COVID-19: Important Information for Hiring and Supporting Students


Western recognizes the impact COVID-19 is having on organizations and the way they operate. This unprecedented situation may affect hiring for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, and have additional implications for the support and supervision of WIL students who are currently on internship/placement.

Our staff is available remotely to help you navigate this uncertain time.

Please see below for our FAQ and tips for Supporting Students Working Remotely. You may contact the Campus Coordinator for the applicable WIL program should you have questions or updates regarding current and upcoming student work terms.

FAQ

Can I post for a long-term internship (8 – 16 months)?

Yes. Postings for the 2020-21 internship cycle will go live to students on September 30, 2020. The earliest possible application deadline will be October 18, 2020. For more information on our programs, please see our internship page or contact us at hirewesternu@uwo.ca 

Please note: Western has cancelled all outbound international university-sanctioned student travel until December 30, 2020.

Are there any wage subsidies available to support hiring interns?

Yes. The Government of Canada has recently changed the eligibiity requirements for the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), and we encourage you to review the funding options available through this offering, and reach out to applicable funding partners with any questions you may have.

What is the current process for interviewing students?

We will not be offering on-campus interviews at this time. We encourage all employers and students to move to a telephone, zoom or skype format. For help with shifting to a virtual format, you can email interviews@uwo.ca or call 519 661-3559.

I have a student on a work term right now. Can they continue to work for us?

Please contact the Campus Coordinator for the program the student is in to discuss this.

Can I end a current student’s work term early?

Please contact the Campus Coordinator for the program the student is in to discuss this.

I have a posting advertised with Western right now, but need to cancel the position. What should I do?

Please email us at hirewesternu@uwo.ca and we will provide further instructions.

I have scheduled interviews/have interviewed students, but the position has now been cancelled. What should I do?

Please email us at interviews@uwo.ca and we will provide further instructions.

Can I book an information session right now?

Yes, you may host a virtual information session with us. Please see our Information Session page for more details.

Supporting Students Working Remotely

We support the practice of students working remotely during this time. We have encouraged students to ask questions of their employers to ensure they have the supports in place to continue their work term. We have provided some suggestions below which may help to ease the student’s transition into remote work.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

You can’t over-communicate in a unique situation such as this. Many students are new to the workforce, and will be looking to you for explicit instructions on how to complete their work and structure their day.

Be Visible and Available

Schedule regular telephone or virtual meetings to ensure students receive the guidance and support they need. Applications such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Skype are great ways to keep in touch virtually.

Provide a System for Tracking and Managing Work

Students should still be accountable for their time. You may consider a tracking system to manage their work and ensure continued collaboration with their teammates.

Provide Access to Necessary Resources

This includes providing the technology and resources a student needs to complete their work term remotely (computer, phone, wifi, reliable phone/video conferencing, access to necessary files).

Create Opportunities to Connect Virtually with the Team

Remote students are still looking to build relationships. Try and find virtual ways to keep everyone on the team connected in both formal and informal ways.

Additional Resources

Top Tips for Remote Hiring and Onboarding (TechAlliance)

Managing a Remote Team? Here Are 10 Tools That Can Help (Inc)

11 Tools for Tracking Your Remote Staff’s Productivity (Business.com)

Five Steps to Setting Up and Effective Work From Home Policy (Timesheets)

The 10 Rules Found in Every Good Remote Work Policy (TechRepublic)

Virtually Alone: Real Ways to Connect Remote Teams (Strategy & Business)

Unify Your Remote Workforce with These 12 Management Tactics (Forbes)

Avoiding Video Conferencing Fatigue (UCL School of Management)

Have questions? Contact us!


519-661-3619 

hirewesternu@uwo.ca