Government job interview~~

[qee_jo]

Ok, guys. I will have my interview in two weeks. I am NERVIOUS!!!
The e-mail stated that this interview is to assess some abilities including "Communicate effective orally and IN WRITTING."

How are they going to assess that during the interview and I had written the exam already.....

Also, should I prepare for the ASSET QUALIFICATIONS or KNOWLEDGE as well?

Please give me some advices,, it is killing me slowly....

[j0nny]

What job is this for?

[qee_jo]

What job is this for?

It is for PWGS title is Pension Specialist.

The interview will evaluate the following criterias:

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to analyse, resolve problems and propose solutions.
Ability to provide direction and guidance.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize workload in order to meet deadlines.

I had done a lot of research about PWGS and because I heard the public sector interviews are more knowledge based.... do I have to memorize the pension policies and such??
I really appreciate any feedback, and like I mentioned too, it will assess my communication skills in orally and writing during the interview, so I would expect a business letter and also a scenario where I have to deal with a specific situation?

[anon666]

It doesn't mean they are going to assess your ability in writing at the interview. It just means they were too lazy to sever the line 'ability to assess ability to communicate orally and in writing.' They already assessed hald of that criteria with the written exam. relax.

Only prepare for the merit criteria they indicated they will be testing. If they gave no indication knowledge of pension politices will be tested, don't worry about it.

[qee_jo]

It doesn't mean they are going to assess your ability in writing at the interview. It just means they were too lazy to sever the line 'ability to assess ability to communicate orally and in writing.' They already assessed hald of that criteria with the written exam. relax.

Only prepare for the merit criteria they indicated they will be testing. If they gave no indication knowledge of pension politices will be tested, don't worry about it.

Wow, that means there won't be a lot to assess me then.... I basically had all above experiences. But how deep will they dig into the knowledge of the PWSC?
number of branches? services offered? minister and deputy minister? vision? mission? value? I did have all these memorized, but just dun wanna be surperised for some lil tiny things they r gonna ask abt the organization. and really, by looking at the criteria listed, how will the interview last for over 2 hours as stated in the e-mail... haha that part really got me worried.

[SeeYouNextTime]

Ok, guys. I will have my interview in two weeks. I am NERVIOUS!!!
The e-mail stated that this interview is to assess some abilities including "Communicate effective orally and IN WRITTING."

How are they going to assess that during the interview and I had written the exam already.....

Also, should I prepare for the ASSET QUALIFICATIONS or KNOWLEDGE as well?

Please give me some advices,, it is killing me slowly....

I'd be nervous too if I were you

[nooks12]

Wow, that means there won't be a lot to assess me then.... I basically had all above experiences. But how deep will they dig into the knowledge of the PWSC?
number of branches? services offered? minister and deputy minister? vision? mission? value? I did have all these memorized, but just dun wanna be surperised for some lil tiny things they r gonna ask abt the organization. and really, by looking at the criteria listed, how will the interview last for over 2 hours as stated in the e-mail... haha that part really got me worried.

I had an email for an interview with another agency once where they said they were going to test certain abilities (ability to communicate included). What happened was that they gave me a set of scenarios and questions thereafter. I was given 15 min to read, think and write down my answers. Then I had the interview where I had to explain my answers (communication part of the test).

So, in your case:

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to analyse, resolve problems and propose solutions.
Ability to provide direction and guidance.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize workload in order to meet deadlines.

They could do the same by giving you some scenarios e.g. a problem where you analyze the given description of a situation where the problem occurs and propose a solution, which you would have to orally explain to them. The same idea could apply to the other abilities to be tested.

Good luck and let us know how they do it!

[qee_jo]

I had an email for an interview with another agency once where they said they were going to test certain abilities (ability to communicate included). What happened was that they gave me a set of scenarios and questions thereafter. I was given 15 min to read, think and write down my answers. Then I had the interview where I had to explain my answers (communication part of the test).

So, in your case:

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to analyse, resolve problems and propose solutions.
Ability to provide direction and guidance.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize workload in order to meet deadlines.

They could do the same by giving you some scenarios e.g. a problem where you analyze the given description of a situation where the problem occurs and propose a solution, which you would have to orally explain to them. The same idea could apply to the other abilities to be tested.

