Applying for Government of Canada jobs: What to expect
Overview of the process
Getting a federal public service job includes several steps. Here’s what you can expect (though not necessarily in this order):
- Apply to a job
- Check your GC Jobs account to see if you have been screened in
- Take a written test, or go to an interview if required
- Provide references to the manager and go through security screening
- Check your GC Jobs account/email to receive updates on the process
Testing, interviews and accommodation measures
After you’ve applied, if you’re screened in, you may be asked to write a test or series of tests. You may also be invited to an interview. Let the person inviting you to the test or interview know, as soon as possible, if you think assessment accommodation measures could make tests or interviews more accessible to you.
Learn more about testing and accommodation measures.
Types of work
There are several ways you can get hired into the federal public service:
- permanent employment is referred to as indeterminate
- shorter employment opportunities can be either term or casual (usually 90 days or less)
Did you know?
- Our hiring processes are unique, and so are our job postings
- Artificial intelligence and keyword searches don’t play a role in public service assessment processes
- All positions have official language requirements
- For bilingual positions, you could be tested at any point in the hiring process
- You can try out the self-assessment tests for written expression and reading comprehension in your second language before you take the official tests
Tips and tricks
Take it step by step!
- The merit-based hiring process takes time
- Each step can take 4 weeks to a few months (application, interviews, tests, and security screening)
- Play the long game: in 2021, the median time to hire a new candidate was 227 days
Apply to multiple jobs
- Managers can hire for more than one position in a job posting by using “pools” and inventories (lists of candidates) that they can pull from over time
- Read the “Intent of the Process” in the job posting to see if a “pool” is being created
- Increase your chances by applying to multiple jobs, especially ones that create pools
Application tips
- Set aside 1 to 3 hours to complete your application
- Write and save your answers in a separate document so you can get feedback, use tools to check your grammar and spelling, and repurpose them for other applications
- GC Jobs occasionally experiences periods of downtime, so:
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