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How to apply for Federal Public Service Job Opportunities

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This presentation is a result of collaboration between the Public Service Commission, the Department of National Defence: Directorate Staffing Policies and Programs, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces: Directorate Transition Services and Policy.

The purpose of this presentation is to explain how to apply for federal public service job opportunities and to inform you of your eligibility for civilian positions in the federal public service.

Simply put, I am going to explain how it all works and discuss some resources that are available to you.

WHY?  Because throughout your military career, you have acquired competencies, skills and experience that are in high demand in both the federal public service and the civilian labour market.

These competencies include, but are not limited to:

- Leadership
- Judgement
- Being a team player
- Adaptability
- Ability to work under pressure
- Initiative
- Interpersonal skills
- Dedication

Job opportunities in federal public service organizations that are subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) are posted on GC Jobs. 

Note: You can also find processes in GC Jobs that are from federal organizations that are not subject to the PSEA like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or Canada Revenue Agency. As such, what follows does not apply to these agencies. However, some use similar hiring practices and are supportive of Veteran hiring.

To begin, you will need to create an applicant account. The system will help guide you.

When you create an applicant account be sure to enter your service number and your name exactly as it appears on your Members Personnel Record Resume (MPRR). The system will recognize you as a CAF member if you have attained three(3) years of service. A Veteran, with at least three(3) years of service, who has been honourably released will also be recognized for up to five(5) years following your date of release or until you have been indeterminately (permanently) appointed, whichever comes first.

Also, if the Public Service Commission (PSC) has given you a Priority Reference Number (PRN), which is for those who are medically released, ensure that you enter it into your GC Jobs profile.

You will see the internal processes when the service number and/or PRN you entered is recognized by GC jobs.

Hiring processes on GC Jobs are either “External” or “Internal”. Anyone can see and apply to external processes whereas you will only see the internal processes when the service number you entered is recognized by GC jobs as being eligible for the mobility provision (“mobility” is explained later on) and/ or the PRN you entered is recognized to confirm your priority entitlement (also explained later).

Job opportunities in GC Jobs will typically list the required qualifications as either ESSENTIAL or as an ASSET. Hiring managers will assess each qualification that applies to the job opportunity. Conditions of Employment will also be indicated and assessed.

Essential qualifications are the basic requirements for the position.
They include official language proficiency and may include level of education, experience, knowledge, occupational certification, abilities and skills, aptitudes, and personal suitability that are “essential” to be able to perform the duties of the position.

Asset qualifications may be used to choose who gets the job offer.
For example, if multiple candidates possess all the essential qualifications, the asset qualifications can be used to select between them.

Conditions of employment are any requirements that must be met before a person can be appointed into a particular position, and are to be maintained throughout the time a person is employed in the position.
Conditions of employment include security requirements and may also include: travel, overtime, and/or shift work.

Specialized positions can include other requirements such as : specialized certifications, having a driver’s license or the mobility associated with having a driver’s license. For example: work located in remote areas not accessible by any public transit or to wear and maintain a uniform.

Accommodation in the appointment process
Accommodation is a process that seeks to remove barriers in the hiring process that prevent people from fully participating. It is not a change in the nature or level of the requirements being assessed.

If during any stage of the hiring process you need accommodation, reach out to the contact person for the position as soon as possible.

If nothing else, remember the following:

Create your GC Jobs profile by using your service number and your name as it appears on your MPRR!  This will allow the system to identify you as an eligible CAF member/ Veteran.

Start your job search and become familiar with what is available to you.

Remember, you have acquired competencies, skills, and experience that are highly sought after in both the Federal Public Service and civilian labour market.

Don’t assume hiring managers will understand what your rank or trade means, you will need to teach them and be able to explain it.

Take the time to review the resources available to you. They will help you prepare your application and understand the hiring process.

Priority Entitlements, Mobility and Preference…

What does it all mean and am I eligible?

Priority Entitlements are divided into two categories:

Statutory, means provided by law (the Public Service Employment Act), while

Regulatory, means provided by regulations (the Public Service Employment Regulations).

The entitlements provided by law rank higher than those provided by regulations, and have a particular order that must be respected within the group.

The entitlements provided by regulations are all considered to be of equal rank to one another.

If you are medically released and a competent authority, which is usually your doctor, deems you are fit to return to work then you should contact the CAF’s Directorate Transition Services and Policy (DTSP), formally known as DCSM, in order to initiate the activation of this entitlement.

When you are ready to get back to work, it is recommended to promptly activate your priority entitlement and be registered in the PSC’s Priority Information Management System (PIMS). PIMS is a web-based tool that contains an inventory of persons with a priority entitlement (PPEs), and that works to identify for them positions in the federal public service they may want to consider. Being registered in PIMS provides access to more job opportunities.

