Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Employer's Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Internship/Co-ops

1. What is a Internship/Co-op?

   A planned, out-of-classroom work experience that brings classroom learning to the work environment.

   Common elements:

   • Internships are credit bearing and only last for one semester
   • Co-op is a course that appears on the students transcript, but is not credit bearing. Co-op can be repeated multiple times
   • Full-time or part-time
   • Minimum of one semester (15 weeks)

2. Why should I consider a Internship/Co-op?

   Hiring a student for an internship or co-op enables you to:

   • “Test drive” potential future employees to maximize hiring opportunities
   • Gain fresh perspectives and the latest knowledge
   • Obtain help with short-term projects
   • Develop relationships with faculty, staff, students and the University community
   • Allow current employees to work on higher-level tasks
   • Allow staff to develop management skills as a Intern/Co-op supervisor

3. Who may hire?

   Any of our students here in the CBA! Our students are hard working individuals at varying levels of academic preparation ( juniors, seniors, masters). All CBA students are encouraged to complete one or more internship/co-op experiences.

4. What is the duration of an Internship/Co-op?

   In many cases, this decision is up to the student, academic department and employer. In general, assignments should last for one semester (15 weeks) in order for you and the student, to obtain maximum benefit from the relationship. However, the quality of the experience is far more important than its length. In addition, some students may be available to Intern full-time during winter break (December to the beginning of January) or may wish to work full-time during the summer. Students’ schedules usually change from one semester to the next, which may change availability.

5. How many hours may a student work?

   Hours per week are flexible. During the school year, we recommend age of 20 hours/week as the students studies are their first priority. Most students earn a portion of their expenses from paid work; thus a paid experience allows a student to work more hours since he/she may not need to work additional jobs simultaneously.

6. When should I start planning?

   Employers who start planning early will enhance their chances of hiring top students. Because the internship and co-op follow an academic semester we encourage employers to post open positions at least one semester prior to the anticipated start date. For example if you need a summer intern/co-op then make sure your position is posted no later than January, of the same year.

7. Can students receive credit?

   Students may seek internship credit. Since each student is different, credit may be arranged only with prior approval from the CBA.

8. Are internship/co-op students paid?

   Students often approach an internship/co-op more seriously if pay is involved. However, high quality and some career-related positions are unpaid. Employers should consult with their Human Resources Department as well as the Ohio Revised code.

9. How do I approach developing duties/responsibilities for students?

   Just like for a job, a detailed job description is important. Students want useful, career-related work and recognize that most internship/co-op positions include some administrative work. Once a student is hired, they should receive an orientation to the organization and follow all company HR policies.

10. How do I find a Intern/Co-op student?

    In most cases, employers want to review resumes and cover letters before interviewing applicants. Successful employers use multiple avenues to reach students. Options available to employers include: posting positions in Post a job ( the Universities online job posting system), hosting an information table or session in the CBA for students (email , encouraging current employees or interns to recommend candidates, participating in University sponsored events and reaching out to our campus student organizations.