by Heidi Riley
There are more than 200 Government of Canada agencies and departments across Canada.
On PEI, Veteran’s Affairs Canada is the biggest federal employer. Other federal agencies operating on the Island include Canada Revenue Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Service Canada, and many more.
Along with clerical and administrative positions, there are many career paths in various scientific fields, as well as business-related positions in finance and accounting.
Liz Bailey, Recruitment Officer from the Federal Public Service Commission, spoke to UPEI students about applying for work in the federal government in October.
Liz earned a BA and an HR Management Certificate at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. She was hired through the Federal Student Work Experience (FSWEP) program while at SMU.
“I thought I would graduate and go into the private sector. But after being hired in the government, getting some experience and networking with people, I realized it was a better fit for me. I was fortunate to get a full-time job after graduation. There definitely are opportunities for full-time work in the government for new graduates.”
The following recruitment programs can help students in high school or post-secondary find work in the Federal Public Service. Click on each link below to find out more.
Student jobs with the Government of Canada: Eligibility criteria
- You’re registered as a full-time student in a high school or accredited post-secondary academic institution. This includes persons with disabilities considered to have full-time status by their academic institution, and participants in adult secondary-level education and retraining programs under the authority of an accredited academic institution.
- You meet the minimum age requirement to be allowed to work in the province – 15 years of age on PEI.
- You’ll return to full-time studies in the next academic term, or if you’re in your final year of studies, you must have been previously employed under either the Federal Student Work Experience Program, the Co-op/Internship Program or the Research Affiliate Program.
- Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the job requirements.
Learn more about student eligibility
Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) provides full-time secondary, college and university students with jobs in the public service and is an opportunity to gain valuable work experience. Most students are hired for the summer, but there are also opportunities during the rest of the year.
Research Affiliate Program – Students enrolled in a post-secondary program that includes research as part of the curriculum could work part-time as a research affiliate with the Government of Canada while pursuing their studies.
Post-Secondary CO-OP/Internship Program – full-time students who are registered in a validated educational institution’s co-op or internship program can obtain a work placement with the federal government. Reach out to your school’s co-op advisor for more information. Other recruitment programs
Check the list of specialized recruitment programs managed by individual federal departments and agencies.
Rates of pay – See rates of pay for high school and post-secondary students.
After graduation, there are opportunities to continue to work in the Federal Government.
Graduate recruitment programs – Explore diverse career opportunities in the federal public service for college and university graduates, whether new and recent graduates or accomplished professionals.
Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities – Find out how people with disabilities can benefit from an internship in the federal public service.
A few facts about federal public service hiring practices
- Departments can re-hire students up until they graduate, as long as they maintain their full-time status as a student.
- After graduation, students can be “bridged” or hired in their present position or another one.
- You don’t necessarily need a university degree to work in the federal government. There are opportunities for those with high school or college diplomas and trades designations in areas such as construction, manufacturing, transportation, information and digital technology, and office administration.
- Internal training and development programs are available, such as Apprenticeship programs offered by the Department of National Defense, Correctional Officer training, the Officer Training program in Marine Communications with the Canadian Coast Guard, and many more.
- During the hiring process, applicants have the right to request accommodations to suit their needs, such as more time for a test, or doing an interview virtually instead of in person.
How to apply
First, create an account. When you create your profile, you can select your preferred location of work, your language preference, the type of work you are interested in Then visit www.jobs.gc.ca to find a list of programs and jobs to apply for.
Once you apply, your application profile is matched to the requirements of the jobs to be filled. A hiring manager will contact the people selected, do an interview by telephone, virtually, or in person, contact references, and make the job offer to the successful candidate.
You will regularly receive an email asking if you are still interested in applying, and if you click on the refresh button, your application will stay in the system until you delete it. For more information, click here
Tips for applying
- Be flexible. If you are interested in working in a particular field but you have no previous experience in it, apply anyways. You can choose three locations of work and five fields of work you are interested in, which will broaden your chances of being selected.
- Make sure your application and resumé are up to date.
- When a hiring manager contacts you, make sure you answer in a timely manner.
- Check your spam folder regularly to make sure a message from a hiring manager did not end up there.
- Maintain a level of professionalism and show your true self.
- Network with people who already work for the federal government to find job leads.
- Be aware of support programs for Indigenous students and people with disabilities, which include mentorship opportunities, learning activities, networking events, information sessions
- When applying, read the instructions on the job posting carefully. Make sure you submit your application before the deadline. Make sure the information in your cover letter matches your resumé and your answers to screening questions.
