Planning your Government of Canada communications career

By: The Government of Canada with information from Canada.ca

If you’ve ever wondered how to go about planning your Government of Canada (GC) communications career, you’re not alone. In this article, you’ll find tips and tricks to start thinking about your career. We’ll look at classification levels, what is expected at those levels, competencies, strategies for learning, and performance management agreements.

Classifications

The first stop on the career planning tour is learning about the requirements for the Information Services (IS) job classification. You may have noticed that the requirements for different levels vary greatly. The leap from student to junior communications officer may not be that significant, but as you look to transition into more senior communications roles, you’ll notice the level of responsibility and competencies required to do the job increase with each level.

There are three types of competencies used in the communications competency framework: functional, behavioural, and leadership. Below is a high-level summary of what to expect for each level. To see the full list of competencies expected for each level by competency type, consult the CCO’s Competency Framework (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

By understanding the competencies needed to do your work, you can identify gaps in your skills and abilities, and work toward improving them. Note your current strengths and identify areas that could be improved. Use this information in a discussion with your manager about the learning and professional development that would help maximize your potential!

IS-01 and IS-02 levels are expected to:

• know the basics of the field of communications or marketing they are working in
• have basic knowledge about the department or agency they are working for, including government priorities
• be familiar with and refer to the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and its supporting Directive on the Management of Communications
• know the basics of project management
• know how to communicate verbally and in writing
• know how to draft, edit and review communications products

IS-03 and IS-04 levels are expected to:

• understand and apply the principles, best practices, and guidelines related to the communications or marketing function
• plan, research and coordinate communications activities with partners, colleagues, and stakeholders
• write, edit and coordinate communications products
• understand how government works and be familiar with government priorities, including communications themes and priorities
• provide objective and strategic communications advice to internal/external partners, colleagues and other stakeholders
• know, understand, and apply the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and its supporting Directive on the Management of Communications
• demonstrate high-quality verbal and written communications skills

IS-05 level is expected to:

• advise and provide timely, objective and non-partisan recommendations to senior management
• manage and coordinate complex and horizontal initiatives with partners, colleagues, stakeholders, and senior management
• actively develop and maintain partnerships
• think critically, identify issues, come up with solutions, and take action
• integrate government and communications priorities into planning
• demonstrate advanced knowledge of the field of communications or marketing
• demonstrate excellence in written and verbal communications
• develop, review, and coordinate communications products
• think strategically and integrate strategy into work
• in some cases, supervise staff, manage performance evaluations, and help identify human resources requirements

IS-06 level is expected to:

• manage their section’s overall communications planning
• manage a work unit and employees in their sections
• advise senior management on issues, plans, human resources, and budgets
• demonstrate leadership, mobilize teams, and disseminate best practices
• demonstrate advanced knowledge of the function of communications or marketing they work in
• maintain partnerships and negotiate effectively to reach consensus
• think strategically and be sensitive to ministers’ needs and to wider departmental/agency issues
• review and approve a variety of communications or marketing products
• be familiar with key leadership competencies

Strategies for learning

Now that you have identified your strengths and gaps, the next stop on the career planning tour is strategies for learning. Professional development and training to take your skills and competencies as a communicator to the next level can take several forms. Depending on the skills and competencies you want to acquire or improve on, and your preferred style of working and learning, you can look into formal training, like courses, or find more informal strategies for learning. Below is a list of ideas to get you started.

• Catch the Strategically Building Your Learning Plan to Connect to Needs webinar by the Federal Youth Network (FYN) to learn how to create your own learning roadmap and advocate for support in achieving your learning goals.
• Look for courses by the Canada School of Public Service Website and its Learning Paths page. They are free and most of them can be done virtually.
• Check out the CCO’s learning portal and the CCO’s virtual learning series (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) for recorded versions of past communications learning events.
• Explore courses at your local university or college, or online post-secondary programs.
• Find a mentor. It can be someone you know from your department or agency, or you can take part in an official program like the CCO Mentoring Series (accessible only on the Government of Canada network). You can also look at Mentoring Plus, an initiative that has been co‑developed by members of employment equity (EE) and equity‑seeking groups to better support leadership development, with specific emphasis on supporting members of underrepresented groups who aspire to move into leadership and executive positions. Lastly, you can find a GC mentor with the GC Mentorship Community.
• The quickest way to learn and gain a new skill is by doing. There are often opportunities for on-the-job learning. Ask your manager about opportunities to take on new types of work and projects. For example, if you have never written a communications plan, ask your manager if you can write the next one. You can also ask to help other sections of your branch with work.
• You can take on assignments in other sections of your branch or even other departments. Be on the lookout for such opportunities in staffing processes on Government of Canada jobs, or check out the Interchange Canada program. Ask your manager about taking on micro-missions, which are usually short-term assignments of less than 3 months during which you fully integrate into another team to work on a project. Also, you can email the Communications Community Office to put your name on the list for at-level opportunities.
• The Take Me With You (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) initiative encourages employees to ask colleagues or management if they can attend meetings that are of interest to them. This can help you understand the bigger picture, share knowledge, enhance your career development, and network.
• Be on the lookout for learning events such as #OneTeamGovCanada Virtual Coffees, the FYN Virtual Learning Series, and CSPS events.
• Check out the Canada’s Free Agents program, which offers public servants the freedom to select work that matches their skills and interests, and allows them to make a contribution they find meaningful.
• Visit the Talent Cloud to find opportunities for project-based jobs.
• Lastly, it’s a good idea to include these types of courses in the learning and development plan (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) section of your performance management agreement (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

Performance management agreements

Next, it’s really important to understand how employees are assessed. Annual performance agreements and learning plans (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) are important tools. Frequent 2-way conversations between managers and employees help to clarify expectations, promote employee engagement and development, and create a sense of shared purpose. They allow managers and employees to:

• check in on progress toward goals and objectives
• discuss emerging challenges and needs
• provide feedback and ongoing support

The Directive on Performance Management requires an annual performance agreement for each employee. This includes a list of expected behaviours, competencies (accessible only on the Government of Canada network), and SMART (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) work objectives linked to departmental and government-wide priorities.

