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Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants
Salary FAQs
General FAQs
Salary on Appointment to the Management Trainee Program
Can MTP candidates be appointed to a PL-02 or PL-03 level upon entry to the program?
Upon entry to the program, all candidates recruited externally or internally to MTP, are appointed to PL-01 level; there are no exceptions.
Does someone moving into or out of the PL Group receive salary protection?
Under the new LDP directive, PL employees are now entitled to salary protection. There are distinct salary protection provisions for employees being appointed into the PL group and those leaving the PL group.
For those moving into the PL group, salary protection will apply for as long as the substantive salary is greater than the salary received as a PL.
For those leaving the PL group, salary protection will apply for two years after the employee has left the program, if they are appointed or deployed out of the PL group to a position with a lower job rate than their PL job rate. To be eligible for this salary protection, participants must have been in the PL group for at least one (1) year and
have achieved at least "met most" on their performance appraisals.
Promotion and Performance Awards
Does part-time work affect the
length of the program and/or promotion periods?
Both full- and part-time MTP participants must complete an equivalent of 12 months in assignments to be eligible for a promotion board. All full- and part-time MTP participants must complete the equivalent of at least 24 months in assignments to be eligible to graduate.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Are MTP participants eligible for overtime?
Participants at the PL-01 to PL-05
levels are entitled to claim overtime as per the Public
Service Terms and Conditions of Employment Regulations. Participants at the
PL-06 level are not entitled to claim overtime.
Do candidates having an employee status (ie. current core public
administration employees) retain their employee status while on language
training?
Yes, candidates already having
employee status in the core public administration, retain this status and remain
subject to the terms and conditions of their substantive position for the
duration of language training. Those candidates who are staffed non-imperatively must sign an agreement to become bilingual, as
per the Public
Service Official Languages Exclusion Approval Order (PSOLEAO), and are
appointed once they begin language training.
PL ab initio status
What is PL ab initio
status? Once selected, why was I not appointed to the Public Service as a PL-01?
One of the requirements of being appointed to the PL-01 group and level, is that you be bilingual at the C-B-C language proficiency level. For this reason, selected candidates who do not pass the Second Language Evaluation (SLE) examination, are conferred a non-employee, PL ab initio status, up until the time that they are successful at the SLE
exam. PL ab initio candidates receive an allowance in lieu of pay while on language training that is equal to 80% of the program entry-level salary. If you are a PL ab initio candidate, you should immerse yourself in the learning of your second language, keeping in mind that candidates who are not able to meet the C-B-C language proficiency level
requirements in the allotted time (a maximum of 52 weeks of full-time language training) will be ineligible for entry into the Management Trainee Program.
For more information visit Terms
and Conditions for PL ab initio web site.
Language Training
How can I ensure that I become fluent in my second official language while on language training?
The Canada Public Service Agency takes care of the arrangements for successful candidates who require language training to attend a language training centre across Canada. For most candidates, this involves attending full-time continuous training for a period of up to 52 weeks. You may wish to supplement this training with additional second
language activities that will allow you to immerse yourself in the second language. Often, it is the oral interaction skill that is the most difficult to master; consequently, you may wish to explore other activities that will allow you to practice your second language.
Sometimes I feel that I have reached a plateau on language training, and am having difficulty recognizing that I am progressing. Is this a common sentiment?
Yes, it is quite common and, if you feel that you have reached a plateau in your second language learning, you should discuss this with your language teacher. He/She can help you to determine the best strategy for moving ahead in your second language learning.
I have been on language training for a few months and I am feeling isolated from my organization and my manager. Is it acceptable to contact him/her?
Absolutely. Often, the manager and/or the MTP Organizational Coordinator have not forgotten you, rather, they may be busy with the day-to-day activities of managing an organization/program.
What happens if I do not pass the second language assessment exam at the end of the language training period?
Unfortunately, you will not be eligible to enter the program if you do not meet the C-B-C language proficiency requirements.
