How to Get a Government Job in Canada - Tips and Tricks

Government jobs, whether federal, provincial, or municipal are widely sought after by many candidates. The competition to get one of these jobs can be fierce, but this article will help you understand how to maximize your chances of landing that dream job you were hoping for.

Although many people believe that government jobs are obtained solely by “who you know” this old school mentality is changing drastically. I got a government job, not through who I knew, but by the merit of my online application. It took almost 7 months to get the job I did but I can tell you that it is possible and you can improve your chances greatly by reading the tips below.

First, familiarize yourself with various job search tools. The federal government, provincial governments, and municipal governments all have job search tools, postings, and various search options. Take a look at the type of work offered on these sites, the credentials required, and whether any of the positions could apply to you. Check back frequently, as some jobs can be posted for as little as 48 hours. Make sure to look at programs that may apply specifically to you - student internships, postsecondary graduates, etc.

Second, once you have found a job you would like to apply to read the advertisement and determine if you fit the qualifications. Be realistic in the jobs you apply to as many of these ads have hundreds if not thousands of applicants. If it asks for a minimum of 2 years experience in a customer service environment do not think you will be able to get away with 1 year. Always be honest in your resume and cover letter.

Third, tier your resume and cover letter to the exact job you are applying to. Never submit a “general” resume or cover letter. Every government job I have applied to I have always scrutinized the language used in the advertisement and made a concerted effort to include it in my resume and cover letter.

Fourth, apply in the method requested and before the deadline of submission. Late applications will never be considered and applying by email when it is requested to apply by fax or online will result in your application being rejected.

Fifth, make sure that the contact information you provide is up-to-date and you are easily reachable. I have received many replies by email to which I was expected to promptly respond. Therefore, make sure to have a valid working email address that is professional (e.g., first name_last name @ email.provider.com, as opposed to sexy_girl28283@ hotmail.com) and that you check it often. Also make sure you have a working telephone number with a personal answering machine.

Sixth, many government jobs require applicants to write tests before they have the opportunity to interview. If invited to write a test, try and get as much detail about the test as you can. Are there practice exams you can study from? Is there material available online? Has anyone you know ever taken these tests that could provide you with some insight? This is extremely important because if you bomb the test, you will not get an interview.

Seventh, many government jobs require proof of certain credentials. For instance, I have been asked to provide original university degrees, transcripts, certifications such as CPR, photo identification, proof of citizenship, driver’s licence, etc. Make sure you have all of this information up to date, readily available, and in good condition so you are not scrambling to get it right before an interview or test. If you don’t have it, or can’t get it, don’t expect any exceptions to be made for you. Most job postings will outline the types of documents you will need to provide well before you are asked for them - hint: if it says you need a university degree for the position, you will need to provide them with the original at some point.

Eighth, if you are invited to an interview make sure to arrive on time and look professional. If you have not been provided with a breakdown of what is to be expected at the interview, expect anything and everything. Most government interviews I have been to are behavioural in nature. What is a behavioural interview? You will be asked to provide spontaneous examples of when you performed certain tasks that relate to the job you applied to. You may also be asked to take part in a role-play scenario. With these scenarios you are usually given some time to prepare and make notes prior to starting the role-play. I have been to interviews which lasted 30 minutes, others have lasted 2 hours, so be prepared to be there for awhile.

Finally, be patient. Government recruitment processes take time. I have had interviews for jobs 8 months after I applied for them and a year later I’m still waiting on results. That’s the beauty of bureaucracy.
If you have any questions regarding job processes do not hesitate to contact me. Take a look at the links below and start looking for that dream job!

Links to Government Job Search Engines

Federal Government
http://www.jobs.gc.ca

Provincial Governments
Alberta- http://www.jobs.alberta.ca/
British Columbia - http://www.postings.gov.bc.ca/index.php?rLoad=1
Manitoba - http://www.gov.mb.ca/csc/employment/jobs.html
New Brunswick - http://www.gnb.ca/0163/employ-e.asp
Newfoundland - http://www.psc.gov.nl.ca/psc/employment.htm (site not functioning)
Northwest Territories - http://www.gov.nt.ca/utility/jobs/index.html (site not functioning)
Nova Scotia - http://www.gov.ns.ca/psc/v2/jobCentre/default.asp
Nunavut - http://www.gov.nu.ca/hr/site/jobs/index.shtml
Ontario - http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island - http://www.gov.pe.ca/jobs/
Quebec - http://www.carrieres.gouv.qc.ca/
Saskatchewan - http://www.careers.gov.sk.ca/
Yukon - http://employment.gov.yk.ca/

Municipal Governments (Major Cities)
Calgary - http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Human+Resources/Career+Opportunities/Career+Opportunites.htm
Edmonton - http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/jobs.aspx
Halifax - http://www.halifax.ca/hr/jobs.html
Montreal - http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=5977,43315558&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Ottawa - http://www.ottawa.ca/city_hall/careers/index_en.html
Toronto - http://www.toronto.ca/employment/
Vancouver - http://vancouver.ca/humanresources/jobs/