The Federal Student Work Experience Program

“Where can a student with a disability find summer employment in today’s highly competitive market? Where can such a student gain valuable skills and work experience that could lead to meaningful employment? The answer is simple: the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) offers all of these opportunities and much more.”

--M. TURPIN, 1999 SUMMER STUDENT

M. Turpin, a person with a disability, is one of thousands of students who, every year, work for the Public Service of Canada through FSWEP, a special effort to rejuvenate the federal Public Service by offering temporary jobs to high school, college, cégep, technical institute and university students. These jobs help students gain valuable experience for the work environment, develop and improve their employability skills, learn about career opportunities within the federal government and fund their education.

The Public Service Commission of Canada, the official recruiter for the federal government’s 68 departments and agencies, maintains FSWEP’s computerized inventory of students. With this inventory, the Commission supplies hiring departments and agencies with the names of students. Thanks to FSWEP, talented, educated and motivated students not only develop and learn skills, but they can also make the transition from post-secondary education to fulfilling work within the federal Public Service. There is an ongoing need for individuals to fill professional and technical positions, including economists, accountants, scientists, information technologists, translators, statisticians, sociologists, engineers and graduates of commerce, computer science and software engineering programs.

To better reflect the diversity of Canada’s population, FSWEP seeks to attract students from varied backgrounds such as persons with disabilities, visible minorities and Aboriginal persons. By opening doors for students of these designated groups, a person with a disability such as M. Turpin can gain valuable work experience to enter the Public Service of Canada.

SIDEBAR:

FSWEP REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for FSWEP, students must:

• be full-time secondary or post-secondary students in an accredited institution;*

• currently have full-time student status by the academic institution in which they are presently enrolled;*

• be returning to full-time studies in the next academic term;*

• be the minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is available.

* Please note that part-time students who are recognized by their academic institution as having a disability are eligible to apply for FSWEP.

A preference will be given to Canadian citizens (persons born in Canada or who have received a citizenship certificate).

Students who are in their final year of academic study and who are not intending to return to full-time studies are only eligible to work part-time until the completion of their last academic term.

M. Turpin made a difference in the community and at Human Resources Development Canada by taking part in a marketing strategy to increase awareness of job opportunities in the federal Public Service for university and college graduates. Other students who want to make a difference can find out more about FSWEP by checking out the Public Service Commission’s employment website (http://jobs.gc.ca) or by dialling the local Infotel automated information line (telephone and Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) numbers are listed in your local telephone book’s Blue Pages under Public Service Commission of Canada). They can also obtain information by visiting PSC’s regional and district offices or university campus employment centres.

Students can register for FSWEP all year long. As well, graduating university students should be on the lookout for the PSC’s national Post-Secondary Recruitment Campaign held on university campuses in early fall and winter. This campaign is PSC’s prime vehicle for the recruitment of top-notch graduates across Canada and is an excellent opportunity for graduating students with disabilities to apply for openings in the Public Service of Canada.

The Public Service Commission of Canada is a key partner in shaping an effective and respected Public Service for all Canadians. Consider helping to build the Public Service of the 21 st century with your talents, skills and dedication by applying for FSWEP and joining the ranks of PSC’s professionals.

Max Brault is the National Employment Equity Consultant. Public Service Commision of Canada.