2019 Post Secondary Recruitment Campaign
This year’s Post Secondary Recruitment Campaign will run from October 4, 2019 to October 23, 2019.
It is that time again… October The Government of Canada’s Post Secondary Recruitment (PSR) Campaign is now open. During the next few weeks, thousands of Canadian students from across the nation and abroad will compete for the final prize – an indeterminate full-time position in the Government of Canada. Only a select few will be chosen for these coveted jobs. If you are not chosen for a position, you will have to compete during the year in job competitions that are open to the public or wait another long year for the next PSR campaign to be held. During that year, colleagues who prepared for the exams will be starting their new positions. Sound knowledge of preparing your resume, studying for the Government exams, and practicing for Government of interviews is imperative to succeed.
What’s new this year?
Similar to last year, the Public Service Commission (PSC) will require job candidates to write an unsupervised Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE) and a supervised PSEE. The Situational Judgement Test and the Graduate Recruitment Test continue to be excluded from the initial stages of testing; however, as noted last year, some departments may request that these exams and the Written Comprehension Proficiency Test are written during their additional screening processes at a later day. Therefore, we have kept them in our preparation package.
With respect to job opportunities, it will be an interesting year, largely because the federal election will take place on October 21. Over the past year, there has been a large increase in internal hiring in preparation for the future new government. External hiring has also seen an increase. With baby boomers continuing to take their retirement, positions are opening for new talent. Unlike last year and 2017, great news for those who are looking at the possibility of an international career: both Global Affairs and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will be running department-specific campaigns this year.
This year, there are two categories of job positions: Job Opportunities (for PSR applicants) and Inventories.
Job opportunities for PSR applicants are essentially federal government departments that are offering positions in their department (instead of going into a larger job pool as in the case of Inventories).
Category One: Career Options
The following departments are offering positions under the Career Choices option:
| Department | Program Available |
| Agriculture and Agri-Food | Commerce officer |
| Agriculture and Agri-Food | Economics and Social Science Services Development Program |
| Canada School of Public Service | Advanced Policy Analyst Program |
| Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission | Analyst |
| Global Affairs Canada | Foreign Service Officer |
| Health Canada on behalf of various departments | Junior Access to Information and Privacy Analyst |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | Foreign Service Development Program |
| Public Prosecution Service of Canada | Legal Assistant |
| Public Service Commission of Canada | Second Language Assessors (French language) |
| Statistics Canada | Mathematical Statistician |
| Treasury Board Secretariat | Financial Officer Recruitment and Development (FORD) program |
| Treasury Board Secretariat | Analyst ─ We’re hiring Indigenous talent! |
Category two: Inventories
Inventories are sector-based and designed to recruit candidates with certain specializations, skill sets, and/or experience. The streams are chosen based on the present needs in demand in the Government of Canada. Once the pools are established, departments are invited to draw from these pools of pre-screened candidates. Hiring managers throughout the federal public service and across the country have year-round access to these sources of talent to meet their hiring needs. They can quickly and easily connect with talented candidates in the Career Stream inventories. Since the Career Streams have various application submission periods, please consult the individual posters to find out about the closing dates.
Applicants are invited to apply to specific job positions through their account at jobs.gc.ca.
The six inventories chosen for this year are:
Administrative services
Analysts (policy, economics, and social sciences)
Communications
Human Resources Partners
Information management and information technology
Project management, procurement and contracting
Analysts (policy, economics, and social sciences)
This will most likely be the most popular stream as many applicants choose this stream for their future careers.
Examples of occupational groups that may be staffed (but not limited to) from this inventory are EC, PM, and CO.
Applicants applying to this stream will conduct research, use the principles of economics to explore new ways to develop or enhance government politics, and support the relationships between global governments and the government’s interactions with private enterprises
Positions will likely include some of the following tasks:
– the conduct of surveys, studies and projects in the social sciences;
– the classification, the organization and the location of archival, gallery,
library or museum materials;
– the editing of legislation;
– providing advice in the fields of economics, sociology and statistics;
– the determination of statistical measures and the techniques for data
analysis and reporting.
