Post-Secondary Recruitment

PSR is an annual program designed to recruit graduates into entry-level officer jobs with the federal government across Canada. Targeted university and college graduate recruitment is ongoing and PSR is a sure way to attract talented graduates to help deliver quality programs and services to Canadians.

The primary PSR campaign generally begins in early fall, though additional career choices may be advertised throughout the year. Be sure to check the Web site frequently.

There are two components to PSR:

1. Advertised organizational career choices: These are specific job opportunities within a federal government department or agency. Hiring requirements will be outlined on the job poster and in the accompanying Statement of Merit Criteria.
2. Career stream inventories: These are based on specific career streams (e.g., Information Technology, Program Delivery & Support, Health Sciences, etc.) and current areas of demand within the federal government. The application process is similar to a regular job posting but successful applicants may be contacted at various points throughout the year for a variety of positions within different departments and agencies.

Education requirements for advertised career choices and career stream inventories range from college diplomas to doctorate degrees. Please ensure that you meet the requirements before applying or your application will automatically be rejected.

To be considered for job opportunities with the Post-Secondary Recruitment Program (PSR), please follow the steps provided:

1. Go to My account to create an applicant account. You will be asked for personal information as well as data on areas such as your education, language and work location preferences. After you have gone through the steps to create your account, a detailed message will be sent to your email address with instructions on how to complete your account.  Please ensure to carefully read these instructions.  Once you have logged into your new account, the system will display an applicant number (e.g., C012345) at the top right-hand corner of each screen in the applicant account. It is very important to record this number, as you will need it throughout the application process.
   
   Once you have created an Applicant Account, you may modify it at any time using your My account. It is also important that you only create one profile for yourself. Multiple files may result in the miscommunication of information and test results, which could affect future job referrals.
2. Explore the positions being offered as part of the PSR program. Apply to those positions of interest and for which you qualify. If you do not meet the educational requirements, you will be provided with a warning and will not be able to proceed with your application for that specific position.
3. Many of the positions require testing. Testing requirements will be clearly outlined within the job advertisements. For some, you may be required to register immediately for a testing session – while for other positions, you may be required to take an on-line test prior to the paper and pencil tests. For more information on testing, please consult the Testing section.
4. If you are invited to attend a supervised paper and pencil test, ensure that on the day of testing you bring:
   • Your applicant number (starts with either an "S" ,"T" or a "C"); and
   • Photo identification that includes your signature.
5. Once the testing phase has been completed, test results will be available to you via your My Jobs File. Please allow six weeks from the date of testing for this to occur.
6. Referrals to hiring organizations will commence once testing has been completed, and your status in the selection process will be communicated to you via a note to your My Jobs File. For career stream inventories, referrals to hiring organizations take place throughout the year.
7. Hiring organizations will then conduct any additional assessment required (interviews, reference checks, additional testing) and will communicate directly with those candidates being considered further.

NOTE: If you require special accommodation (e.g., provision of sign language interpreters, information in alternative formats, reader services, technical support and/or attendant services) at any point during this process, please consult the section on Special Accommodation.

Check the following pages for more information:

• Canadian Citizenship
• Official Languages
• Employment Equity
• Accommodation in the public service
• Equivalencies for foreign degrees

Many of the job opportunities advertised as part of the Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) program require you to write one or more tests. Some of these tests are written in a supervised setting while other job advertisements may require you to write an on-line test in an unsupervised environment. When testing is required for a job opportunity, the specific tests required, including important dates that will be sent to you, will be clearly indicated on the job advertisement.

NEW THIS YEAR! Unsupervised On-line Testing — Public Service Entrance Exam

The Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE) is a new feature in this year's campaign. The PSEE measures problem solving and reasoning ability. This exam is administered to candidates in an unsupervised environment anywhere you have access to a computer and an Internet connection. It is important to note that regardless of how many PSR job opportunities you apply to, you will only be permitted to write the PSEE once (your score will apply for all PSR positions). When the PSEE is required, only those candidates who pass the exam will be invited to attend a supervised testing session.

Supervised Testing — Situational Judgement Test, Graduate Recruitment Test, Written Communication Proficiency Test

If you have registered for a supervised testing session you will be able to see your test booking when you log in to your applicant profile. It is your responsibility to arrive on time and at the right location, so be sure to take careful note of the address, time and date of your testing session(s). Applicants who arrive late to the test will not be permitted to enter the testing room and will not be considered further.

For supervised testing - please ensure that you bring:

• Your Candidate Number (for example: S987654); and
• Photo and signature identification.

Note: If you require special accommodation for the testing process (e.g., provision of sign language interpreters, information in alternative formats, reader services, technical support and/or attendant services), please consult the section on Special Accommodation.

For additional information on the testing process, please explore the following links:

• Test results
• Test locations across Canada
• Test locations abroad
• Alternative test dates

Tests

Below are links to information about tests used in the PSR process, including some sample questions that may be required for some of the advertised career choices.

• Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE)
• Graduate Recruitment Test (GRT)
• Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT)
• Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
• Knowledge and Ability Test for Mathematical Statisticians (MST)

Career stream inventories are aligned with occupational groups currently in demand. When you apply to one or more of these career stream inventories and meet the essential requirements, including testing, you are included in the inventory.

Then what happens? This is essentially how it works:
When a federal organization has a recruitment need, it can access these pools of talent. A search of the applicable inventory is conducted based on the specific requirements of the position. Candidates who meet the requirements are contacted with detailed information about the job opportunity and are required to confirm their interest in the position. Applications of interested candidates are then presented to the hiring organization for further consideration.

In essence, your one application can be referred throughout the year, multiple times to multiple organizations, increasing your visibility to hiring departments and agencies.

The specific career streams included in the fall 2011 Post Secondary Recruitment campaign are as follows:

• The Care Givers: Careers in Health Sciences
• The Enablers: Careers in Program Delivery and Support
• The Technology Drivers: Careers in Information Technology
• The Business of Government: Careers in Business and Social Sciences
• The Researchers: Careers in Pure, Natural and Applied Sciences

In addition to these career stream inventories, departments can also advertise other specific job opportunities which will be advertised on the Web site at the same time as the career stream inventories.

How do I apply for Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) jobs?

What kind of jobs can I expect to be offered through the PSR program?

I am a not a Canadian citizen but I live in Canada. Am I eligible for employment via PSR?

Can I rewrite a test?

What happens after I apply?

I scored well on my tests. Why have I not been referred?

Do I need to apply to advertised positions if I have already applied to a Career Stream Inventory?

If I am not interested in a job when the Public Service Commission contacts me, will I be contacted for other jobs in the future?

I applied for a career choice during the PSR Campaign. Since then, my citizenship status changed to Canadian citizen. How can I update my jobs file?

I am in my final year of studies at college/university. Can I apply?

To send us your PSR question or comment, please use our form.