During a virtual hiring event on Feb. 11, federal government representatives met with York University students and recent grads. As a result, more than 180 were given the opportunity to interview for jobs with the Government of Canada.
Prior to the hiring event, the students and recent graduates were invited to a "Virtual Strategies for Getting Hired" panel discussion, which featured opening remarks from York's President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton and Vice-Provost Students Lucy Fromowitz. The informative panel was one of the most successful events Career Education & Development (formerly the Career Centre) has hosted virtually, with more than 320 students and recent grads attending. The panelists provided information about careers in several government departments, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Service Canada, the Public Service Commission of Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada.
During the interactive event, the government panelists offered valuable insights into career opportunities within their departments. They also provided tips and strategies on how to effectively apply to job postings within their respective departments. Students received advice about how to stand out from the crowd during the application process, and the panelists spoke about how to succeed in a new job, whether in the Government of Canada or elsewhere.
More than 300 positions were posted on Career Education & Development’s job posting page, and students and recent grads who applied and met the criteria were sent an invitation to attend the speed hiring event where they were interviewed and shortlisted. Seventy successful candidates were presented with offers that same day. For some students, this was their first job interview; for others, it was their first job out of university.
The event was not only a success for students and recent grads, but also for the government representatives who were seeking to hire new employees. Students were offered jobs in different government departments, including:
- Canada Revenue Agency / l'Agence du revenu du Canada
- Canada School of Public Service / École de la fonction publique du Canada
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
- Employment and Social Development Canada/ Emploi et Développement social Canada (ESDC) - Western Region
- Employment and Social Development Canada/ Emploi et Développement social Canada (ESDC) - Ontario Region
- International Joint Commission
- Public Prosecution Service of Canada
- Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) / Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada
- Service Canada
The opportunity to interview and learn more about government employment was an important learning experience for the students and recent grads. While these events have always traditionally been held in person, the virtual format was a new format for all involved.
The virtual career fair, the panel discussion and the speed hiring event are examples of the many ways that Career Education & Development continues to support York students and new grads during the pandemic. More opportunities for students to connect with employers and alumni are available through workshops, panels, customized events and future speed hiring events.
To learn more about this event, see the overview document, which is available at: https://careers.yorku.ca/files/2021/02/Fed-Govt-Speed-Hiring_Feb2021.pdf.