Graduates in areas such as Administration, Project Management, Communications, Public Relations, International Relations, Human Resources Management, Commerce, Industrial Relations, Social Sciences, Economics, Occupational Health and Safety, Labour and Industrial Relations, Organizational Behaviour and Development or Education should consider applying to this stream.
Administrative services
This will most likely be another popular stream as it is usually not a separate category in the PSR campaign.
Examples of occupational groups which may be staffed (but not limited to) from this inventory are: AS and PM.
Positions will likely include some of the following tasks:
–
Managing and distributing information within an office
– Handling financial transactions for the office
– Coordinating meetings
– Sending, receiving or drafting correspondence
– Greeting clients
– Acting as the point of contact for employees
– Organizing events
– Coordinating travel arrangements
– Coordinating different projects and activities
– Researching and analyzing information
Graduates in areas such as Business administration, Business administration – finance, Business administration – human resources, Office administration, Accounting and management, Office Management, Secretarial studies, Paralegal, Legal assistance, Secretarial – medical field, Communication and media studies and Hospitality and tourism management should consider applying to this stream.
Note the Insider’s Guide Platinum Package does not contain preparation exams for the Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability or the General Competency Test Level 2.
Communications
This inventory will staff different classifications.
Applicants applying to this stream could eventually be offered one of the following positions: Communication Officer, Web Publishing and Design Officer, Digital Communications Advisor, Speech Writer, Public Affairs Officer, Communications and Marketing Consultant, Media relations specialist, Web Content Analyst, and a Strategic Communications Office.
Positions will most likely include some of the following tasks:
– develop communications plans,
-planning and developing national media campaigns,
-writing a variety of communications products,
-develop visual design concepts,
-provide analysis and advice to clients, stakeholders and senior
management,
-write or edit web content or web communications plan,
-responding to media, public and stakeholder queries,
-supporting internal activities, announcements and events,
-building strong relationships with internal and external partners.
Graduates in areas such as communications, public relations and similar fields should consider applying to this stream.
Information Management and Information Technology
Examples of occupational groups which may be staffed (but not limited to) from this inventory are CS, PM, GT, IS, and AS.
Applicants applying to this stream will be working to support the IT infrastructure of the Government of Canada.
Graduates in areas such as computer science, information management, information technology, management information systems, information systems, computer technician, software development and engineering, information processing, computer engineering, web development and design, and graphic design should consider applying to this stream.
Human Resources Partners
This inventory will staff the PE category
Applicants applying to this stream could eventually be offered one of the following positions: Trainee or Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources Generalist, Human Resources Professional, Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources Business Partner, Staffing Advisor, Organization and Classification Advisor, Labour Relations Advisor, Policy and Programs Human Resources Advisor.
Positions will most likely include some of the following tasks:
– Staffing, recruitment or talent acquisition
– Classification (job evaluation) or organizational design
– Employment equity and diversity and inclusion
– Labour relations or union negotiations
– Conflict resolution
– Pay and compensation
– Learning or training or career development
– Health and safety
– Well-being in the workplace
– Workforce or succession planning
– Official Languages
– Performance management or talent management
Graduates in areas such as human resources management, labour or industrial relations, psychology, public or business administration, organizational development, education sciences, social sciences, sociology, should consider applying to this stream.
Project management, procurement and contracting
Examples of occupational groups which may be staffed (but not limited to) from this inventory are PG
Applicants applying to this stream will be working to support the delivery and management of programs and projects in the Government of Canada.
Positions will most likely include some of the following tasks:
– Contribute to new strategies to maximize efficiencies and processes in
procurement.
– Organize, implement, and provide support and advice for the
procurement of goods and services,
– Create, review and issue a variety of documents required for the
solicitation and administration of contracts for professional services or
goods,
– Prepare, analyze and maintain data and procurement reports and risk
assessments,
– Participate in negotiations and provide clients and senior management
with advice and guidance on contracts and applications.
