Career Options Magazine

Myth 1 | Qualifications

“I will never get a government job with just my Arts degree.”

Federal: The Federal Government of Canada offers over 1,000 different types of jobs located nationally and internationally. There are also

numerous opportunities for skills training, professional development, mentoring and advancement. Many senior management positions simply require a university degree—some with specialization or study in a specific area. Although a degree is important, the job requirements for senior positions typically focus on the Public Service of Canada core leadership competencies, values and ethics, and how to effectively carry out the duties required. More focus is placed on experience managing within the Federal Government framework in various areas, such as procurement, finance and/or program delivery.

Provincial: Qualifications are dependent upon the role and the department. For example, if the province’s Transportation Department seeks to hire a mechanic, then the successful candidate will have the proper credentials to be a mechanic.

However, there are numerous positions that simply require a degree, some with a specific specialization. Once hired, the candidate would “learn the ropes” and then apply for promotions. When looking at government, job seekers should be thinking in terms of “career” instead of “job.”

Municipal: Similarly, at the municipal level, the qualifications required depend on the job. Some positions require specialized training or certification—for example, building inspection or financial operations—while others are not so specific. Often, entry-level positions are designed so that the new employee has an opportunity to learn the specific job required as well as the organizational structure. Once an employee has demonstrated competence, other training opportunities and promotions may follow.

Despite some specialized training required for specific positions, jobs at each level of government require individuals who possess core competencies. You may be surprised to know that holding an Arts degree shows that you can manage your time, work individually or as part of a team, conduct research, analyze information critically, present oral and written summaries, and communicate effectively with others. These are all valuable skills that transfer easily to many government positions.

Myth 2 | Language and location requirements

“I need to be bilingual and live within X number of kilometers from the job.”

Federal: Most entry-level positions that are advertised through the federal Post-Secondary Recruitment Campaign program will have a variety of language or location requirements. Language is usually determined based on the type of position, and where in the country its duties are to be fulfilled. For example, a manager position located in Quebec is likely to have a French requirement; the same type of position in the National Capital Region might be serving both English and French parts of the country. If the posting indicates “bilingual imperative,” you must meet language requirements based on a language proficiency scale that ranges from A to C (C being most proficient) in order to apply. However, there are also bilingual nonimperative positions where you are given a set time to learn and meet the language requirements of the job. As well, there are positions with mixed or various language requirements. Canada is a multicultural nation, so remember that language qualifications may not be limited to our two official languages.

As for location, the Federal Government offers numerous positions across Canada from rural areas to urban centres, even abroad. When considering employment with the Federal Government, remember this statistic: 61% of public service employees based in Canada are located across the country, while the other 39% are in the National Capital Region specifically. If the posting indicates that you must live within a certain region, this means that the government is not willing to pay your relocation costs if you live outside that region. Apply anyway and indicate that you will relocate, especially if you are willing to learn another language—you never know.

Provincial: This myth is not true for all provincial governments. For example, if you wanted to work for the Government of Nova Scotia, language would be important if you were working in a department that offered services or programming in a second language (e.g., the Office of Acadian Affairs, French Language services, etc.). However, if you wanted to work for the governments of New Brunswick or Quebec, then having both official languages would be essential no matter the role.

As for location requirements, most provincial government positions still tend to be located in urban areas (often in that province’s capital or seat of government). Depending on the career choice, a job seeker may be limited to working in an urban centre.

Municipal: Similar to provincial governments, language and location requirements may be specific to the region and its population.

When applying to positions at any level of government, always be sure to report your proficiency in languages other than English or French, as this could be an asset. Canada’s population is diverse, and the languages spoken here are many. As well, exploring job locations away from your home community may open new doors of opportunity for you. Be adventurous!

Myth 3 | Work environment

“I’ll be paid well and I won’t have to work too hard, but there won’t be much opportunity for growth.”

Federal: Many jobs within the Federal Government are as demanding, or in some cases—because of the rules, regulations and policies—even more demanding than private sector jobs. It is a myth that government employees are lazy and overpaid, and could not do anything else. The vast majority in the Federal Public Service are hardworking and committed to success. The Federal Government also values work/life balance. Some departments (depending on the job) will allow employees to work a condensed week or flexible hours. All employment opportunities are advertised on the Public Service Commission of Canada website: jobs.gc.ca. Reviewing job postings will help job seekers to learn what types of work are available and what qualifications are needed to be successful. The work environment can be quite different from the private sector, thus making for something of a culture shock.

