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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Find answers to commonly asked questions about jobs in the federal public service. General
Programs
Help us improve our service! If you have a question which is not answered in this section, please contact us . GeneralJob opportunities with the federal public service1. Are all jobs in the federal public service advertised on the Jobs Web site? No. Certain governmental organizations are not governed by the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) and are not obligated to advertise their employment opportunities on the Jobs site. Therefore, you should also check the job listings of each Organization that is not governed by the Public Service Employment Act in order not to miss out on any employment opportunities. Please contact those organizations directly with any questions or comments you have. Applying for a position1. How do I apply for a job in the federal public service? You should consult the Federal Government Jobs pages to find job opportunities open to members of the general public. Consult these pages regularly so you don’t miss out on any opportunities. You can apply for positions by using the "Apply On-line" button, found at the bottom of each job listing. You will then be asked to create your personal profile. This may take a bit of time, but is worthwhile in order to avoid repeating the same steps every time you apply to a position. Once you complete your personal profile, you will be able to continue submitting your application. You should also check the job listings of each Organization that is not governed by the Public Service Employment Act in order not to miss out on any other employment opportunities. 2. How do I register to write the public service entry exams? Exams are administered by invitation only. You must first apply to a position advertised on our site and then be chosen for further assessment in order to be invited to write an exam. 3. I am a federal public service employee. How do I access internal job advertisements? Internal job advertisements are posted on Publiservice, the Government of Canada’s Intranet site. You can access the Publiservice job postings using most government computers. All jobs open to the public are also open to you as a federal public servant. 4. How do I prepare for my interview? You should focus on the "Statement of Merit Criteria and Conditions of Employment" document, which is generally included as a link from the job posting. It is also available from the hiring department upon request. Interview assessments are based upon the criteria outlined in this document. 5. How will my job application be assessed? Departments evaluate candidates against the criteria listed in the Statement of Merit Criteria and Conditions of Employment, using various methods. These include interviews, written tests and reference checks. The Statement of Merit Criteria and Conditions of Employment document is generally included as a link directly from the job posting. It is also available from the hiring department upon request. 6. I am a permanent resident (landed immigrant), waiting to become a Canadian citizen. Can I get a job with the federal public service? While the Public Service Employment Act does not exclude non- Canadians from applying to positions in the federal public service, it clearly specifies that preference for appointment is to be given in the following order:
7. I want to immigrate to Canada. Can I apply for federal public service jobs? Yes. However, preference will be given to Canadian citizens. 8. What factors are taken into consideration when deciding who is eligible to apply for federal public service positions? When recruiting for federal public service jobs is undertaken, a number of factors are taken into consideration. These include:
After considering these factors, a decision is then made regarding any geographical limits of the area in which potential applicants must reside and/or be employed to be considered for the given position. This decision must be in accordance with the Public Service Commission’s Policy on Area of Selection. 9. Many positions I am interested in are limited to persons residing in a different region of the country. Why can’t I apply for these positions? As mentioned in the answer to the previous question, various factors are taken into consideration when determining who can apply for job opportunities in the public service. However, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is committed to gradually moving away from geographically-based areas of selection and has amended its policies in that sense. Since April 2, 2007 a national area of selection (NAOS) is used in recruitment for all officer-level positions that are open to the public in all regions across Canada. Prior to April 2006, only 19% of jobs open to the public used a national area of selection. With the latest expansion of NAOS, this is expected to increase to 55%. The PSC will conduct impact assessment prior to expanding the use of a national area of selection for all other occupational groups and levels for jobs open to the public across Canada. For non-officer level positions and for specified period positions, there is often a sufficient pool of fully qualified candidates within a certain distance of the office where the job is located. Therefore, a local or regional area of selection is used. 10. Why is the candidate's place of residence important and how is it defined? Place of residence or employment is used as a criterion of eligibility in external recruitment processes. Generally, a person is eligible based on his / her current residence or employment address at the time of applying. However, in certain instances, a person is eligible by virtue of a "permanent address", from which he or she is temporarily absent. The candidate must have the firm intention to return to the permanent address at the end of the temporary absence. Students have dual eligibility, based either on their permanent residence or the location of their residence while attending the educational institution in which they are registered. 11. I am a Canadian citizen, residing abroad and who would be willing to return to Canada. Can I apply for job opportunities in the federal public service? Yes. Jobs open to the public, which use a national area of selection, include persons residing across Canada as well as Canadian citizens residing abroad. 12. How do I know if my application has been received? To check if your application has been received and to view the status of an application for a job for which you have applied, you need to log in to your "My Jobs" account. Once you are logged into your account, follow the link from "View My Jobs File," then look under "Job Opportunit(y)(ies) Submitted" to view any recent job. If you see the job for which you applied listed on the results page, your application has been received.
