make an offer to a student?
  You should reach out to the student directly with the terms of the offer. Please note that we request that students be given 3 business days to make a decision. It is helpful to include wage, start date, end date, position title, and any benefits in the offer.
• What are typical hourly wages?
  As with any new hire, your organization is free to determine appropriate compensation for co-op positions. There is a fair amount of variability based on a range of factors, including student’s level of skill and experience, type of position, industry and type of company, or distance from campus. Refer to the average salaries for College of Engineering students.
• Is it difficult to hire an international student and do I need to sponsor their student visa?
  There are no additional fees or employer paperwork required to hire an international student and you do not need to sponsor their visa. The Office of Global Services (OGS) at Northeastern University coordinates all student documentation to ensure compliance with federal employment regulations.
• What if I can’t hire an international student?
  If you are only legally allowed to hire U.S. Citizens/permanent residents due to federal regulations (ITAR etc.), please contact your Co-op Coordinator so the proper documentation can be added to the job description in NUworks. If you are not legally bound to hiring only U.S. Citizens/permanent residents, your Co-op Coordinator cannot screen for visa status.
• How much do students get paid?
  Companies determine the salaries for co-op positions. If you are trying to benchmark or remain competitive, please contact your Co-op Coordinator as they will be able to give you the appropriate information for your job.
• Who do I contact if an issue arises while a student is on co-op?
  Your Co-op Coordinator will assist you with any concerns related to the co-op process or a co-op student. We encourage you to reach out if problems arise.
• Can students take classes while on co-op?
  Students are committed to working full-time while on co-op. However, we allow undergraduate students to take a class while on co-op if it fits with their work schedule. We ask students to speak to their co-op job manager before enrolling in a course. In some situations, students can take evening classes, but if a class falls during the workday it is at the manager’s discretion to approve whether the student can take the class and adjust his or her work hours to make up the time. Masters-level students are expected to seek approval from their advisor if they want to take a class while on co-op .