Nova Scotia Public Service Commission
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Co-operative Employment Program

What This Program Offers

This program provides your Nova Scotia provincial department, agency, board or commission the opportunity to hire a student for a four-month work term funded by the Public Service Commission. Work terms are in winter (January-April), summer (May-August), and fall (September-December).

Hiring a co-op student benefits both your department and the student. Our co-op students have a reputation for being excellent workers - adding diversity, enthusiasm, knowledge, and new perspectives to their host departments. They can assist in a program area or on a special project or initiative. The student benefits through gaining valuable on-the-job experience and training.

Eligibility

Each year, the government offers internships in fields that have been identified as difficult-to-fill and critical to our future. The work assignments may vary each year.

In 2007, students will be recruited for internships in engineering, finance and audit, information technology, policy, science & technology and human resources.

In order to be eligible, an applicant must be a full-time student registered in a Nova Scotia post secondary co-operative education program.

Applying to Host a Student

The proposal process for 2006-2008 two year internships has already been completed. If your department, agency, board or commission is interested in hosting a student for a future term (2007-2009), please submit a Career Starts proposal
form WordPerfect Format (WPD) and view the proposal deadlines Portable Document Format (PDF) as well as a list of Co-op Institutions Portable Document Format (PDF).

Evaluation Process:
The PSC typically receives more proposals than our budget permits us to fund. The PSC ensures that a fair evaluation process is used to determine which proposals are granted funding. All proposals are reviewed by an evaluation committee. The proposals are scored by the committee on the following criteria:

  • Critical Criteria: Proposal must be properly completed and submitted by the given deadline

  • Competency Development: Proposal is scored on the extent that the placement provides development in the following competencies:
    • Decisiveness
    • Strategic Orientation
    • Development of People
    • Team Leadership
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Confidence/Courage of Convictions
    • Impact and Influence
    • Relationship Building

  • Link with Workforce Planning: Proposal is scored on degree of linkage to the department's workforce planning strategies.

Hiring Your Student

Hiring Process:

  • Step 1: You send the job posting to the co-op coordinators at the universities and community colleges where you plan to recruit students for your co-op position.
  • Step 2: Post Secondary co-op offices post the job and forward you resumes.
  • Step 3: You screen the resumes, conduct interviews, and choose a candidate following the Fair Hiring Policy. You send the successful candidate’s resume to the PSC.
  • Step 4: The PSC rates the candidate’s resume to determine the base salary. You confirm to the PSC whether your department will top-up that amount.
  • Step 5: The PSC administers the student's pay.

Salary:
The PSC funds a base salary for your co-op student ranging from $9.65 to $13.45 per hour based on the student's level of education and co-op work experience. Departments may provide additional salary based on the complexity and responsibility of the work opportunity. While we encourage departments to top up the base salary to make the wages more competitive, it is not mandatory.