The Power of Co-op: Leveraging Student Talent as a Small Business

In an industry that can turn on its head overnight, having an open mind and a willingness to learn new ideas is a crucial part of staying afloat. At Websolutions.ca, we appreciate and value the huge impact learning can have on small businesses and the people within them. 

One of the ways we encourage constant learning is through our continued support of co-op education programs in New Brunswick. In fact, we have a pretty impressive track record when it comes to turning temporary co-op students into full-time Websolutions.ca employees!

Co-op students can be a massive boon to any business, and their unique position and fresh perspective opens up so many opportunities to nurture growth and facilitate continuous learning within a company setting. They’re also an excellent way of finding talented and passionate workers who can grow professionally alongside your business, cementing their connection and understanding of your workplace from the get-go. 

We could simply list out all the benefits of hiring co-op students, but that’s no fun! Instead, we invited our very own former co-op babies - Patrick, Carter, Sara and Emmanuel - to share their personal journeys with Websolutions.ca, and why they believe investing in a co-op student (or four) may be one of the best decisions a small business owner can make. Let’s dive in! 

Carter: When I did my co-op with Websolutions, I was still in high school, so I was looking for a placement that could show me what it’s like to be in the workforce. Through family connections, I came across Websolutions.ca. I’ve been interested in technology and the internet since I was young, so to me, Websolutions seemed to be Bathurst’s own Google! It was in the newest office building in town. It was a modern, forward-thinking company, which was the opposite of what I’ve seen in other companies around the city. My first day was just as magical as I thought; the office's sleek, modern design was captivating. The one thing I found strange was the silence. Everyone was so focused on their work that I had to yell to get their attention when I first walked in. After my first day, it was not as I had expected; it was much better.

Sara: I actually didn't directly apply to Websolutions.ca for my internship. My school's employment specialist reached out to businesses in Fredericton seeking opportunities for students and Websolutions responded with an interest after seeing my resume. My first impression of Websolutions before my first day was that they do cool work. My impression of Websolutions after my first day was that we do REALLY cool work!

Emmanuel: The idea of applying for a co-op position at Websolutions.ca came to me in a rather unexpected way. Working as a cleaner on Saturdays, I had the opportunity to clean their premises. I was immediately seduced by the clean, spacious and aesthetic setting. I thought, "This is exactly the kind of environment that stimulates creativity and innovation!" When the opportunity arose, I didn't hesitate for a second to apply.

My first impression of Websolutions was already very positive, thanks to the look of their offices. But after my first day, I realized that the company had so much more to offer than what I could see with the naked eye. I was warmly welcomed by a dynamic and passionate team. The atmosphere was both relaxed and professional, which made me feel comfortable and confident from the start.

Patrick: It's funny, the first time I co-op'ed at Websolutions.ca it wasn't fully my decision – my teacher suggested the place because it was close to home, and I approved it. I don't remember much of how that first co-op went, but what I do remember was it being rather cramped in the old office! 

My second (2021) co-op, however, I chose to apply to Websolutions again, knowing I would already be familiar with the crew and the work. The new space was much more open, and it was great to be able to easily communicate with all the team members. I remember spending the first day with my nose deep in a Ruby on Rails book, learning a brand new programming language so I could start helping with website programming tasks. After the first day I was glad to be doing a co-op here again.

Carter: During my co-op, I got introduced to corporate communication and I’ve never looked back. Being in high school, I had no idea what the edict was in a professional setting, such as the proper way to write emails or talk on the phone. In a lot of cases, I found out the hard way how not to speak to clients. I learned to project confidence and sound professional, which is a skill I will take with me for the rest of my career.

Sara: You never stop learning. Being in this industry, things are constantly evolving, meaning we are constantly adapting. Whether it be new features Google rolls out, or new areas of digital marketing I haven't explored yet, there's always more to learn. Setting time aside each day to focus on an area of interest has really kept my motivation going. 

Emmanuel: During my internship, I developed two essential qualities: adaptation and philomathy. The programming languages and frameworks used were all new to me, but I learned to listen carefully, learn quickly, and adapt continuously. These skills allowed me to progress quickly and become an integral member of the team.

Patrick: Learning Ruby on Rails was crucial for me getting to where I am, as it is a programming language we still commonly use in our websites. It even helped me at home when I discovered that something I wanted to make a project in was powered by Ruby.