13. How do I check my application status? First, you’ll need to log into your "My Jobs" account. Once you are logged in, follow the link from "View My Jobs File," then look under "Job Opportunit(y)(ies) Submitted" to view any applications in process. If you see the job for which you applied listed on the results page, your application has been received.
Résumé-related questions1. Why can’t I submit my résumé in the form of an attachment? We only accept applications submitted using the "Apply On-line" button:
2. How do I submit my work experience with my application? You can submit your work experience with your application when you paste your résumé into the "résumé" section of your "My Jobs" account. 3. Can I submit my résumé to a general inventory for future employment? You may only apply to advertised positions. Since January 1, 2006, the PSC has advertised only actual job opportunities rather than creating general inventories. The goal is to ensure that applicants highlight their specific work skills and experience and match them to actual positions available. However, two inventories are currently open for:
Employment Equity1. How does the government determine when to conduct recruitment focused on one or more employment equity groups? Under Part I of the Employment Equity Act (EEA), employers, including the federal public service, must determine the degree of under-representation of employment equity (EE) groups and implement plans to promote employment equity. Four EE groups have been designated under the EEA:
Targeting recruitment efforts towards one or more of these groups gives departments a better chance of closing representation gaps and developing a workplace that better reflects the diversity of Canadian society. 2. Why are certain positions only open to one or more employment equity group(s)? The Government of Canada has the legal obligation to ensure that its workforce reflects the communities that it serves. As such, where it has been determined that a need exists to better reflect Canadian diversity, hiring organizations may decide to open an opportunity only to members of employment equity groups. 3. How do I submit my résumé to a professional inventory for members of employment equity groups? Visit the Professional Inventory for Groups Targeted by Employment Equity pages to find more information on how to apply. 4. I do not belong to an employment equity group. Will my chances of being selected for a job be reduced? Not usually. However, from time to time, certain positions may be limited to applicants from members of employment equity groups.Travel1. Who pays for the travel expenses of applicants from across the country in an external advertised appointment process? When you are selected to participate in an appointment process, the hiring Department or Agency may authorize you to travel on official government business and reimburse pre-determined travel expenses incurred on your trip. Should this be the case, you can consult the Travel Directive and its annexes for more information at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/hrpubs/TBM_113/menu-travel-voyage_e.asp You must bear in mind that provisions for you, as a "traveller", will be different from those of employees. Please note that not all agencies, boards and commissions are subject to this Travel Directive and in these instances, the hiring manager will provide you with more information. Other1. I’ve forgotten my password to access "My Jobs". Can you help? To retrieve your password and access your "My Jobs" profile:
2. How do I access an archived job posting? You will need to log into your "My Jobs" account. Once you are logged in, use the "Application Status" button and then choose the title of the job that you are interested in under "Job Opportunit(y)(ies)". You will then be able to view the Statement of Merit Criteria and Conditions of Employment. 3. Where can I get more information on testing? You can find information and sample tests on the Public Service Commission Web site. 4. Can I take the Public Service Commission tests and have my second language skills tested in advance so that the results are on file? You may only write tests and have your second language evaluation if you have been contacted to do so as part of a specific hiring process. 5. How do I obtain my test results? You may obtain your test results by logging into your "My Jobs" file. This information is updated whenever you apply for a job requiring testing a written examination. 6. Where do I find information about rates of pay in the federal public service? The Treasury Board of Canada Web site provides information on federal public service rates of pay. ProgramsPost-Secondary Recruitment (PSR)1. How do I apply for Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) jobs? You must first create a Job File; Your Job File will contain personal information, such as education, language, mobility and a résumé that will be matched to job opportunities that best meet your qualifications and preferences. Once you have selected a Job Opportunity, you must complete all of the application requirements prior to the closing date. 2. What kind of jobs can I expect to be offered through PSR? There are many different job possibilities for those entering the public service through the PSR program. Disciplines such as business and public administration, sociology, economics, accounting, and mathematics are some of the fields of study that are most commonly sought in the campaign career choices usually advertised in the fall, winter or spring. The disciplines for the career choices do vary from year to year depending on the needs of government organizations. There may not be openings for employment in each discipline every year, as government organizations’ staffing requirements change, but you may apply to the PSR General Inventory that is available to government organizations year-round. 