Good luck and let us know how they do it!

Hmm.... in that case, what I had prepared so far is pretty useless then.....

[yabanjin]

It doesn't mean they are going to assess your ability in writing at the interview. It just means they were too lazy to sever the line 'ability to assess ability to communicate orally and in writing.' They already assessed hald of that criteria with the written exam. relax.

Only prepare for the merit criteria they indicated they will be testing. If they gave no indication knowledge of pension politices will be tested, don't worry about it.

This was my first thought as well. However, if the interview will last for 2 hours, I would expect that they neglected to evaluate writing during the written test, so they will probably interview you for one hour and have you prepare something in writing during the other hour.

When in doubt, clarify with the person who sent you the e-mail or the person mentioned in the invitation letter. They are there to answer your questions.

[qee_jo]

This was my first thought as well. However, if the interview will last for 2 hours, I would expect that they neglected to evaluate writing during the written test, so they will probably interview you for one hour and have you prepare something in writing during the other hour.

When in doubt, clarify with the person who sent you the e-mail or the person mentioned in the invitation letter. They are there to answer your questions.

Trust me, they DID evaluate my communication skills in the written exam, I had to write a business letter and also a correspondence. So, really, I am confused LOL

[Beachdown]

Trust me, they DID evaluate my communication skills in the written exam, I had to write a business letter and also a correspondence. So, really, I am confused LOL

Like someone else said, there'll most likely be a written component to the interview. They'll give you questions to answer and a certain amount of time to write down your answers. Then you'll go before the board and they'll ask those questions verbally, along with a few others. The questions will be more in-depth than the previous exam. Start studying the essential qualifications from the job poster.

[anon666]

Like someone else said, there'll most likely be a written component to the interview. They'll give you questions to answer and a certain amount of time to write down your answers. Then you'll go before the board and they'll ask those questions verbally, along with a few others. The questions will be more in-depth than the previous exam. Start studying the essential qualifications from the job poster.

most government interviews allow you to take notes when preparing oral answers. they don't use those notes in the evaluation though; they are simply destroyed. If it's being evaluated, another written exercise will be given.

OP, just ask your contact how writing will be evaulated (if at all) during the interview. If it's being evaluated, look forward to another written exercise.

[qee_jo]

I would like to thank everyone who gave me valuable advices, and yes, it was an interview that involved in reading the material and preparing for 30 mins, then presenting to the panel. But it was a phone interview, so I dressed up for nothing

And my references were checked in Jan, and today I received an email saying that I am placed in the pool of others. Ok, I was in the pool before, and at this point, someone was already chosen( was an internel selection, everyone knows each other, and they wanted someone bad). Im not particularly sure if this is the case again this time.

This is for CF Pension Specialist in NCR, anyone can gimme a bit info abt being in the pool for this position?

It is scary to be in the pool according to my past experience, and I hope this one is a different story....

[Morphius909]

Congratulations on placing on the pool, unfortunately....

Indeterminate hiring is completely frozen in the government, and might be anywhere for another 3 months to 2 years...

March will be the federal budget drop...and with that will be a major drop in employees across Canada, though the cuts or reductions will be strategic...

Whatever positions are open, priorities will be given 1st opportunity if they qualify.

Unfortunately, just bad timing for anyone coming in or being in a pool...

[anon666]

Congratulations on placing on the pool, unfortunately....

Indeterminate hiring is completely frozen in the government, and might be anywhere for another 3 months to 2 years...

March will be the federal budget drop...and with that will be a major drop in employees across Canada, though the cuts or reductions will be strategic...

Whatever positions are open, priorities will be given 1st opportunity if they qualify.

Unfortunately, just bad timing for anyone coming in or being in a pool...

There was a recent media report which stated how it's anticipated some departments, namely Public Safety, Corrections, CBSA and Justice are in good shape and are actually looking to hire more in the immediate future...can you comment on this? Study was put out by the canadian centre for policy alternatives. Will departments be able to move ahead with hiring after March? Will they know for certain after then if they can in fact do so this year? What about officers of parliament? Are they affected by the hiring freeze?

When you say "priorities" do you mean people already in the government who are losing their current job and are looking to be relocated to another position?