Best Practices
Here are practices that some departments and agencies have used to attract students and to provide them with positive, appropriate, and valuable work experience.
Preparation
- Recruit early. Remember, you're competing with private sector employers.
- Match skills to job requirements.
- Ensure the assignment reflects what the student was told to expect.
- Equip your students with the tools and resources that they need to do the job.
- Inform your staff of the role of students in your organization and how to utilize their skills for best results.
Liaison
- Provide students with an orientation session about your organization.
- Introduce students to their colleagues.
- Invite students to attend team meetings to promote learning and inclusiveness.
- Develop a mentor system to provide students with guidance.
- Maintain open and direct lines of communication, so that students have the security of knowing exactly where and how they contribute to your organization.
Motivation
- Develop students' abilities and talents by offering training and progressive assignments.
- Provide networking opportunities.
- Develop a structured learning plan. Use the learning plan to define what the student should accomplish during their work term. See examples of model learning plans for high school and post-secondary students.
- Offer performance feedback and suggestions, and remember to include positive comments.
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