how hard is it to get into a decent public sector gig? I have a BA honors in political studies. However, I am a pipefitter by trade as well and all my actual work experience is confined to oilfield/mining construction. I can read and write well, but I don't know french and have a criminal record for drugs (I am trying to get a pardon). I keep hearing about good public sector jobs in ottawa with a great pension, how difficult is it to get into one? And are they even worth it money wise? (I can make $100K easy in my field, I just hate my work environment/situation)
public sector jobs?
- Thread starter desert monk
- Start date
You should look at Departments (Federal) and Ministries (Provincial) where your pipefitter license may apply because a political studies degree is useless. If you're making 100k, stay put because you would be last man in, first man out. If you're looking at Federal work and you're not bilingual forgetaboutit, same with the drug conviction.
I actually know one person who works for a certain federal policy department. She is a tree-worshiping hippie feminist whom I am friends with in a loose sense, so I don't know if she will help me.Who do you know who works there already?
Sounds like you should put her back on your christmas card list, and find out what she wants for her birthday. All she has to do is recommend you internally and you have at least a small chance at a job.I actually know one person who works for a certain federal policy department. She is a tree-worshiping hippie feminist whom I am friends with in a loose sense, so I don't know if she will help me.
An outsider with no inside friends is just gunpowder: If they do interview you, it will just be to make a nice flash and bang on the stage show they put on to make it look like they followed due process in hiring their friends.
Here's the public service job site. Look it over.
http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/
Don't really know how big a deal the conviction is. If you want a job that needs more than just a basic security clearance, it might be a problem.
For $100K, you'll need to be in middle or senior management. That isn't going to happen right away.
http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/
Don't really know how big a deal the conviction is. If you want a job that needs more than just a basic security clearance, it might be a problem.
For $100K, you'll need to be in middle or senior management. That isn't going to happen right away.
Pipefitter jobs: around $27 per hour: https://psjobs-emploisfp.psc-cfp.gc.ca/psrs-srfp/applicant/page1800?toggleLanguage=en&noBackBtn=true&poster=92100&psrsMode=1
Are you referring to Federal or Provincial jobs?how hard is it to get into a decent public sector gig? I have a BA honors in political studies. However, I am a pipefitter by trade as well and all my actual work experience is confined to oilfield/mining construction. I can read and write well, but I don't know french and have a criminal record for drugs (I am trying to get a pardon). I keep hearing about good public sector jobs in ottawa with a great pension, how difficult is it to get into one? And are they even worth it money wise? (I can make $100K easy in my field, I just hate my work environment/situation)
I can't speak for Provincial but I've had a number of contracts in the Federal service (specifically, Corrections Canada).
Now, you and I have never met but my guess is that you're a middle-aged white male. The reality is that you already have two strikes against you: white and male. Sad, but absolutely true.
If you don't speak French, that's another strike.
Having a conviction doesn't necessarily make you persona non grata, but it will be easier to get a chance at an interview after you get your pardon. If you're looking to get a job in Corrections, Defence, CSIS or anything else requiring a high security clearance, you're 100% out of luck.
Having someone on the inside can be of some very limited help. Like Fuji says, you may get an interview but that's about it.
At the very best, you may get a clearance for a CR-4 position which is basically a secretary position for a casual temp. Note that Federal departments have a restriction on casual temps that they cannot work for one department more than 90 working days within one calendar year. Makes no difference if you leap tall buildings in a single bound or are the absolutely perfect employee. After 90 working days in a calendar year, you're gone. Full stop.
Sorry to be a downer, my friend, but you're going to have a tough road if you're looking for a Federal position. Can't speak for Provincial though.
1. It will be very difficult to make 100k a year in the public sector - even as a professional it takes a lot of time.
2. Yes, the environment would be better though.
3. Stick to provincial or municiple, then you don't need French so much.
4. Canada Customs is always looking for officers, but there is that French thing.
5. You could learn French if you really want to. I recommend Humber College, or any community college.
2. Yes, the environment would be better though.
3. Stick to provincial or municiple, then you don't need French so much.
4. Canada Customs is always looking for officers, but there is that French thing.
5. You could learn French if you really want to. I recommend Humber College, or any community college.
I don't have experience with the federal public service but, for the provincial it is almost impossible for someone who doesn't know someone with a decision making position to get hired (..this is true for most jobs but for public service jobs it is times 3). The jobs posted on the provincial sites is just to meet the "competition" requirements in the act, not to hire the "best" no matter where they are. Note that the position descriptions posted are likely written for a specific person (likely someone already in the department or a buddy in another department who wants to change jobs) so an outsider without the inside track can/will be eliminated with justification.