Graduates in areas such as accounting and finance, arts, social sciences and humanities, business and administration, communications and languages, law and protection services, library services, and research and analysis should consider applying to this stream.
How will applicants be tested this year?
1) On-line testing (unsupervised) – Public Service Entrance Exam
- The unsupervised Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE UIT 370) is divided into two sub-tests: the Test of Reasoning and the Test of Judgement. All applicants are required to take the Test of Reasoning (sub-test 1), the Test of Judgement (sub-test 2) is required only if additional information is needed to complete the assessment.
- The PSEE can be written in an unsupervised environment anywhere the applicant has access to a computer and an Internet connection.
- An applicant is permitted to write the PSEE once. Your score will be applied to all PSR jobs to which you apply this year. You will only be invited to attend an in-person testing session if you pass the on-line PSEE.
- Applicants will not be informed of their exact scores.
- An invitation to write the PSEE will most likely be sent between Late October to mid-November. Not all positions may require this test.
- Note: If you pass the online PSEE, you may be invited to attend an in-person testing session.
2) The Supervised Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE)
- The Supervised PSEE (PSEE 371) will be administered after the candidate has successfully succeeded in the unsupervised PSEE.
- The PSEE 371 is a supervised test consisting of two separately timed sub-tests: Sub-Test 1: Test of Reasoning assesses reasoning and problem-solving ability and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. There are four types of questions:
- Arithmetic reasoning:
- Logical reasoning;
- Analytical reasoning; and
- Number or letter series.
You will have 90 minutes to complete this sub-test.
- Sub-Test 2: Test of Judgement assesses the judgement required for solving problems in work-related situations and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.
You will have 60 minutes to complete this sub-test. Total test time is approximately 3 hours, including 30 minutes of administration time.
Note that the Supervised PSEE will only be administered in the following locations*:
- British Columbia: Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Prince George
- Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton
- Saskatchewan: Saskatoon, Regina
- Manitoba: Winnipeg
- Ontario: Toronto, London, Kingston, Sudbury, Thunder Bay
- Quebec: Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Rimouski, Sherbrooke
- Newfoundland and Labrador: St. John’s
- New Brunswick: Moncton, Fredericton
- Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown
- Nova Scotia: Halifax
- Northwest Territories: Yellowknife
- Yukon: Whitehorse
- Nunavut: Iqaluit
* If you are living abroad and can provide valid proof (registration in an accredited learning institution or a valid work permit) contact the Public Service Commission, as soon as possible.
Sometimes, in the past, exceptions are made to write the exam in an Embassy or Consulate outside of Canada ( note that the Embassy or Consulate may not be in the same country where you are located and this exception is given on a case by case basis).
Initial testing is not expected to take place until late November 2019 to December 2019.
Note: Results for the Supervised PSEE (only) are expected to take at up to six weeks before becoming available.
What resources does IG provide?
Our team provides a suite of services that will assist you to prepare for this year’s campaign:
NOTE: All test materials have been revised and updated for the 2019 Post Secondary Recruitment Campaign and include practice materials for both the Test of Reasoning and the Test of Judgement.
- The IG Platinum Guide, for more information, click here
- The IG PSSE Study Guide, for more information, click here
- The IG Resume and Cover Letter Guide, for more information, click here
Important dates to remember
October 4, 2019
- Post Secondary Recruitment opens.
- Applicants have a little less than three weeks to apply.
October 23, 2019
- Last day for applicants to submit applications for most job opportunities.
November 2019
- E-mail invitation is sent to applicants with instructions to write the Unsupervised PSEE.
Late December 2019 to January 2020
- The supervised PSEE is administered across Canada and abroad on specified dates.
End of January 2020 and onward
- If the Candidate passes the supervised PSEE they may be referred to a department for a job position or for further testing.