Government of the Northwest Territories 2014 Summer Student Employment Program For Hiring Managers and Supervisors

1. Government of the Northwest Territories2014Summer Student Employment ProgramFor Hiring Managers and Supervisors

2. Program Overview • The GNWT provides summer student employment opportunities to eligible northern, post-secondary students through the Summer Student Employment Program (SSEP). • The overarching goal of the SSEP is to help our northern students gain valuable work experience in an area related to their field of study to enhance employment prospects upon completion of their studies. • Between April 15 and August 15, post-secondary students are hired as casual employees and are subject to the same terms and conditions as other casual employees.

3. Program Overview • Over the past 5 years, the GNWT has hired on average approximately 300students each summer. • During their employment, summer students are encouraged to participate in: • An orientation to the GNWT; • Training and development opportunities; and • Various information sessions and programs.

4. Program Eligibility To be eligible for the Summer Student Employment Program, students must meet the following qualifications: Students must be a currentresident of the Northwest Territories and meet ONE of the following criteria: • are being accepted to attend full time post-secondary studies at the start of the fall or winter semester. • are completing a semester of full time studies at a post-secondary institution within the four months prior to applying under this program. • are graduating from a post-secondary institution.

5. Summer Students and Affirmative Action The Affirmative Action Policy is applied to the hiring of all summer students. • Between April 15 and August 15, students are given a higher priority than non-students registered in the same Affirmative Action category for casual employment.

6. Summer Students and Affirmative Action • When hiring under either the Progressive Experience Program (PEP) or Relevant Experience Program (REP), only registered students may be hired. • Therefore, priority hiring is given to P1 students, followed by P2 students. • If you have exhausted the list of eligible Priority 1 students and the list of eligible Priority 2 students, non-priority students may only be hired with the endorsement of the Deputy Minister or Deputy Head (CEO). • For non PEP/REP hires, students are given a higher priority than non-students registered in the same Affirmative Action Category. • Therefore, a Priority 1 (P1) student would receive priority over a P1 candidate who does not meet the definition of a northern student. • In the past, it was assumed that any student would receive priority during these months – this is not the case.

7. Summer Students and Affirmative Action PEP or REP hiring between April 15 and August 15 • Priority 1: Indigenous Aboriginal Students • Priority 2: Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Students or Resident Disabled Students • No Priority: All Other Northern Students Casual / Student Jobs between April 15 and August 15 • Priority 1: Indigenous Aboriginal Student Indigenous Aboriginal Person (Non-Student) • Priority 2: Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Student or Resident Disabled Student Indigenous Non- Aboriginal Person or Resident Disabled Person (Non- Student) • No Priority: All Other Applicants

8. Summer Students and Affirmative Action Non-Traditional Jobs between April 15 and August 15 • Priority 1: Indigenous Aboriginal Female (Student) Indigenous Aboriginal Female (Non-Student) Indigenous Aboriginal Male (Student) Indigenous Aboriginal Male (Non-Student) • Priority 2: Resident Woman (Student) Resident Woman (Non-Student) • Priority 3: Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Person or Resident Disabled Person (Students) Indigenous Non-Aboriginal Person or Resident Disabled Person (Non- Students) • No Priority: All Other Applicants

9. Summer Students and Affirmative Action Hiring Managers must attach Deputy Minister approved rationale with their Summer Student Application Form if the proposed hire falls within either of the following two categories: • When a non-priority student is hired; or • When a Department hires an immediate family member of an existing Senior Manager within the same Department.

10. Summer Student Employment Program Marketing Campaign Various methods of advertising are being used to promote the SSEP, including: • Messenger Communications (message also encourages students to contact prospective departments they are interested in and is related to their field of study) • Posters • Posted around Yellowknife and forwarded to regional HR Service Centers and community Band offices • Student Financial Assistance Email Blast • Newspaper Advertisements • GNWT BearFacts • Facebook

11. Changes in the Application and Selection Process for Summer Students • Summer Students now apply to the summer student program through the Summer Student Job posting on the GNWT Careers page http://careers.hr.gov.nt.ca/en/job/11079 • The Summer Student Job posting is open from December 1 to August 15 annually. • Students are prompted to answer basic eligibility and bona fide requirement questions through the application process. • Internally hiring Managers have access to the summer student resumes via the new Summer Student Employment Program SharePoint. • As Managers submit a request to hire a summer student, access to the SharePoint isgranted.

12. Finding Summer Students • Hiring Managers also have the option to advertise summer student employment opportunities on the GNWT eRecruit website. • For assistance finding a suitable candidate, advertising, or with the hiring process, Hiring Managers can contact their Human Resources Representative.

13. Summer Student Programs • Before hiring your summer student, please review your hiring options: • Hiring options through the SSEP include: • Department Hired Positions • Progressive Experience Program (PEP) • Relevant Experience Program (REP)

14. Department Hired Positions A job that fulfills a specific departmental need but it is not necessarily related to the student’s field of study. • An example would be replacement work for someone on summer holidays or for the completion of a specific project (i.e. inventory) • In this category, students are given a higher priority than non-students in the same Affirmative Action category between April 15 and August 15.

15. Progressive Experience Program (PEP) The intent of the GNWT Progressive Experience Program is to provide northern post-secondary students with paid work experience in an area related to their current field of study, outside of the health and social services programs. • Returning summer students are to be provided with progressively more complex duties and responsibilities each year. • Students gain progressively more experience in their field which may enable them to be more competitive when applying for future non-casual competitions, or guide them into a similar internship position within the department (upon completion of their studies).

16. Relevant Experience Program (REP) The intent of the Relevant Experience Program is to provide northern post-secondary students who are studying in recognized health and social services fields with paid work experience in an area related to their current field of study. Students gain experience in a northern health setting, which can be beneficial should they be interested in future graduate, bursary or residency opportunities.

17. Funding Requests • The Summer Student Application Formhas been updated to include a check box for hiring a Department funded (casual) student. • Departments, Agencies and Health Authorities can apply for PEP or REP funding, or indicate a casual student Department funded position by completing the updated Summer Student Application Form. • The Summer Student Application Formcan be found on the Summer Student SharePoint. • Completed and signed applications are to be forwarded to your Human Resources Representative. • Human Resources will advise you if the placement has been approved for funding.

18. Manager and Supervisor Expectations • In order to welcome your new employee and pave the way for a successful integration into the workplace, please see the: • Supervisor and Manager’s Checklist For New Hires • Some important suggestions are: • Encourage attendance at the annual Summer Student Orientation • Provide the student with an orientation to the Department • Review job duties and expectations with the student • Provide them with ongoing feedback

19. Feedback Surveys • Summer Student Feedback surveys assist the Department of Human Resources (DHR) in collecting invaluable information for the purpose of identifying ways to improve the SSEP. • Surveys also provide employees with an opportunity to give feedback on their experience working for the government.

20. Feedback Surveys • Summer Student Feedback surveys are sent out via a survey tool (Survey Monkey) by the DHR commencing in the last week of July. • HR will directly contact students without GNWT e-mail addresses to seek an alternate e-mail address.

21. For more information Please contact your Human Resources Representative who will be able to assist you - or - summerstudents@gov.nt.ca For a full list of Human Resources Representatives, please visit: http://www.hr.gov.nt.ca/contact-us