Priority entitlements’ start and end dates are set by legislation and by regulation, and cannot be changed due to late registration or other administrative delays.

- There is no “list” from which a PPE is appointed, and there is no automatic guarantee of obtaining a position through a Priority Entitlement.

- Priority Entitlements provide greater access to job opportunities and assists in seeking employment into the Federal Public Service.  It is important to note that each person must still meet the Essential Qualifications, through assessment, and the Conditions of Employment of a position to be appointed to it.

- Key Facts regarding Priority Entitlements:

Areas of selection for internal appointment processes do not apply to PPEs.

CAF PPEs can be considered for any group and level.

Employment Equity (EE) considerations apply to PPEs if an appointment process is targeted.

This means in order to be considered for the position, a PPE would have to self-declare as being a member of one of the four(4) designated groups as per Canada’s Employment Equity Act: women, aboriginal peoples, visible minorities and persons with disabilities, that the process is targeted to.

The entitlement of a Surviving Spouse or Common-Law Partner can only be used for External advertised processes.

Remember, taking ownership means being engaged and being an active participant in the process. The greater your involvement in your process, the better your chances of success.

Update your profile information:

Should you acquire new skills or experience, change your contact information, or upgrade your education or trade credentials, ensure that your employment profile reflects those changes as soon as possible.

Take ownership of your re-employment search:

For example, you can:
Research employment opportunities independently through the GC Jobs site, and browse other organizational websites;
Self-refer and/or apply for all opportunities that interest you and for which you believe you meet the essential qualifications and conditions of employment. Remember to indicate your Priority Entitlement when you do this;
Network with friends, colleagues and acquaintances; or you can
Subscribe to government social media and the news. Employment trends are changing, even if opportunities are not posted on these sites directly, you can find references to potential future hiring opportunities or plans and engage your network to leverage this information.

Respond to all communications in a prompt and professional manner.

Work with your home HR representative, normally a civilian HR Advisor at your nearest military establishment, who can help with your employment search.

If you accept an offer of employment, inform your home HR representative as soon as possible.

Currently serving CAF members and Veterans have Mobility, which means they are able to apply for and participate in internal advertised appointment processes, as long as they have at least three(3) years of service.

Mobility may be used for up to five(5) years after being honorably released or until indeterminately (permanently) appointed, whichever comes first.

A Veteran with at least three(3) years of service also has Preference.

This means that in an external advertised appointment process, if there are no qualified PPEs, a qualified Veteran must be appointed to a position before any other Canadian citizen.

This applies for five(5) years after being honourably released, or until the Veteran is indeterminately appointed to a federal public service job, whichever comes first.

For preference and external advertised appointment processes, all criteria in the “who can apply” section of the job advertisement (also known as the “area of selection”) must be met in order to be considered for the position. This could include geographic, Employment Equity and/or other criteria.

Being a member of a designated EE group (aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women), can be used in staffing processes in the following ways to help achieve equality in the workplace:
the area of selection can be restricted to an EE group or groups or expanded to include members of an EE group or groups. (this applies to Mobility, Preference and PPEs)
EE can be a merit criterion: being a member of a designated EE group could be an organizational need - for the organization, or the public service as a whole.
In these cases, only persons who self-declare as members of the particular EE group(s) will be considered. To ensure that you do not miss out on one of these opportunities, ensure your GC Jobs account identifies you as a member any of the EE group(s) you may belong to.

Once a member/veteran becomes a permanent public servant, they can apply to other employment opportunities in the same way as any other public servant.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) recognizes that most Veterans aren't accustomed to searching for a job in this way. The Veterans in the Public Service Unit (VPSU) is here to help!

This is a team of Veterans who provide direct assistance to serving CAF members who are considering a release as well as Veterans who want to continue to serve Canada.  Think of them as consultants that will help you prepare yourself for transition into the Public Service.  They will work collaboratively with you to help you understand the process and learn how to present your military experience and skills in a manner which will be understood by Public Service Hiring Managers.  

You can get connected with the Veterans in the Public Service Unit by contacting:
Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122 by
E-mail at VAC.Information.ACC@vac-acc.gc.ca or by
Visiting the VAC website at veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/transition/ps-hiring

Furthermore, if you are being considered for a medical release, item 3(a) or 3(b), contact the Directorate Transition Services and Policy (DTSP) to activate your Priority Entitlement.  A Transition Services Officer will walk you through the entire process, including your application through VAC for the attribution necessary for this specific entitlement.

In addition, you may also contact your local IPSC, Case Manager or the Public Service Commission.