3. I am a non-Canadian. Am I eligible for employment via PSR? Yes. However, preference is given to Canadian citizens. 4. How do I register for tests? When testing is required, you will need to register on-line at www.jobs.gc.ca for a particular test site before the closing date for these tests. Having applied for a job opportunity that requires testing, you must complete all of the requirements listed on the job advertisement. You will be able to register for a test only if you meet all of the requirements. Each test site can accommodate a limited number of applicants. Applicants who have not registered for a particular test will not be admitted. For more information on tests, please visit the Test Information site. 5. Can I re-write a test? Yes. But you must wait until the 180 day retest period has elapsed. If you choose to re-write the test your most recent score, and not the highest, will be used. Also, if you choose to re-write the test before the retest period has expired, the results will not be valid and a new retest period will be imposed. 6. What happens after I apply? After the closing date for the receipt of applications, the Public Service Commission (PSC) evaluates all applicants against the requirements listed on the job advertisement, including test scores where applicable. The PSC then refers the candidates who meet these pre-selection criteria to the hiring organization for further evaluation. The hiring organization will contact you if you are selected for an interview or additional testing. 7. I scored well on my tests; why have I not been referred? The passing grades on the Web site are merely a guideline for government organizations. Many will use a top-down model to determine the candidates they wish to consider. When that is the case, a passing grade may not apply to the referral process if many candidates scored well on the exams. 8. What is the PSR General Inventory? The PSR General Inventory contains the names of individuals who have submitted their application for a public service job. The inventory is available to all federal organizations to help them fill a wide range of entry-level positions which require a university degree. Hiring organizations contact the PSC if they need to fill an entry-level job. The system matches applicants in the PSR General Inventory to appropriate jobs, according to a job’s specific requirements (e.g. education level and field of expertise). The PSC then contacts the selected applicants by e-mail to verify their interest. Interested candidates are referred to the department for further assessment. 9. What is the difference between the PSR General Inventory and an advertised job opportunity? The inventory is an established pool of candidates that hiring organizations can consult to fulfill their staffing requirements. Advertised job opportunities are posted year-round. Interested applicants must apply directly to each posting. 10. Do I need to apply to advertised positions if I have already applied to the PSR General Inventory? Yes. As indicated in Question 9, the PSR General Inventory is separate from the advertised job opportunities. 11. If I am not interested in a job when the PSC contacts me, will I be contacted for other jobs in the future? Applicants are not obligated to say "yes" when contacted about their interest. They remain in the inventory. 12. I applied to the PSR General Inventory. Why have I not been contacted? The PSR General Inventory is designed to search for and match applicants who meet the specific job requirements as they have been determined by the hiring organization. If your qualifications do not match the requirements of any of the job opportunities that are available, you will not be contacted. Recruitment of Policy Leaders (RPL)1. How does the Recruitment of Policy Leaders (RPL) program hire candidates directly into the federal public service? RPL is a Public Service Commission (PSC) program that recruits candidates for departments and agencies following a thorough assessment process against the merit criteria. 2. I am a non-Canadian. Am I eligible for RPL? You may apply; however, preference is given to Canadian citizens (living in Canada or abroad). A Canadian citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has attained Canadian citizenship via Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 3. I am a permanent resident (landed immigrant) and am waiting to become a Canadian citizen. Am I eligible for RPL? While the Public Service Employment Act does not forbid immigrants from applying to positions in the federal public service, it clearly specifies (see article 17 of the Public Service Employment Act) that preference for appointment is to be given in the following order:
Unless you have a highly sought-after specialization (one that is in shortage in the federal government and for which there are no qualified Canadians), your chances of being considered for federal government positions are slim. 4. In what language will the interview be held? Interviews will be held in the official language (English or French) of your choice. 5. What if I require technical aids or alternative arrangements for exams or interviews? Please advise the Public Service Commission (PSC) or the department of your special needs when you are contacted. We must be informed of your situation in order to make alternative arrangements. It is government policy to create and maintain an inclusive, barrier-free environment in the federal public service to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities. Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)1. Do I have to submit a new Application for Employment form every year? Yes. The application form is available on this site. If you're interested in securing employment for the summer of 2006, please visit our site regularly. 2. How many jobs are available? On average, 7,000 jobs are offered to students each campaign. 3. What kinds of jobs are there? There are many types of jobs being offered to both secondary and post-secondary students including office administration, field work, information technology, professional development, and research assignments. 4. What is ‘shift work'? Shift work can be defined as those jobs that offer several shifts over the course of one day, this suggests that someone might have to work several shifts in one day, such as from 8 to 11 and then again from 1 to 5 rather than one regular, set time to report for work. For example, a regular day could mean starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm every day. Shift work, on the other hand, could require you to work from 11am to 6pm, or 12pm to 8pm. Your shifts may change every week, depending on your employer. 5. I am a non-Canadian. Am I eligible for FSWEP? Yes. However, preference is given to Canadian citizens. A Canadian citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has applied through Citizenship and Immigration Canada and has received a citizenship certificate. 6. If I finish high school in the fall semester and I am planning to return to full-time studies next fall, am I eligible for FSWEP? No. In order to be eligible for FSWEP, a person must currently be a full-time student, returning to full-time studies in their next academic term. In this case, the next academic term would be the winter semester in high school. Students in this situation would become eligible once they have started their full-time studies the next fall. 7. I am a part-time student in my final year of academic study. Am I eligible for FSWEP? No. Students must have full-time status at their academic institution in order to apply for FSWEP. 8. I am in my final year of academic study and I am not returning to full-time studies. Am I eligible for FSWEP? Those students in their final year of academic study who are not returning to full-time studies in the next academic term are only eligible to work part-time until the completion of their last academic term. 9. If my academic schedule permits and I can work full-time during the academic term, is it possible to do so? No. The policy states that students employed under FSWEP can only work full-time during a non-academic term (e.g. summer break). During an academic term, students can only work part-time. 10. What does it mean when I enter mobility codes on my Application for Employment? If you select mobility codes on your application, it means that you are willing to move to and work in all locations that you have selected. As mentioned previously, in most cases departments and agencies will not pay for your relocation, so choose your mobility locations carefully. 11. What if I require technical aids or alternative arrangements for exams or interviews? Please advise us of your special needs when we contact you. We must be informed of your situation in order to make alternative arrangements. It is government policy to create and maintain an inclusive, barrier-free environment in the federal public service to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities. 12. If I am not interested in a job when the PSC contacts me, will I be contacted for other jobs in the future? You are not obligated to say "Yes" when contacted for interest. If you say you are not interested, your application will still remain active in the inventory. 13. Why am I not being contacted? The FSWEP computerized inventory is designed to search for and randomly select students who meet the job requirements determined by the hiring department. There is an average of 7,000 student jobs and over 90,000 applications in the inventory. Consequently, there is a possibility that you may not receive an interest call. Federal government student jobs are highly sought after and random selection is an equitable and fair method of searching for persons to be assessed. 14. I have previously worked for the federal government in a FSWEP job. Can I be re-hired? Yes. If a manager so decides, you may be re-hired for the same or for a similar job. In order to be re-employed, you must:
The PSC may also authorize the re-employment of a student who was originally hired in one department/agency at another department/agency when certain conditions are met and the hiring department provides a rationale for the re-employment. 15. I have previously worked for the federal government in a FSWEP/CO-OP job. Why wasn't I "bridged" after I completed my studies? The bridging mechanism is one tool available to managers to appoint their FSWEP or CO-OP students to a temporary or permanent job once they have completed their studies. It must be noted that managers are not obligated to "bridge" their students. 