Ah, budget season—the annual rite of passage for Universities and Colleges coast to coast. Except this year, it’s the financial planning Hunger Games, thanks to government policy changes impacting international students. May the odds be ever in your favour.
Having rounded up job postings for months, I can say this is the shortest list I’ve posted. But don’t panic—there’s a seasonal reason for it. As we inch closer to the holidays, hiring naturally slows down. Back in my Higher Ed HR days, we called it the “New Year, New Career” effect. Everyone waited for those well-rested, post-holiday, resolution-fueled candidates to flood the market come January. As the calendar flips to the last month of the year, job boards become quieter – that’s natural. However, this year, things are also a bit different: it’s also budget-planning time during a nationwide financial crisis for PSE, and that’s putting an extra damper on things.
The Whisper Networks and the Waiting Game
When I was a Director, this time of year meant one thing: getting the number. How much of a cut were we bracing for? The hallways whispered rumours of how much. Ideas would perculate – could we sell enough branded co-op sweatshirts with the student’s program slapped across the front to plug a $75,000 hole? (Spoiler: no. It’s always no.)
For those in Ontario, tuition freezes impact the ability to bring in more revenue. Incremental ancillary or co-op fees might cushion specific budgets, but they’re not solving the big-picture problem. And what’s one reliable way to save money? Not hiring people.
The Freeze is Real
In HR in 2014, I remember drawing out the workflow of our newly designed Hiring Freeze Committee on my freshly painted whiteboard wall. Every job request landed on my desk for review: Is this position critical? Does it align with institutional goals? We’d convene weekly in our actual tower on the hill to decide if positions were urgent enough to override the freeze. Ultimately, that Hiring Freeze Committee lasted on and off for years. With brief pauses here and there, but it never truly went away. I assume it’s back in full force – and I’m seeing it be replicated at other institutions. It’s exhausting for the members of the committee (they know that people need these roles to do their work) and for the people begging for the resources (do more with less). It does have a Dragon’s Den feel to it – but it’s the paper that speaks to the committee. Who will come out victorious? What is the ROI?
Right now, I am seeing more postings in the Advancement space. Schools are leaning on benefactors to save the day. While these efforts are valiant, here’s the harsh truth: donor funds won’t fix operating budgets. They’re tied to new programs or buildings, which usually require more money to sustain.
For Those in the Trenches
I know it’s rough out there. Friends and colleagues anxiously await to see if they’ll have jobs in the coming months. I’ve been in those trenches. In 2014, part of my role involved moving people whose positions were being eliminated into new roles to avoid layoffs. It was exhausting but also a small way to improve a bad situation.
I’ll keep posting job opportunities and widen the net to include positions that may not scream “co-op, career, or experiential” but have transferable skills. If layoffs or program cuts have touched you, connect with us here. We’ll keep posting positions that we see that can mobilize your skills – inside higher ed and beyond.
The Light Forward
Here’s what I know: tough times are just that—times. You get through them. If there is anything I am an expert in, it’s change. It’s getting through something and landing on the other side better. If I can do it, so can you. My community helped me get through some significant changes. We’re doing our small part to help you get through yours.
So, take care of yourselves. Lean on your networks, including this one.
Here are this week’s opportunities from coast to coast in the co-op, career & experiential learning spaces (or close to)
BC
Experiential Learning Specialist
Douglas College
Link
Closing Date: 28-Nov-24
Clinical Placement Assistant
UNBC
Link
Closing Date: 27-Nov-24
AB
Programming Coordinator, Industry Training & Continuing Ed
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
Link
Closing Date: Open until filled
ON
Placement Advisor
Humber
Link
Closing Date: 03-Dec-24
Program Coordinator, Co-Curricular Learning Support (Part-time)
Laurier
Link
Closing Date: 28-Nov-24
Employment Consultant/Job Developer (Temp)
Lambton College
Link
Closing Date: 03-Dec-24
Part-Time Nurse, Work-Integrated Learning
Conestoga College
Link
Closing Date: 16-Dec-24
Director, External Relations & Partnerships
Ontario Tech
Link
Closing Date: 06-Dec-24
Associate Vice-President, Innovation, Partnership & Entrepreneurship
U of Ottawa
Link
Closing Date: 16-Dec-24
Program Manager, Career Development
McMaster – Faculty of Science
Link
Closing Date: 10-Dec-24
Experiential Learning Specialist
Northeastern – Toronto
Link
Closing Date: No Date Given
Experiential Learning Coordinator
Western University
Link
Closing Date: 03-Dec-24
Co-op Coordinator, Student Development
U of T, Scarborough
Link
Closing Date: 04-Dec-24
Career Counsellor – International (Term)
University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
Link
Closing Date: 28-Nov-24
Sr Industry Liaison Officer
McGill
Link
Closing Date: 11-Dec-24