Interested in gaining experience in, or finding full time post-grad employment with a government organization? The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), the Post-Secondary Co-operative Education and Internship Program and the Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) program gives federal organizations a chance to find you! Learn more about these programs and the benefits of applying!

Federal Student Work Experience Program

What is it?
The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) provides students with learning opportunities through valuable, hands-on work experience. Interested students can apply to the national FSWEP inventory by creating an account and completing all listed requirements. When a federal government organization submits a request to fill a job position, students from the inventory are selected based on the required job criteria (e.g., education, language, skills, work location, etc.). The student is then contacted to confirm their interest in the job, and if selected by the requesting organization, is invited for tests and interviews, as required.

Who will it appeal to?
This program is open to full-time secondary or post-secondary students in a recognized institution who are returning to full time studies in the fall. Students are not required to have previous work experience in order to apply. While non-Canadian students may apply to co-op/internship work opportunities, preference is given to students who are Canadian citizens. If your citizenship status changes to Canadian citizen after applying, please update your applicant account.

What kind of opportunities are available?
Jobs can be offered on a full or part-time basis. Jobs are offered from a number of employers from different fields, such as Transport Canada Civil Aviation, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Royal Military College of Canada, etc. When applying to the general FSWEP inventory, students can also request to be included for consideration in the departmental programs.

When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply is October 31, 2015, 23:59 Pacific Time. Please note that students must apply to the FSWEP every October to be included in the inventory.

Where can I find out more?
For more information, visit:  http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/fswep-pfete/index-eng.php

Post-Secondary Co-operative Education and Internship Program (CO-OP/Internship)

What is it?
The Post-secondary Co-operative Education and Internship Program (CO-OP/Internship) is a way for students to gain hands-on experience in their fields of study with federal organizations.Students can apply for a co-op or internship work placement by becoming approved by their on-campus co-op/internship program and consulting campus job posting boards.

Who will it appeal to?
This program is open to students recognized as having a full-time status by their academic institution. The student must also be enrolled in a co-op/internship program that the federal government has been approved to hire from. Only work terms necessary for graduation may be completed in the Public Service of Canada. While non-Canadian students may apply to co-op/internship work opportunities, preference is given to students who are Canadian citizens.

What kind of opportunities are available?
Co-op opportunities last four months, while internship assignments may vary from four to eighteen months. Federal organizations may offer students back-to-back work terms if approved by the student’s academic institution.

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline depends on the individual job position posted. Please check with your university co-op coordinator/center for individual job post deadlines.

Where can I find out more?
For more information, visit: http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/coop/index-eng.php 

Post-Secondary Recruitment Program

What is it?
The Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) program launches and furthers the careers of university and college graduates by offering a range of jobs within the federal government of Canada. Requests for candidates from the PSR campaign take place throughout the year. PSR uses the Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE) for most of its jobs and inventories. The PSEE includes unsupervised internet tests and supervised online tests (in person). The PSEE can only be written once per PSR campaign.

Who will it appeal to?
Anyone with a post-secondary education is eligible to apply. Student graduating in the spring, are also eligible to apply. While non-Canadian students may apply to co-op/internship work opportunities, preference is given to students who are Canadian citizens. If your citizenship status changes to Canadian citizen after applying, please update your applicant account.

What kind of opportunities are available?
Opportunities are available at specific federal organizations. Applicants can also get added to a number of career inventories.

When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply is October 6^th, 2015. Internet testing will occur during mid-October, 2015 and in-person testing between November 2015 and early January 2016.

Where can I find out more?
For more information, visit:  http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/psr-rp/index-eng.php

Want to get involved with these government programs? Apply through Dalhousie by logging onto myCareer and searching the Career Services job posting ID #49842!