Unique student work program

Amanda Kaluza clears trays and washes dishes at Nelles Block along with Alexandra Lambeck. Kaluza is on the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP).

There is a unique résumé bank available for government employers that unites full-time students with short-term or part-time jobs.

The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), established in 1990, is administered by the Public Service Commission of Canada.  The program is open to full-time secondary or post-secondary students in an accredited institution. Applications are added to an e-recruitment inventory, and when a government department needs extra help, possible applicants are pulled from the database.  

For Amanda Kaluza, a fourth year anthropology major at the University of Victoria, her application was drawn from the pool, and eventually scored her a job with Base Foods for the summer. This drew a sigh of relief as regular job hunting had garnered no paid employment.     

“A lot of places weren’t willing to hire me since I’d be continuing school at the end of the summer,” she says.

For the last two months she has donned an apron and helped out in Nelles Block, washing dishes, boxing lunches, and replenishing the salad bar. While it is not the most glamorous work, for a university student with a full work load it’s the best kind of job around – a flexible one.

“Base Foods has been very understanding and aware that I’m going back to school,” she says. “They know that it’s a priority for me, so they’re working with my schedule.”

She re-applied to work at Base Foods during the fall semester and was granted another few months employment.

“Once you’re in the program it’s a lot easier to re-apply,” she says. “The people I work with are so positive and helpful that I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Having such a rewarding experience, Kaluza says she’s telling her friends about it.   

“It’s such a helpful program, I’m amazed more people don’t use it,” she says. “For anyone looking to balance work and school it’s a no brainer.”

More information on the FSWEP program can be found at www.psc-cfp.gc.ca.

-Shawn O’Hara, Staff Writer