Download video (.mp4 37.2 MB)

This presentation is a result of collaboration between the Public Service Commission, the Department of National Defence: Directorate Staffing Policies and Programs, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces: Directorate Transition Services and Policy.

The purpose of this presentation is to explain how to apply for federal public service job opportunities and to inform you of your eligibility for civilian positions in the federal public service.

Simply put, I am going to explain how it all works and discuss some resources that are available to you.

WHY?  Because throughout your military career, you have acquired competencies, skills and experience that are in high demand in both the federal public service and the civilian labour market.

These competencies include, but are not limited to:

- Leadership
- Judgement
- Being a team player
- Adaptability
- Ability to work under pressure
- Initiative
- Interpersonal skills
- Dedication

Job opportunities in federal public service organizations that are subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) are posted on GC Jobs. 

Note: You can also find processes in GC Jobs that are from federal organizations that are not subject to the PSEA like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or Canada Revenue Agency. As such, what follows does not apply to these agencies. However, some use similar hiring practices and are supportive of Veteran hiring.

To begin, you will need to create an applicant account. The system will help guide you.

When you create an applicant account be sure to enter your service number and your name exactly as it appears on your Members Personnel Record Resume (MPRR). The system will recognize you as a CAF member if you have attained three(3) years of service. A Veteran, with at least three(3) years of service, who has been honourably released will also be recognized for up to five(5) years following your date of release or until you have been indeterminately (permanently) appointed, whichever comes first.

Also, if the Public Service Commission (PSC) has given you a Priority Reference Number (PRN), which is for those who are medically released, ensure that you enter it into your GC Jobs profile.

You will see the internal processes when the service number and/or PRN you entered is recognized by GC jobs.

Hiring processes on GC Jobs are either “External” or “Internal”. Anyone can see and apply to external processes whereas you will only see the internal processes when the service number you entered is recognized by GC jobs as being eligible for the mobility provision (“mobility” is explained later on) and/ or the PRN you entered is recognized to confirm your priority entitlement (also explained later).

Job opportunities in GC Jobs will typically list the required qualifications as either ESSENTIAL or as an ASSET. Hiring managers will assess each qualification that applies to the job opportunity. Conditions of Employment will also be indicated and assessed.

Essential qualifications are the basic requirements for the position.
They include official language proficiency and may include level of education, experience, knowledge, occupational certification, abilities and skills, aptitudes, and personal suitability that are “essential” to be able to perform the duties of the position.

Asset qualifications may be used to choose who gets the job offer.
For example, if multiple candidates possess all the essential qualifications, the asset qualifications can be used to select between them.

Conditions of employment are any requirements that must be met before a person can be appointed into a particular position, and are to be maintained throughout the time a person is employed in the position.
Conditions of employment include security requirements and may also include: travel, overtime, and/or shift work.

Specialized positions can include other requirements such as : specialized certifications, having a driver’s license or the mobility associated with having a driver’s license. For example: work located in remote areas not accessible by any public transit or to wear and maintain a uniform.

Accommodation in the appointment process
Accommodation is a process that seeks to remove barriers in the hiring process that prevent people from fully participating. It is not a change in the nature or level of the requirements being assessed.

If during any stage of the hiring process you need accommodation, reach out to the contact person for the position as soon as possible.

If nothing else, remember the following:

Create your GC Jobs profile by using your service number and your name as it appears on your MPRR!  This will allow the system to identify you as an eligible CAF member/ Veteran.

Start your job search and become familiar with what is available to you.

Remember, you have acquired competencies, skills, and experience that are highly sought after in both the Federal Public Service and civilian labour market.

Don’t assume hiring managers will understand what your rank or trade means, you will need to teach them and be able to explain it.

Take the time to review the resources available to you. They will help you prepare your application and understand the hiring process.

Priority Entitlements, Mobility and Preference…

What does it all mean and am I eligible?

Priority Entitlements are divided into two categories:

Statutory, means provided by law (the Public Service Employment Act), while

Regulatory, means provided by regulations (the Public Service Employment Regulations).

The entitlements provided by law rank higher than those provided by regulations, and have a particular order that must be respected within the group.

The entitlements provided by regulations are all considered to be of equal rank to one another.

If you are medically released and a competent authority, which is usually your doctor, deems you are fit to return to work then you should contact the CAF’s Directorate Transition Services and Policy (DTSP), formally known as DCSM, in order to initiate the activation of this entitlement.

When you are ready to get back to work, it is recommended to promptly activate your priority entitlement and be registered in the PSC’s Priority Information Management System (PIMS). PIMS is a web-based tool that contains an inventory of persons with a priority entitlement (PPEs), and that works to identify for them positions in the federal public service they may want to consider. Being registered in PIMS provides access to more job opportunities.

