BC Public Service - Where ideas work

Our Hiring Process

You play a key role in the hiring process. As such, we want to give you a general overview of our process and provide you with information and advice to help you increase the likelihood of finding the job that best suits your interests and qualifications. The exact process you encounter will vary according to the organization and position to which you are applying.

Applying

• Once you have searched our employment site for available jobs and found one for which you want to apply, read the job posting carefully. Each posting will state the method(s) for applying and the documents being requested. The application methods and documents may vary, depending on the position.
• In your application, include the competition number of the position, which you will find listed on the job posting.
• Submit a separate application for each job to which you want to apply.
• Keep a record of the competition number and contact information listed on the posting in case you have questions later.

Selection

• First, we review all of the applications and choose those candidates whose qualifications most closely meet our requirements. To read the Resumes and Interviews section for information on writing your resume, click here.
• The next step in the selection process is usually an initial interview, which may happen in person or over the phone. We often use a team of interviewers, called a panel. Frequently, our interviewers will ask candidates competency-based questions. For more information on our competencies, as well as a video demo of this type of interview, click here.
• We may also ask candidates to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, competencies and other position-related requirements by using additional selection methods such as tests, presentations, role-plays and so on. The order and type of selection method will vary, depending on the type of position. When you are contacted by someone from the hiring team, feel free to ask for more information about the selection methods being used for the position to which you have applied.
• Reference checks are standard, usually as the final step in our process. Sometimes though, we may ask for your references earlier.

Final Steps

• It is our policy to contact all candidates once a selection decision has been made. If you were invited to participate in an interview or selection exercise, you may wish to follow-up with the hiring team after being notified of the hiring outcome. We sometimes receive applications from many well-qualified candidates and have to make difficult decisions. If you are not chosen for a particular job, please keep checking our employment site for other opportunities.
• If you have been selected as our successful candidate, we usually verbally offer you the position first, followed up by a formal, written offer letter. Together, we will decide on an appropriate start date.

 

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Resumes and Interviews

There are a few things to consider when applying for a position in the BC Public Service. Most importantly, is your resume up to date? Your resume is your "calling card" - your opportunity to make a favourable first impression. It's a summary of your skills, accomplishments and experience that pertain to the career objective you are pursuing. The right resume can help you to best meet your career goals and to get on the road to a rewarding future with the BC Public Service. Also, what happens if your resume does get noticed and you get an interview? Here are some pointers to help you showcase your attributes.

Get Noticed

• Read the job posting thoroughly so you can demonstrate how you meet the outlined requirements.
• Make sure that the information on your resume is current and accurately reflects your employment history and educational background.
• Make sure your resume shows how you to suit the position for which you are applying.
• Take some time to familiarize yourself with the organization to which you are applying. Visit their website to obtain information on their objectives and mandates. Many of these websites will contain the organization's Service Plan, which is extremely informative. You may also want to read our Corporate HR Plan.
• Keep your resume to a maximum of three pages.
• Check for spelling, grammar and formatting.
• If asked for a cover letter, address it to the individual listed on the posting.
• Provide contact information where you can be accessed during normal business hours and in the evenings.

Interview Advice

Congratulations! You've made it to the interview stage. This can be a nerve-racking experience for some, but it doesn't have to be. Remember, the hiring team has already deemed your skills and experience to be a good match for the position; this is your chance to show them why they should hire you and to highlight your knowledge and skills.

We often used competency-based questions in our interview process. To learn more about the BC Public Service competencies and to view a video of one candidate's interview experience, click here.

 

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Competencies and the BC Public Service

A common term you may come across during the hiring process with the BC Public Service is "competencies". So, what exactly are these and what do they mean? They are quite simply any behaviour or personal characteristic that a person demonstrates when doing a job and enables a person to do their job well.

View these two documents for an overview of the BC Public Service Competencies and their definitions.

Competency Based Interview Questions
More and more, the BC Public Service is not just looking to fill positions based on your knowledge, skills and abilities, but is looking for the right people to fit the role. This is why we often use competency-based questions or, what you may have heard referred to as behavioural interview questions, as part of the interview process. Relax. This is your opportunity to share your experiences and let us really get to know you.

Interview Videos

Watch the following videos to learn more about how we use competency based questions in our interviews.

Place your mouse above the video to activate controls to play, stop, seek, view full screen, and adjust volume.