Ontario Public Service Careers

VERONICA TUNZI, Staff Writer

Interest in government work never seems to wane. Positions are typically stable and well paid and offer excellent benefits. If you're interested in landing a government job, the Ontario Public Service (OPS -- the provincial government) should be on your list of potential employers.

OPS employees provide information and services to the public. The provincial government is the second largest employer in Ontario and has 1,800 locations across the province. From health care to social services and transportation to tourism, there are many departments where you can put your skills to good use. OPS divides jobs into 18 categories and hires for a range of positions, including youth program coordinators, librarians, forest firefighters, administrative assistants, food inspectors, policy analysts and much more.

To work for OPS, you must be legally entitled to work in Canada. The OPS is an equal opportunity employer and will accommodate people according to the Ontario Human Rights Code. It does not use hiring quotas (such as setting a minimum target for the number of visible minorities to be hired). The most qualified candidate is offered the position.

Why Work for OPS?
There are many benefits to working for OPS. It offers a flexible work environment, a culture of learning, and good work/life balance. The potential for growth and career development should also not be overlooked. As an OPS employee, you may be able to pursue training, education and professional development opportunities related to your job. Additionally, once you're working for the OPS, there's the possibility for mobility. Because internal applicants are considered before external ones, you have a good chance of scoring a different job within the OPS if you're looking for a change of scene. This means you can move forward with your career, all the while remaining with the same employer and thus retaining your seniority.

Searching for a Job
To begin searching for an OPS job, visit the careers website and use the search tool to narrow down what you're looking for. Most positions are posted for 10 days. Because there is a regular influx of new jobs, it's a good idea to either visit the site daily or subscribe to the job alert feature, which will send you an email every time a new job is listed in the career stream you select.

When looking at a particular job, read the posting carefully and don't forget to also click on "View Job Spec" at the bottom of the posting. This will bring you to a more detailed overview of the job specifications. It's important to have as much information about the job as possible so that you can create a strong application.

How to Apply
First off, you need to make sure you send in an application for a specific position that has been posted on the OPS Careers website. Submitting a general resumé and cover letter in the hopes that human resources will contact you when something suitable comes up is not a good strategy. Your application will be discarded.

Unless otherwise stated most positions on the OPS site require you to apply online. Craft a cover letter and resumé that specifically address the skills and requirements mentioned in the job posting. Go through all of the requirements and key words in the posting and elaborate on how you meet each of them. Be sure to discuss both your soft skills (such as teamwork, leadership, reliability) and your hard skills (the technical skills related to that particular job). And don't forget to include the Job ID# in your application!

You may only hear back several months after sending in your application for a position. In the meantime, you can check your application status via two methods. First, you can use the link provided in the acknowledgement email you receive when you apply for the position. By clicking on that link, you will be brought to a page that indicates the hiring process stage for that position. If you didn’t receive an acknowledgement email, you can enter the numerical portion of the Job ID# into the search field on the main OPS Careers page. This will direct you to a copy of the job posting and the competition status. If a couple of months have passed and you haven't heard back, it's not a bad idea to call human resources to follow up on your application.

The Hiring Process
The Ontario government typically does not use screening software to sort through applications. Actual human beings (usually OPS employees, but occasionally third party screening services) review each application submitted.

All applications are screened according to the same pre-determined scoring criteria. So, when a job is posted, a set of criteria is established, and then each applicant gets a score for each criterion. The top ranked candidates are invited to the next round. Often, this involves some form of additional assessment, be it a technical test, a writing test, a French test (for certain designated positions), or a presentation or role-playing exercise. After the testing or assessment is successfully completed, candidates move on to the interview.

The Interview
If you're called in for an interview, you are definitely one of the lucky ones! To prepare, review the job posting and the job specifications and get ready to answer questions about how your experience matches the requirements.

Interviews are normally conducted by a panel of two or three OPS employees. All candidates are asked the same questions and scored using the same rating scale, determined by a set of expected responses. Panel members will take notes based on your responses to the questions. The committee members will not copy down information from your resumé to their interview notes so, when answering questions, pretend that the panel has not read your resumé. Do your best to go through all of the experience and skills you mention in your application and elaborate as much as possible. Keep your answers relevant to the qualifications mentioned in the position. It's the best way to score points.

After the interview, be sure to send a thank-you email or note to your interviewers.

To read more advice on how to prepare for an interview, check out the OPS's top 10 interview tips.

Improving Your Chances
Getting your hands on an OPS job is very difficult. Fortunately, there are a few tips to get your foot in the door.

First of all, do your best to network. If you happen to know someone who works for the Ontario government, ask for help. Have them review your cover letter and resumé or put you in touch with someone who works in the department or ministry you're interested in. They may also be able to provide you with a contact in human resources.

Even if you don't know a current OPS employee, try to find one who might be able to give you leads or help you out. You can search the OPS employee directory to find an individual who works in a specific department or find an HR specialist. If you choose to contact an OPS employee, use good judgment and discretion as you network. Being a pest won't get you very far.

If you're considering applying for OPS jobs, contact someone in HR for an information interview. During this interview, bring a portfolio, transcripts or other materials to show your contact. Not only is this a good opportunity for the HR representative to put a face to your name, but it also allows you to find out any special information about hiring procedures or potential upcoming positions.

If you weren't hired for a position you applied for, ask the HR manager or someone on the hiring committee for a follow-up interview. This can help you determine how you can strengthen your application and how to be better prepared for next time.

Some people land permanent jobs with the Ontario government by first taking part in internship programs, such as the Ontario Internship Program, the MNR Internship Program and the OPS Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals. Youth can participate in the Summer Experience Program, a seven-week full-time position that runs between May and Labour Day.

Overall, getting a job with OPS requires persistence. If you don't get a job the first time you apply, keep at it and hopefully something will eventually come through.

A Note on French Language Proficiency
Approximately five per cent of permanent positions within the OPS require both French and English language skills. If French language proficiency is a requirement of a particular position, this will be stated in the job posting. To perform bilingual positions at the OPS, you will either need to have "advanced" or "superior" verbal and written language skills (as specified in the posting).

At the advanced level, you should be able to discuss work-related matters with some ease, express opinions, participate in meetings and discussion groups, and write simple letters and reports related to the position. While you may need help handling complicated issues and may sometimes use literal translations in your writing, you have a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary and have some sense of what is grammatically and stylistically correct in French.

At the superior level, you speak French with sufficient accuracy and can effectively participate in most formal and informal conversations, use idiomatic expressions and specific vocabulary in both verbal and written forms, deliver verbal presentations, and recognize awkwardness in sentence structure and paragraphs. Errors in spelling and grammar are minor and infrequent.

It is important to clearly state your French language skills in your cover letter and resumé. If your knowledge, skills and abilities match those listed in the job description, you may be called in for an interview and/or asked to participate in a language evaluation. Qualified language evaluators employed by the OPS will conduct language proficiency exams using standards developed by the Ontario Government. You need to possess the required language skills to be appointed to positions that require French. So before applying for these types of jobs, make sure your French is up to snuff.