You may want to consider this strategy, if you can find-out which contractor hires pipefitters and services government contracts then you could try to get a job with them and allow you to work in the buildings where the position you are interested in are located. This may allow you to casually network inside and make contacts that can put you on the inside track. I know someone who did something similar and landed a position after about 6 months.
You may want to consider this strategy, if you can find-out which contractor hires pipefitters and services government contracts then you could try to get a job with them and allow you to work in the buildings where the position you are interested in are located. This may allow you to casually network inside and make contacts that can put you on the inside track. I know someone who did something similar and landed a position after about 6 months.
I've heard a large proportion of those with the public sector jobs in Ottawa may be from Quebec? Maybe it's the French aspect.
At all levels it seems you got to either be "entitled" or fit into a certain group they need to fill at any point in time. Think "affirmative action","white privilege", "friends and family" etc.
It doesn't hurt to try though. Paul's luck differs from Peter's.Fortune favors the brave etc.
Kirk mentioned Canada Customs but not all of them need to know French either as knowing other languages may be invaluable in this role.
The current crop of younger customs officers at Pearson seem to look like former refugees from Palestine,Bosnia,Israel etc. Maybe because they have army training which may involve interrogation tactics and that keen eye etc.
At all levels it seems you got to either be "entitled" or fit into a certain group they need to fill at any point in time. Think "affirmative action","white privilege", "friends and family" etc.
It doesn't hurt to try though. Paul's luck differs from Peter's.Fortune favors the brave etc.
Kirk mentioned Canada Customs but not all of them need to know French either as knowing other languages may be invaluable in this role.
The current crop of younger customs officers at Pearson seem to look like former refugees from Palestine,Bosnia,Israel etc. Maybe because they have army training which may involve interrogation tactics and that keen eye etc.
Certain jobs in the Ontario government require a OPP security check, if you have a criminal conviction they won't hire you.
As was pointed out, right now isn't the best time to go looking for a full time entry level government job at any level of government. I have a cousin who's been trying all three levels of government for a year, and that person has a degree, a college cert in something PA related, and a little bit of time in rural municipal government work. It's a little nasty out there on the bottom end of the public sector food chain. If you can get work, and can get a couple / few promotions, you'd likely make well under $100K, but you'd have decent benefits and a sure bet pension of about 70% of your wage in a fairly nice environment. Generally you'll be worse off than a teacher or nurse (wages and benefits wise) but with any luck you won't be spending all of your time dealing with the general public (unless you get and stay at a front line job) so there's an upside there.
Who do you know who works there already?
It doesn't help to know some one. At least, federally.
... you'd likely make well under $100K, but you'd have decent benefits and a sure bet pension of about 70% of your wage in a fairly nice environment. ...
The 70 % pension is only if you have worked there for at least 30 years, and contributed to the public sector pension plan. And, it's not up to 70 % at the federal level.
+1, and also for what james t kirk wrote.Are you referring to Federal or Provincial jobs?
I can't speak for Provincial but I've had a number of contracts in the Federal service (specifically, Corrections Canada).
Now, you and I have never met but my guess is that you're a middle-aged white male. The reality is that you already have two strikes against you: white and male. Sad, but absolutely true.
If you don't speak French, that's another strike.
Having a conviction doesn't necessarily make you persona non grata, but it will be easier to get a chance at an interview after you get your pardon. If you're looking to get a job in Corrections, Defence, CSIS or anything else requiring a high security clearance, you're 100% out of luck.
Having someone on the inside can be of some very limited help. Like Fuji says, you may get an interview but that's about it.
At the very best, you may get a clearance for a CR-4 position which is basically a secretary position for a casual temp. Note that Federal departments have a restriction on casual temps that they cannot work for one department more than 90 working days within one calendar year. Makes no difference if you leap tall buildings in a single bound or are the absolutely perfect employee. After 90 working days in a calendar year, you're gone. Full stop.
Sorry to be a downer, my friend, but you're going to have a tough road if you're looking for a Federal position. Can't speak for Provincial though.
Come on now, is this really true? Do they actually have quotas for minorities?The reality is that you already have two strikes against you: white and male.
With Federal, it's 2% X number of years pensionable service. 30 years will get you 60% of the average salary of your best 5 years. Need to be there 35 years to get 70% and it doesn't get any higher.The 70 % pension is only if you have worked there for at least 30 years, and contributed to the public sector pension plan. And, it's not up to 70 % at the federal level.