16. What are the rates of pay for FSWEP jobs? For the student rates of pay or for more information, please refer to Student Pay Rates or contact the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada (PSHRMAC) at student.etudiant@tbs-sct.gc.ca Students working at an isolated post may be entitled to an isolated-post allowance. Hourly rates for secondary level students differ by region. Some departments have negotiated different rates of pay with the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada. For these cases, the specific rates of pay are indicated in the "Departmental Programs" section and on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) Web site. 17. If I am a post-secondary student and I indicate that I am willing to take the secondary school rate of pay, what does this mean? Post-secondary students who indicate that they will accept the secondary school rate of pay may be offered positions for which no secondary school students can be found. In this case, those post-secondary students will not be paid at the post-secondary level, but at the pre-determined secondary school rate of pay for the geographical area in which the job is located. Post-secondary students who are not willing to accept the secondary school rate of pay will not be considered for these jobs. Research Affiliate Program (RAP)1. I am a non-Canadian. Am I eligible for the Research Affiliate Program (RAP)? Yes. However, preference is given to Canadian citizens. A Canadian citizen is a person who was born in Canada or who has attained their Canadian citizenship via Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 2. I am a part-time student in my final year of academic study. Am I eligible for RAP? No. Students must have full-time status at their academic institution in order to be eligible for RAP. 3. If my academic schedule permits, is it possible to work full-time during the academic term? No. The policy states that students employed under RAP can work part-time only, to a maximum average of 25 hours per week. 4. What if I require technical aids or alternative arrangements for exams or interviews? Please advise the Public Service Commission (PSC) or the department of your special needs when you are contacted. We must be informed of your situation in order to make alternative arrangements. The Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service states that it is the policy of the Treasury Board and the PSC to create and maintain an inclusive, barrier-free environment in the federal public service to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities. Post-secondary Co-op/Internship Program1. What is the difference between a Co-op program and an Internship? Co-operative Education is an educational program in which classroom instruction is alternated with semesters of work placement and performance evaluation in workplaces related to the field of study. An internship is on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced workers, designed to give students the required skills and knowledge for entry into a trade or profession. 2. What is the normal duration of the assignments? A student's academic institution determines the duration of each work assignment. Co-operative assignments traditionally last four months but internship assignments may vary from four to 18 months. Managers may offer students back-to-back work terms with prior approval of the academic institution. 3. Who should be contacted to obtain more information? Enquiries concerning the Post-secondary Co-op/internship Program 4. Where can I find more information relating to student employment? More information is available on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Web site:
5. Can a student from any Co-op/Internship program be hired? No. Only those students enrolled in PSC-approved Co-op/Internship programs can be recruited to work in the federal public service in the context of this program. Those programs are listed on the PSC Web site under "Approved Programs". 6. How is the area of selection for a Co-op/Internship assignment determined? The key consideration in determining the area of selection is to ensure that it is large enough to yield a reasonable pool of qualified candidates at the end of the selection process. In recruiting Co-op/Internship students, the area of selection can be either geographic (e.g., students in the National Capital Region enrolled in PSC-approved co-op/internship programs) or organizational (e.g., co-op/internship students at the University of X). An area of selection cannot be established using provincial or territorial boundaries (or groupings of provincial/territorial boundaries) as this contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 7. What things should be considered in defining an area of selection for a co-op/internship assignment? Is this site aimed at students or at hiring managers? Departments should consider the following:
8. If during the appointment process, it is deemed that a non-Canadian is qualified, can the non-Canadian be hired? No. In keeping with section 31 of the Public Service Employment Act, Canadian citizens must be given preference when appointments are made. Accordingly, the work term must be offered to a qualified Canadian citizen, even if there is a more qualified non-Canadian candidate. 9. When no Canadian applicants qualify, or when there are not enough qualified Canadian candidates to meet needs, can non-Canadian applicants, if assessed and found qualified, be appointed? Yes. If no Canadian applicants qualify or when there are not enough qualified Canadian candidates to meet the department's needs, non-Canadians who have qualified should be considered. However, non-Canadians who are selected must be legally entitled to work in Canada 10. Does a learning plan for Co-op/Internship students have to be prepared? Again, who is the audience? Yes. The Treasury Board Student Employment Policy requires that learning plans be prepared for each assignment. The plan can be tailor-made or departments can use the generic plan supplied by the educational institution, combined with a description of the specific assignment. Moreover, departments are required to assess the student's progress. Feedback is an important component of the learning process, and a learning plan is essential because it sets out the goals to be achieved by students and provides a tool to assess their progress and the performance at the end of the assignment. |
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Updated: 2007-09-20 | Important Notices |