Provincial: Provincial government offers challenging and diverse jobs. Government is evolving and so are the positions. Over the years, the work load has increased and the type of work has changed. Many management-level positions are well paying.

For example, the Province of Nova Scotia is the largest employer in Nova Scotia, with over 10,000 employees in 19 departments and approximately 75 agencies. Job seekers can find careers in diverse areas such as: Information Technology, Maintenance and Trades, Regulation and Enforcement, Education and Training, Natural Sciences, Energy, Fisheries and Agriculture, Communication and Information Management, Health and Social Sciences, Tourism, Culture, Recreation and Heritage, Management and Administration, or Executive Leadership.

Municipal: Municipal government has a mandate to serve its local population—that could mean your neighbours, friends and family.

Thus employees work hard on behalf of their communities and regions. As with any large organization, expect to work at a number of tasks in various departments before finding your niche.

Because of the current economic climate, and public and private pushes towards fiscal responsibility and tighter budgets, government organizations and departments overall are leaner. Employees are required to work harder and demonstrate commitment to the organization before being promoted. Have realistic expectations for starting salaries and initial job responsibilities. It may take time to prove your worth and commitment to the organization before being rewarded for your efforts.

Myth 4 | Personal connections

“I need to know someone.”

Federal: The Federal Public Service has several different programs to help students find jobs in the government, including the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), Co-operative Education, the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) and internships. The reality is that you must apply to the job via jobs.gc.ca and meet the statement of merit criteria to get screened into the competition. Once that happens, you must go through an evaluation process that may include a written exam, a presentation and/or an interview. If you pass all these stages, you are placed into a “pool”; managers then select the best fit for the position from the pool. So there is a lot of rigor and transparency involved in the staffing process at the Federal level, making it one of the fairest processes in Canada.

The help you might receive from someone already within the Federal Government is in understanding how to effectively apply to jobs. Many departments actually offer training. If you get your foot in the door, as a part of your experience you should take the opportunity to learn how the process works and potentially apply to jobs. For managers or supervisors of co-op work programs or casual employees, there are also options to offer what is called a “bridging program,” which enables students to transition to full-time permanent employment once they graduate.

Provincial: If you are looking for a provincial government position, think about building your network. You need to know the specifics of the position, how to access the jobs and how to perform in an interview situation. Being successful at the interview requires the job seeker to be informed about the department, the position on offer, and the interview and hiring process itself. Governments often use a scoring system with numerous checks and balances that make it difficult for someone to be hired based on “who they know.” Most provincial governments also operate in unionized environments and must abide by collective agreements. Fair hiring practices ensure that hiring is based on the principle of merit, and are designed to promote transparency, consistency, equity and accountability in the hiring process.

Municipal: Often hiring practices at the municipal government level are less rigorous than at the federal or provincial levels; however, the same standards of hiring policy still apply. Often the myth of “it’s who you know” stems from how some individuals move from summer student positions to full-time employment. In these cases, often the individual is known to one department, but their continued employment is in another department or division. Thus the hire is based on a proven track record of work, not on connections.

In hiring policy and practice, all levels of government want to develop a workforce that is representative of the populations they serve. If you are a member of an under-represented population, consider noting this on your application. Be prepared to put time and effort into the application process. The first impression you make with your paper or online application is important. Complete your application based on the instructions given, not on what you think they should be.

Advice for Students

In conclusion, any job seeker who is looking for employment should review the opportunities within all levels of government. Knowing what positions are available and when they are typically advertised, creating a relevant and targeted cover letter/résumé, and building solid interview abilities will increase your chances of being hired. Talk with people who are working in any level of government. One effective way to learn if the civil service is right for you is to work in government as a summer student. This will help you build your network, expand your skills and learn about the workplace culture. Being informed will help you make better career decisions.

Credits/Resources

Federal information sourced from the Public Service Commission website, along with personal connections and knowledge of federal recruitment processes. http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/centres/faq-eng.htm#psr and http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/centres/presentation/r2-eng.htm

Provincial information sourced from the Nova Scotia Public Service Commission website, and from selected individuals within government and outside consultants. http://www.gov.ns.ca/careers/.

Municipal information sourced from various municipal websites and from conversations with individuals with experience working in various government positions as regular staff and as consultants. CO

By Jane MacDonald

Jane MacDonald is the Manager of the Student Career Centre and Co-operative Education Program at St. Francis Xavier University.