Nova Scotia Public Service Commission
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Summer Diversity Program

What This Program Offers

This program offers your Nova Scotia provincial department, agency, board, or commission the opportunity to hire an aboriginal student, racially visible student or student with a disability for a summer work term (May – August), funded by the Public Service Commission.

Hiring a student benefits both your department and the student. Our 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

The position can be in any career-oriented field.

Aboriginal students, students with disabilities, and other racially visible students who attend community college or university are eligible for this program. Applicants must be full-time students who will be returning to full-time study in the fall. Students must self-identify as a member of one these designated groups on their application or through a pre-screening phone call.

Applying to Host a Student

The proposal process for the summer 2007 program 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).

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: The PSC advertises the position (i.e. Internet, newspapers, etc.)
  • Step 2: Applicants send their resumes along with a cover letter to your department.
  • Step 3: You screen the resumes, conduct interviews, and choose a candidate following the Fair Hiring Policy. You send a copy of the successful candidate’s resume to the PSC.
  • Step 4: The PSC administers the student's pay.

Salary:
The Nova Scotia Public Service Commission funds a base salary for your student. Participants earn a base salary of $7 per hour. 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.