Federal Student Work Experience Program ─ Information for managers

Tap into our inventories and hire students throughout the year in a variety of fields. Renew your workforce and bring new energy, ideas and perspectives to your workplace. Access a diverse talent pool. Hire members of employment equity groups to ensure your workforce reflects the population we serve.

Our inventories include students:

  • at all levels (high school, CEGEP, college and university)
  • who have self-declared as members of an employment equity group
  • in 15 areas of study and over 250 specializations
  • who’ve identified interest in one of 15 types of work
  • ready and interested to work virtually  New!
  • available across all Canada

How it works

Complete a request form for students and select the inventory and any employment equity group you’re interested in (if applicable). You’ll be matched with students who meet your criteria through random selection.

Ongoing Student Recruitment Inventory

Our largest inventory accepts new candidates year-round. Use it to find students at all levels, from high school through to university. You can also select students who’ve self-declared as belonging to one of the employment equity groups.

Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity

Our Ongoing Student Recruitment Inventory accepts new applications from Indigenous students year-round.

Select Aboriginal person in the Employment equity section of your request form.

Check out the Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity resource page for support, training and networking opportunities for you and your student (GCpedia page accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

To ensure your student receives support under this initiative, and is included in activities, send us their professional contact information at cfp.pfete-fswep.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca.

Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities

Our Ongoing Student Recruitment Inventory accepts new applications from students with disabilities year-round.

Select Person with disability in the Employment equity section of your request form.

Check out the Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities resource page for support, training and networking opportunities for you and your student (GCpedia page accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

To ensure your student receives support under this initiative, and is included in activities, send us their professional contact information at cfp.pfete-fswep.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca.

Steps to hire a student

  1. Complete and submit a request for students and, if applicable, select the employment equity groups you’re interested in
  2. View received randomly selected applications and match students to your job
  3. Confirm that the student meets the Federal Student Work Experience Program eligibility criteria
  4. Hire your student
  5. Submit the assessment results for all students referred to you by the Public Service Commission (Refer to the student applications email sent to you)

Don't forget to ask your student if they require accommodation!

To make an offer (hires and re-hires)

Determine your student's rate of pay based on Treasury Board's Student Rates of Pay.

See Annex B of the Appointment Policy for the information you need to retain. At minimum, you'll need:

Re-hiring students

To re-hire students originally hired through the Federal Student Work Experience Program, Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program or Research Affiliate Program:

  • check that they continue to meet student eligibility criteria
  • contact your HR advisor for your department's requirements for re-hiring students
Have unique recruitment needs?

If you have at least 10 student jobs to be filled, and unique needs such as promoting job opportunities to increase women's interest in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or law enforcement, contact us at cfp.pfete-fswep.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca to start a discussion today.
Check out how our targeted inventories connected Fisheries and Oceans Canada with their own biology student!

Looking to partner with us at university and college outreach events?

The Public Service Commission does outreach with academic institutions to promote the federal public service as an employer of choice. Contact our regional offices to learn more.

Contact us

For more information about the Federal Student Work Experience Program, contact us at cfp.pfete-fswep.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca to start a discussion today!

Related links

Student and graduate programs

Hiring students

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