Your annual performance agreement reflects business priorities (work objectives), expected behaviours (core competencies), and a learning and development plan (accessible only on the Government of Canada network). The learning plan should contain job-specific learning activities (to help you in your current job) and career development learning activities (to help you achieve career goals). You can also use the Career tool for government employees to help define your goals.

New GC employees working in communications are generally on probation (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) for their first year of work. Employees who surpass expectations may be entitled to a talent management plan (accessible only on the Government of Canada network), which includes developmental activities to prepare them for new challenges and positions for which their profile, strengths, and interests suggest they are likely to be well suited. Employees who do not meet objectives could require performance improvement plans (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

Expand your network

The last stop on the career planning tour is about getting involved in the communications community and expanding your network. If you haven’t already signed up for the Communications Community Office newsletter, sign up now! You’ll get monthly information about the latest and greatest things happening in the communications community, including learning events, employment opportunities, thematic resources, news from the community, and articles from the CCO blog. The CCO also puts on a Mentoring Series and learning events, and makes tools and resources (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) available to the community.

The Federal Youth Network (FYN) held a very informative webinar on Nurturing Your Professional Support System. You can also check out their infographic on Building and maintaining your network.

If you haven’t joined a communications Community of Practice (accessible only on the Government of Canada network), reach out to one now. These communities hold several meetings a year, sometimes even monthly, to discuss current trends, present learning materials, and provide a platform for GC communicators to network. Here is a list of the current GC communications Communities of Practice for your consideration:  

• Accessible Communications
• Advertising
• Communicating Science Network
• Communications Evaluations
• Copyright Media Clearance Program's User Group
• Digital Analytics
• Events
• Government Emergency Communicators Network
• Indigenous Communications Subgroup
• InterComm
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Communications Network
• Media Relations
• Plain Language
• Policy Community
• Public Engagement
• Public Opinion Research
• Publications
• Publishing and Creative Services
• Social Media
• Speechwriting
• Storytelling
• Web Community

It’s noteworthy to mention that the GC has a multitude of diversity networks that employees can join. The GC Diversity Networks page has grouped the various communities of practice, working groups and teams from coast to coast to coast that are working hard to help move the dial forward and make the GC more diverse, inclusive and anti-racist. The Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service reminds us that it is our collective responsibility to continue the existing equity work underway to urgently remove systemic racism from our institutions and from our culture.

Also, check out the Federal Youth Network (FYN). Don’t be fooled by the name: the FYN is open to everyone, even though it caters mostly to young and new public servants across Canada. The FYN fosters and promotes engagement, innovation, and career development in the GC through in-person and virtual events. Check out the FYN GCcollab page for upcoming Virtual Learning Series events or for recordings of past events.

Lastly, you can check out some of the informal networks on Facebook such as GC Communications (Informal/Unofficial), the GC Speechwriters' Community of Practice, GoC jobs for students, recent grads/entry-level, and mid-career, GOC Informal Recruiting Indigenous Employees, Telework GoC / Télétravail GdC, GC Mentorship and Career Development (informal/unofficial), and GC Job Swap - Informal / GC Échanges de postes - Informel.

References

1. GC Communications (Informal/Unofficial). (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
2. GC Job Swap - Informal / GC Échanges de postes – Informel. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
3. GC Mentorship and Career Development (informal/unofficial). (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
4. GOC Informal Retention of Indigenous Employees. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
5. GoC jobs for students, recent grads/entry-level, and mid-career. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
6. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Canada's Free Agents.
7. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Canada School of Public Service.
8. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). CCO Competency Framework.
9. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Communications Community Office Mentoring Series.
10. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Communications Community Office Newsletter.
11. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Competencies. 
12. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Directive on the Management of Communications.
13. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Learning, talent, and performance management - In the Know - News for Public Services and Procurement Canada employees - PSPC: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – PSPC. [Archived]
14. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Employees on probation.
15. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Events.
16. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). FYN Virtual Learning Series.
17. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Mentorship Resources/Mentoring Living Library - wiki (gccollab.ca).
18. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Government of Canada jobs.
19. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Key messengers.
20. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Learning and development plan (canada.ca).
21. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). 2021-2022 Learning Events Calendar.
22. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Learning opportunities for communicators: Learning events.
23. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Learning paths.
24. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Mentoring Plus.
25. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Interchange Canada.
26. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Nurturing Your Professional Support System [Video]. YouTube.
27. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Performance improvement plans (canada.ca).
28. Government of Canada (2022, June 23). Policy on Communications and Federal Identity - Context- Canada.ca
29. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). “SMART” objectives and performance indicators.
30. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Strategically Building Your Learning Plan to Connect to Needs. Youtube.
31. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Take Me With You: A great learning opportunity!
32. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Talent management plans.
33. Government of Canada. (2022, June 23). Welcome to GC Talent.
34. Oneteamgov Canada. (2022, June 23). Summer Weekly Virtual Meetups: Connect. Discuss. Inspire.
35. Telework GoC / Télétravail GdC. (n.d.) Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2022.