Assignments
Why is it important that I negotiate my MTP assignments carefully?
Before you accept any MTP assignment, you should closely examine the duties that you will be performing and the environment in which you will be working. Where you are in the Management Trainee Program, and what competencies you have yet to develop, will help you choose the appropriate assignment. As you move through the program, assignments
should provide you with increasingly challenging operational, managerial and leadership experience. As well, remember that, during your promotion boards, you will be assessed against specific competencies, therefore, it is important that your assignments provide you with the opportunity to develop these competencies at the appropriate stage of your
career progression.
What do I gain by accepting an assignment outside of the National Capital Region?
As with assignments in central agencies, assignments outside of the National Capital Region (Ottawa/Gatineau) often provide you with experience in a front-line operational environment within a regional setting. Experience in a regional/ district setting provides an excellent opportunity to observe and learn about the communication networks with
partners, clients and departmental headquarters personnel, thereby allowing you to develop competencies such as organizational awareness and partnering. It may also provide you with the opportunity to manage projects that focus on front-line service delivery. This experience may allow you to develop or enhance such competencies as teamwork, action
management and behavioural flexibility.
I find myself in the position of performing "officer type" duties during my MTP assignments. Is there a way to ensure that my MTP assignments provide me with "manager type" responsibilities?
Again, one of the best means to acquire "manager type" experience is to accept a regional or field office assignment. In all probability, you will find that in such a regional setting, you will be required to supervise a work unit and consequently will be provided with a wealth of "manager type" experience. Conversely,
assignments in central agencies or headquarters will often provide you with "policy development" experience and will rarely provide you with this "manager type" experience.
Is it possible to receive Acting Pay during one of my assignments?
MTP participants are not entitled to receive acting pay while in the program. Given that the objective of the Management Trainee Program is to provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills and competencies that you will need to become an effective Public Service manager, it is not appropriate that you also receive additional payment for
the performance of higher value duties.
Performance Review (Appraisal)
I don't agree with the rating and/or comments that my manager provided during my Performance Review Process. What recourse do I have?
Normally, a Performance Review Report should not be a surprise to an employee. The Review exercise should be approached by the manager and the trainee as a continuous process, whereby the manager provides regular feedback to the MTP participant on their performance throughout the course of the MTP assignment. However, if at the end of this
review process, you feel as though your performance has not been accurately reported, you may make note of this on the Management Trainee Program Performance Review Report. There is a section under "Comments and Signatures" where you can include your comments and, if you need more space, you may include additional pages. Finally, as any
other employee, you have the right to grieve your Performance Review Report.
Mentor
At the beginning of my MTP career, my mentor was able to provide me with valuable knowledge and experiences that he/she could share. Unfortunately, this person has accepted new challenges and has less time to spend with me. Should I look for another mentor?
That depends on how comfortable you are with the individual and his/her ability to invest the time and effort required to make your relationship work. Changing mentors is not necessarily a bad thing to do. As with any other kind of relationship, it may have come to its natural conclusion. In this case, you may wish to try someone else. Remember, finding the right match is critical for your success in the
program.
Is it appropriate to keep in touch with my former mentors?
Absolutely. Mentors can continue to play an important role in your professional network, and can often continue to provide you with career planning advice once you have graduated from the program.
My Department did not assign a mentor to me. Is it worthwhile to find a mentor on my own?
Yes, for the same reasons that you may wish to keep in touch with a former mentor. These individuals are excellent resources that can assist you during your entire career with the federal Public Service.
For more information, visit http://www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca/mtp-psg/mentors_e.asp
Networking
What is networking and why is it important?
Simply, networking is bringing people together, allowing them to share their talent and passion with others. As such, networking allows the building of support, partnership and strategic alliances. Your contacts with other MTP participants, as well as contacts both inside and outside of your organization, will be important as you move towards
becoming an effective leader within the Public Service
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