Hiring Indigenous students

When you hire an Indigenous student, it’s important to do so in a good way. We're dedicated to helping you diversify, decolonize and Indigenize your workplace.

UVic’s commitment to Truth & Reconciliation

At UVic, we’re committed to act on the recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s report through action and conversation. The UVic Indigenous Plan describes these commitments in detail. 

Before you hire

Before you hire an Indigenous student, consider:

• do you have a clear sense of why your organization seeks to hire Indigenous applicants?
• how does your hiring process respect, engage with and respond to the diversity of Indigenous identities?

Training and company culture

• is your organization committed to ongoing training, education and professional development around Indigenous histories and the impacts of colonization?
• how does your hiring process recognize and value the experiences and identity that an Indigenous employee brings?
• non-Indigenous leadership needs to champion reconciliation, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism. Who is your workplace's non-Indigenous leader who leads this work?

Supporting students in the workplace

• what work have you done as a supervisor or as an organization to decolonize your workplace culture?
• if you hire an Indigenous person for their cultural competencies, how will you support them in the workplace?
• if an applicant experiences tokenization in the hiring process, what strategies does your organization have in place to address this?

Retention and benefits

• what kind of retention plans do you have to specifically support new Indigenous hires?
• does your organization provide childcare benefits, resources and services?
• does your organization offer accommodations for cultural and familial obligations?

Resource hub

We partnered with the Association for Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning BC/Yukon (ACE-WIL) to help Indigenous students access and succeed in their work terms.

Resources on the ACE-WIL Indigenous resource hub include: 

• strategies for recognizing and addressing tokenism
• a self-assessment worksheet for employers
• information about self-locating and self-identifying
• hiring Indigenous students: the job posting and beyond

Events

Indigenous Career Fair

• we host this event in the fall and spring to connect Indigenous students, recent grads and community members with organizations working to actively support Indigenous employees
• the registration fee is $50 for community exhibitors and $250 for corporate and government exhibitors

Mock Interview Clinic

• connect with Indigenous students looking for feedback on their interview skills
• this event takes place twice a year on the same day as the Indigenous Career Fair

Contact us for more information.

Indigenous employers

Co-op students have the skills and energy to make a difference in your workplace. Contact the Indigenous co-op and career coordinator to discuss your needs and find the right fit. You may also qualify for funding if you hire Indigenous students.