Priority entitlements’ start and end dates are set by legislation and by regulation, and cannot be changed due to late registration or other administrative delays.

- There is no “list” from which a PPE is appointed, and there is no automatic guarantee of obtaining a position through a Priority Entitlement.

- Priority Entitlements provide greater access to job opportunities and assists in seeking employment into the Federal Public Service.  It is important to note that each person must still meet the Essential Qualifications, through assessment, and the Conditions of Employment of a position to be appointed to it.

- Key Facts regarding Priority Entitlements:

Areas of selection for internal appointment processes do not apply to PPEs.

CAF PPEs can be considered for any group and level.

Employment Equity (EE) considerations apply to PPEs if an appointment process is targeted.

This means in order to be considered for the position, a PPE would have to self-declare as being a member of one of the four(4) designated groups as per Canada’s Employment Equity Act: women, aboriginal peoples, visible minorities and persons with disabilities, that the process is targeted to.

The entitlement of a Surviving Spouse or Common-Law Partner can only be used for External advertised processes.

Remember, taking ownership means being engaged and being an active participant in the process. The greater your involvement in your process, the better your chances of success.

Update your profile information:

Should you acquire new skills or experience, change your contact information, or upgrade your education or trade credentials, ensure that your employment profile reflects those changes as soon as possible.

Take ownership of your re-employment search:

For example, you can:
Research employment opportunities independently through the GC Jobs site, and browse other organizational websites;
Self-refer and/or apply for all opportunities that interest you and for which you believe you meet the essential qualifications and conditions of employment. Remember to indicate your Priority Entitlement when you do this;
Network with friends, colleagues and acquaintances; or you can
Subscribe to government social media and the news. Employment trends are changing, even if opportunities are not posted on these sites directly, you can find references to potential future hiring opportunities or plans and engage your network to leverage this information.

Respond to all communications in a prompt and professional manner.

Work with your home HR representative, normally a civilian HR Advisor at your nearest military establishment, who can help with your employment search.

If you accept an offer of employment, inform your home HR representative as soon as possible.

Currently serving CAF members and Veterans have Mobility, which means they are able to apply for and participate in internal advertised appointment processes, as long as they have at least three(3) years of service.

Mobility may be used for up to five(5) years after being honorably released or until indeterminately (permanently) appointed, whichever comes first.

A Veteran with at least three(3) years of service also has Preference.

This means that in an external advertised appointment process, if there are no qualified PPEs, a qualified Veteran must be appointed to a position before any other Canadian citizen.

This applies for five(5) years after being honourably released, or until the Veteran is indeterminately appointed to a federal public service job, whichever comes first.

For preference and external advertised appointment processes, all criteria in the “who can apply” section of the job advertisement (also known as the “area of selection”) must be met in order to be considered for the position. This could include geographic, Employment Equity and/or other criteria.

Being a member of a designated EE group (aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women), can be used in staffing processes in the following ways to help achieve equality in the workplace:
the area of selection can be restricted to an EE group or groups or expanded to include members of an EE group or groups. (this applies to Mobility, Preference and PPEs)
EE can be a merit criterion: being a member of a designated EE group could be an organizational need - for the organization, or the public service as a whole.
In these cases, only persons who self-declare as members of the particular EE group(s) will be considered. To ensure that you do not miss out on one of these opportunities, ensure your GC Jobs account identifies you as a member any of the EE group(s) you may belong to.

Once a member/veteran becomes a permanent public servant, they can apply to other employment opportunities in the same way as any other public servant.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) recognizes that most Veterans aren't accustomed to searching for a job in this way. The Veterans in the Public Service Unit (VPSU) is here to help!

This is a team of Veterans who provide direct assistance to serving CAF members who are considering a release as well as Veterans who want to continue to serve Canada.  Think of them as consultants that will help you prepare yourself for transition into the Public Service.  They will work collaboratively with you to help you understand the process and learn how to present your military experience and skills in a manner which will be understood by Public Service Hiring Managers.  

You can get connected with the Veterans in the Public Service Unit by contacting:
Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122 by
E-mail at VAC.Information.ACC@vac-acc.gc.ca or by
Visiting the VAC website at veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/transition/ps-hiring

Furthermore, if you are being considered for a medical release, item 3(a) or 3(b), contact the Directorate Transition Services and Policy (DTSP) to activate your Priority Entitlement.  A Transition Services Officer will walk you through the entire process, including your application through VAC for the attribution necessary for this specific entitlement.

In addition, you may also contact your local IPSC, Case Manager or the Public Service Commission.

Related information

My Transition Guide
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