Programs differ on how students are matched to their placement hosts. Some programs will require students to apply for placement opportunities with a resume (and optional portfolio) and participate in interviews similar to a competitive job search. Other programs will request for students to rank their placement preferences, and they will automatically be matched with a placement host. Depending on the specific program, the following sections may be relevant.

Availability of Placement Opportunities

The Centre of Experiential Learning endeavors to provide sufficient placement opportunities for all placement students but cannot guarantee that all students will secure a placement. The placement process can be competitive and the placement host makes the final selection and decision.

The majority of placement students are successful in securing their placement opportunities, however, this success is directly related to the motivation, qualifications, and efforts of individual students as well as labour market, economic, and other industry factors. Therefore, student placements are not guaranteed.

In some programs of study, students may have opportunities to secure their own placement. In these cases, students are advised to contact the Field Placement Support Officer for more information.

A student must validate their self-sourced placement opportunities with their Field Placement Support Officer prior to beginning their placement; otherwise, students may not obtain the placement credit.

Note: Some programs, such as Office Administration, may have alternative options for students to complete in lieu of a placement, such as a simulation. These are reserved for students who do not meet the eligibility requirements of a placement (academic, non-academic or related to co-op work permit).

CareerReady – Job Board

Placement opportunities are posted to CareerReady. Students will receive detailed instructions on the recruiting process. During the placement recruiting period, it is the student’s responsibility to check for postings on CareerReady in conjunction with their Mohawk College email.

Student Resume and Portfolio

A student’s resume is key to securing a placement and it is the responsibility of the student to create competitive and marketable documents. Students will receive information and guidance on developing a quality resume in their program of study. Students who would like additional support while seeking a placement can contact Student and Graduate Employment.

Likewise, creating and maintain a portfolio is an essential asset for individuals working in creative fields. It serves as a means of personal expression, a tangible showcase of your abilities, and a marketing tool for clients or employers. Having a portfolio can increase your chances of success when seeking placement opportunities within the creative industries.

Placement Applications and Interviews

Some programs may require students to apply to placement opportunities with a resume, while others may require students to express interest and rank the placement opportunities. Students should be prepared to interview with host organizations/employers to secure a placement offer. When students are selected for an interview, they will receive an email notification from the host organization and then must confirm their interview with the Field Placement Support Officer. Students who are unable to attend a scheduled interview for any reason must immediately contact both the Field Placement Support Officer and the host organization.

On occasion, the host organization may contact the student directly to set up an interview. The student must notify their Field Placement Support Officer immediately about the interview.
Students who fail to attend a scheduled interview will be blocked from further participation in the placement and may receive a Fail grade.

During the interview process, it is the responsibility of the student to:

• Immediately confirm their interview with the Field Placement Support Officer.
• Arrange with the Employer to work around scheduling conflicts with classes or labs.
• Arrange transportation to an interview.
• Arrive at the interview on time and prepared.

Accepting a Placement Offer

• For programs that require students to apply and interview for placements, the employer will contact the student directly with a placement offer. The student is obligated to inform their Field Placement Support Officer immediately about the placement offer.
• A student’s acceptance of a placement offer must be received by the Field Placement Support Officer within 24 hours of the student being notified. Failure to respond to an offer within the set timeframe will result in the offer being revoked. This includes offers received directly from a host organization that may include other timelines.
• Failure to adhere to the guidelines for accepting an offer may result in the student being blocked from applying to further placement opportunities.
• Once a placement offer has been accepted, the student is committed to that position for the specified placement timeline.
• Students who renege on an accepted offer will receive a failing grade for their placement.

Declining a Placement Offer

Students are strongly discouraged to decline a placement offer. When students turn down placement offers, that action can have a negative impact and may jeopardize the college’s relationship with the organization, or the student’s ability to complete the program of study.

A student must first speak with the Field Placement Support Officer to explain their rationale for declining an offer, and must receive approval before they decline the offer within 24hrs of receiving the offer. Students are limited to one opportunity to decline an offer with approval from the Field Placement Support Officer. After one declined offer, students who decline additional offers will no longer be eligible to apply for placement opportunities that are generated by Mohawk College, and risk failing the placement credit.

Before applying or expressing interest in placement opportunities, students should:

1. Thoroughly investigate the placement opportunity, paying careful attention to:
   • Accessibility of location
   • Placement details and expectations
   • License/Certification requirements (i.e. driver’s license)
   • Access to own vehicle, if required
   • Security clearances, police checks, and/or criminal records checks
2. Not apply to or express interest in placement opportunities that they have no intention of accepting.

Ranking and Matching

Some programs will match students with placement opportunities. The Field Placement Support Officer will match students to placement opportunities with student preferences in mind, however, it may not always be possible to match students with their first-choice ranking, or to meet all preferences. All matches are final, with the exemptions reserved for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Field Placement Support Officer.

Student-Sourced Placements

Some programs of study may approve students to seek and secure their own placement opportunities. In order to have the placement approved for credit, students are required to have their prospective placement organization complete the Placement Request Form.

The placement opportunity must provide work that is relevant to the student’s field of study, comply with the learning objectives of the program, meet the hourly requirements of the placement, and be located within Canada. The form must be submitted to the Field Placement Support Officer for approval prior to the beginning of the placement. Failure to submit a Placement Request Form prior to the start of the placement will result in a “FL” or “I”, failure or incomplete for the placement credit.