government jobs
I've applied to 100+ positions at 3 levels of gov, however never got a chance to be interviewed, any tips for applying government jobs in Canada?
- Last Updated:
- Feb 9th, 2021 10:46 am
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- healsio [OP]
- Member
- Jun 17, 2017
- 230 posts
- 31 upvotes
16 replies
- StatsGuy
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- Dec 20, 2018
- 6560 posts
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Nope, I mean lots of people apply and the min requirements are like bare minimum, they get lots of qualified people like any desirable employer. Municipal is easier but it's not stable and compensation is not good unless it's like City of Toronto or Regional govt
What type of jobs are you applying for?
- Yorker86
- Member
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- Jun 4, 2007
- 311 posts
- 100 upvotes
- Edmonton, AB
Can you share a little bit more info? What type of Government jobs are you applying for and where? Are you looking to get into a specific role with the Government or are you looking to just get a job with the Government period? Are you willing to relocate?
I used to be a Provincial Government employee working for the Gov of Alberta. I interviewed in 2013 over the telephone and drove from GTA to Alberta that same year. Was very mobile and willing to travel anywhere in Canada. I was also willing to take any position just as long as I got in.
Feel free to pm me.
- frozenmelon
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- Sep 4, 2007
- 1500 posts
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- Edmonton
For federal government, spend a few hours reading this: https://polywogg.ca/polywoggs-hr-guide/
Also, have a master's degree, 2-5 years more exp than they ask for, and speaking French really helps. It's a buyer's market for employers.
Best of luck!
Also, have a master's degree, 2-5 years more exp than they ask for, and speaking French really helps. It's a buyer's market for employers.
Best of luck!
- SignedA
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- May 19, 2015
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LOL basically, honestly it's laughable that a masters of public policy seems to be the bare minimum to get in nowadays, but at the same time all these MPP grads don't have any other skills so you end up with policy staff that don't actually know jack shit. Some areas you can BS, but others that are non-intuitive or counter-intuitive... ugh I mean some of the health policy recommendations... *shakes head*frozenmelon wrote: ↑ For federal government, spend a few hours reading this: https://polywogg.ca/polywoggs-hr-guide/
Also, have a master's degree, 2-5 years more exp than they ask for, and speaking French really helps. It's a buyer's market for employers.
Best of luck!
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- frozenmelon
- Deal Addict
- Sep 4, 2007
- 1500 posts
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- Edmonton
Same problem as any org that staffs only with MBAs. At the end of the day, it's the leaders who make these hiring decisions. And unfortunately for everyone involved, at the highest level of the public sector the leaders are politicians who are appointed based on their ability to attract votes and make backroom deals, not their leadership ability or expertise in the subject matter at hand. The executives are no better. Most are just ladder climbing sociopaths who are more concerned about optics than results.SignedA wrote: ↑ LOL basically, honestly it's laughable that a masters of public policy seems to be the bare minimum to get in nowadays, but at the same time all these MPP grads don't have any other skills so you end up with policy staff that don't actually know jack shit. Some areas you can BS, but others that are non-intuitive or counter-intuitive... ugh I mean some of the health policy recommendations... *shakes head*
- divx
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- Oct 26, 2003
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- GTA12345
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Hard to answer this without more details on the jobs being applied to, and without your credentials.
- StatsGuy
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- Dec 20, 2018
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Most do have experience, they usually are active in their school and volunteer extensively and will have coop placementsSignedA wrote: ↑ LOL basically, honestly it's laughable that a masters of public policy seems to be the bare minimum to get in nowadays, but at the same time all these MPP grads don't have any other skills so you end up with policy staff that don't actually know jack shit. Some areas you can BS, but others that are non-intuitive or counter-intuitive... ugh I mean some of the health policy recommendations... *shakes head*
Do you fee same way about workers at the big tech companies and others who recruit on campus? This is pretty normal.
And not like new grads go write policy, they're grinding just like any other place with their campus recruits .
I hire direct from school too, we have whole program and staff dedicated to it (big 5 bank), a lot of new grads are damn impressive even compared to people who've worked here for like more than a decade and it's just more hassle to let them go so we keep them around . I don't really care since more headcount means bigger budget
- Dynatos
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- Oct 24, 2010
- 2243 posts
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- Ottawa
I agree. More information is needed.
In 2018 I applied to 3 senior engineering federal public service positions with 3 different departments/agencies and got two offers, 9 years out of university. I'm not bilingual and don't hold a graduate degree. *shrug*
But, I did gain a breadth of experience across several industries in the first 9 years of my career before I applied, and I'm told that I'm a very effective communicator.
In 2018 I applied to 3 senior engineering federal public service positions with 3 different departments/agencies and got two offers, 9 years out of university. I'm not bilingual and don't hold a graduate degree. *shrug*
But, I did gain a breadth of experience across several industries in the first 9 years of my career before I applied, and I'm told that I'm a very effective communicator.
- lovetolearn
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- Mar 26, 2013
- 424 posts
- 56 upvotes
- Toronto
Try applying in Northwest Territories they are always hiring
- SignedA
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- May 19, 2015
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Im not sure what you're trying to argue here, I'm not saying they don't have experience as all MPP programs have coop placements. It's how they get their foot in the door.StatsGuy wrote: ↑ Most do have experience, they usually are active in their school and volunteer extensively and will have coop placements
Do you fee same way about workers at the big tech companies and others who recruit on campus? This is pretty normal.
And not like new grads go write policy, they're grinding just like any other place with their campus recruits .
I hire direct from school too, we have whole program and staff dedicated to it (big 5 bank), a lot of new grads are damn impressive even compared to people who've worked here for like more than a decade and it's just more hassle to let them go so we keep them around . I don't really care since more headcount means bigger budget
I'm saying their expertise begins and ends at "policy" without understanding their subject area (of course I'm generalizing here). I'm just saying there should be more well rounded candidates than just oh I paid for a MPP. Volunteering is great and everything, but as someone with literally 100s of hours volunteering in hospital, its not the same as being a clinician and your understanding of the system.
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- dazz
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- Dec 10, 2004
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This guy always asks open ended general questions and never returns to answer, follow up,etc and probably doesn't even read responses since he doesn't follow up on his incomplete questions. So any of your replies are useless. seems like a bored panda asking questions for the fun of it...
I use voice typing, expect mistakes...
- Cnsr0033
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- May 29, 2017
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- divx
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- Oct 26, 2003
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Yeah people may tell you private sector make more but that is only the case when the economy is stable, no trade war, no pandemic, which is getting increasingly unlikely these days. Once you get older it is just really tiring to get layoff and having to uproot and move so all those potential benefit of working in the private sector just vaporizes instantly. Oh that is when you are still young, when you get older, I heard a lot of older people having trouble getting work again. There will always be people like @StatsGuy telling you otherwise but you know best.
WTB amazon gc @90%
- at1212b
- Deal Guru
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- Mar 31, 2008
- 12688 posts
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- Toronto
Private sector is for the young. Hopefully you make your money by 50. Age discrimination is reall.
- catsoncoffee
- Sr. Member
- Apr 16, 2015
- 769 posts
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The main benefit of gov't jobs is the pension, which young people seldom think about. Private sector may be more exciting work and better pay, but you're probably not retiring at 55 with 60% of your pay for life. Plus, once you land a public sector job, you have to be REALLY incompetent to lose it.
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