Carter: I think a factor in my being offered a permanent position was that I worked as hard as the full-time employees. I went into my co-op wanting to soak up everything I could so I didn’t waste a minute. I was eager to learn and enthusiastic about everything I was being taught.

Sara: I think the continuous addition of tasks, my willingness to take on more, and showing up every day better than the last is what secured my spot at Websolutions.ca. I started out writing for 3 social media clients and handling reception as a Digital Marketing Intern. Eventually I took over social monitoring, Instagram and Facebook stories, writing holiday copy, and additional clients, to leading meetings for social media clients. My title changed to Content Writer / Digital Media Assistant as I expressed an interest in advertising once I became full-time, and I gradually learned more about building campaigns, trafficking, budgets, proposals, media plans and reporting. Now, I'm a Digital Strategist and handle all things advertising, to those same 3 social clients I began content writing for, and everything else in between. 😊

Emmanuel: I had the opportunity to learn about various frameworks and languages, but what really got me excited was the Salmon Tracker project. I think that's where I was able to show my determination and commitment. I didn't hesitate to propose ideas and accompany them with mini demos to prove their feasibility. I believe it was this combination of willpower, creativity and concrete evidence that convinced Josh to give me a permanent position. 🤔

Patrick: The project I worked on as a co-op student was a revamp of the Content Management System (CMS) for one of our old websites, and it taught me a lot about how our websites function. I think how well I picked up on learning Ruby on Rails showed that I had potential as a programmer. Over time I went from doing small support projects to building new websites backends, and now I'm able to work on every part of building a website.

Carter: I would tell myself to not think about work when I went home. At first I would lie awake at night thinking about what I had to do the next day, which wasn’t healthy; I was just so enthusiastic about the position I couldn’t stop thinking about it! I’m glad I learned a good work/life balance later on.

Sara: I'd just tell myself that everything's gonna work out.

Emmanuel: I would tell my pre-co-op self, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, be yourself and give your best. Enjoy this experience to the fullest!" 👌

Patrick: I would tell myself to spend more time looking things up and trying to solve them by myself before reaching out for assistance, but to never be afraid to reach out for help if I can't find a solution on my own. As for something I'd like myself to know, I'd tell myself to start learning NextJS on the side so I could benefit from learning it sooner. 😜

Carter: I think co-op students are a win-win for businesses and students. They provide the students with on-the-job skills that are crucial in today's job market, and they give the business owner free labour for the tenure of their co-op. 

Sara: 100% worth it. I believe both parties benefit immensely from the co-op period. The student gets exposed to what a real day-to-day looks like, how the business operates, a chance to apply their academic knowledge in real settings, develop relationships with coworkers, and the opportunity to further develop needed skills without the expectation falling onto them just yet. For businesses, co-op students bring fresh perspectives, helping to stimulate innovation and creativity. While most co-op students are working to earn school credit, they're often much more affordable than hiring a full-time employee. Hiring a co-op student also gives the company a chance to mentor the next generation of workers, which can be rewarding for both the student and the company. 

Of course, there's potential for a full-time position upon graduation, which saves the student from job searching, rounds of interviews, going through the onboarding process and settling into the company's culture, as this would've already happened. It saves the company time and resources on recruiting and training new employees. Overall, there's multiple benefits and I think it's worth it for businesses to try out. You never know! 

Emmanuel: My answer is a big yes! A co-op placement provides the student with the opportunity to learn and adapt to their work environment without undue stress. For its part, the employer has the chance to observe the student in action and to get to know him or her much better than during a simple interview. This period can be considered a trial period, and if all goes well, it can lead to a fruitful and lasting working relationship.

Patrick: I think hiring co-op students shows to the community and college/university that the company is willing to continue collaborating with them. The co-op period helps the company identify the value of the co-op student, and being hired tells the student they were doing an excellent job.

As a small business, we love getting the chance to work with so many skilled, driven and dynamic students through co-op initiatives. Gaining access to an array of unique and fresh perspectives for our company, while also getting to provide a solid foothold for students as they take the first steps of their careers, is just too good to pass up.  

If your business is looking to shake things up with new ideas and perspectives, consider opening your doors to some co-op students - you might just find exactly what you’re looking for!

A big thank you to our gaggle of former co-op students for being so co-op-erative (⌐■_■) and sharing their journeys with Websolutions.ca!