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Hi all,
If you don't mind, I need some feedback about my recruiting escapade.
A few days ago, I submitted an application for Signal Officer. This is my third submission to be part of the Canadian Forces.
My first application was in 2010 for ROTP Nurse Officer, while I was at university. I had an interview, a medical check up, and a CFAT test. I was not selected: I was told by an officer that I was not selected due to strong competition.
Meanwhile, after a short but successful career in nursing, I decided that I had reached my limit from this profession; I already worked in six different hospitals (in three different provinces), experienced emergency and critical care, and was starting to get bored. Moreover, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and this brought me a different perspective on life. I submitted a second application for the CF in 2012, this time as (1) Infantry Officer (2) Artillery Officer, and (3) Armour Officer. No interview was done; the staff told me that they had all the information they needed from the last interview and that another interview would not be necessary. I was not selected.
This month (January 2013) I submitted another application, this time for (1) Signals Officer, (2), Infantry Officer, and (3) Artillery Officer. Since forces.ca shows that Signals is in demand, I jumped on the opportunity; I have a strong background computer science and telecommunication.
Interestingly, I received an email the day after I sent my online application, asking to call the nearest recruitment centre. After doing so, the staff asked me questions about my education and experience, and the reason I was selecting these professions. A different person called me later the same day, explaining that all of these career paths were full (for the time), and that the only viable option for me was, very specifically, *Aerospace Control Officer*. He explained he had a negative opinion of Signals Officer path and that infantry was most likely too competitive for me.
In addition, I was informed that based on the data I submitted, I would be an excellent candidate for Aerospace Control Officer, but that the offer was "outsourced" and could become unavailable any time soon. Basically, I had to take a quick decision now. So I told him I would at least think it over until morning, but he *insisted* that the offer might not be available by tomorrow... I got to admit this seems odd.
Coincidentally, my father was an excellent air traffic controller, and I learned some aspects of the job. Because of the time frame imposed by this recruiter, and because of my very strong interest for the CF, I accepted the offer. The sergeant explained they couldn't find all of my applications and that they needed to contact the other recruiting centres were I applied to gather all my files before my interview. I asked the staff if my CTAS was acceptable, since I wasn't competitive from my last applications. They told me that I "qualified as an officer".
My questions are:
1. If the staff told me they had to gather my files, how is it that they already know my CTAS score? I'm guessing it's on database somewhere, where it's easily retrievable.
2. Considering the very short time frame and limited selection I was offered, do these openings happen often like this? If so, why did he asked me to take a decision at that very moment?
3. If they know my CTAS score, than I assume they wouldn't have offered this position before checking. And if they have it, I'm guessing it's at least in the 60 percentile for this particular application?
4. Considering an average of A- at university, 12 years of experience in computer science, 5 years of experience in leadership positions, being bilingual and in excellent shape, how would you venture my chances of being selected?
5. If after this third application I am not selected, I will start applying for NCM positions, as many are actually quite interesting. If so, are my chances any different? (If I just can't make it, I would rather be part of the CF than the FFL ;-)
6. When they called to inform me that I wasn't selected, I asked each officer the specific reasons. Both times they were unable to tell me anything else other than that I was not selected "in the final rounds". Is this purely out of competitiveness or maybe they really had no idea why?
Finally, army.ca was and still is a jewel of information for all recruits. Thank's a bunch for this. :cdnsalute:
If you don't mind, I need some feedback about my recruiting escapade.
A few days ago, I submitted an application for Signal Officer. This is my third submission to be part of the Canadian Forces.
My first application was in 2010 for ROTP Nurse Officer, while I was at university. I had an interview, a medical check up, and a CFAT test. I was not selected: I was told by an officer that I was not selected due to strong competition.
Meanwhile, after a short but successful career in nursing, I decided that I had reached my limit from this profession; I already worked in six different hospitals (in three different provinces), experienced emergency and critical care, and was starting to get bored. Moreover, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and this brought me a different perspective on life. I submitted a second application for the CF in 2012, this time as (1) Infantry Officer (2) Artillery Officer, and (3) Armour Officer. No interview was done; the staff told me that they had all the information they needed from the last interview and that another interview would not be necessary. I was not selected.
This month (January 2013) I submitted another application, this time for (1) Signals Officer, (2), Infantry Officer, and (3) Artillery Officer. Since forces.ca shows that Signals is in demand, I jumped on the opportunity; I have a strong background computer science and telecommunication.
Interestingly, I received an email the day after I sent my online application, asking to call the nearest recruitment centre. After doing so, the staff asked me questions about my education and experience, and the reason I was selecting these professions. A different person called me later the same day, explaining that all of these career paths were full (for the time), and that the only viable option for me was, very specifically, *Aerospace Control Officer*. He explained he had a negative opinion of Signals Officer path and that infantry was most likely too competitive for me.
In addition, I was informed that based on the data I submitted, I would be an excellent candidate for Aerospace Control Officer, but that the offer was "outsourced" and could become unavailable any time soon. Basically, I had to take a quick decision now. So I told him I would at least think it over until morning, but he *insisted* that the offer might not be available by tomorrow... I got to admit this seems odd.
Coincidentally, my father was an excellent air traffic controller, and I learned some aspects of the job. Because of the time frame imposed by this recruiter, and because of my very strong interest for the CF, I accepted the offer. The sergeant explained they couldn't find all of my applications and that they needed to contact the other recruiting centres were I applied to gather all my files before my interview. I asked the staff if my CTAS was acceptable, since I wasn't competitive from my last applications. They told me that I "qualified as an officer".
My questions are:
1. If the staff told me they had to gather my files, how is it that they already know my CTAS score? I'm guessing it's on database somewhere, where it's easily retrievable.
2. Considering the very short time frame and limited selection I was offered, do these openings happen often like this? If so, why did he asked me to take a decision at that very moment?
3. If they know my CTAS score, than I assume they wouldn't have offered this position before checking. And if they have it, I'm guessing it's at least in the 60 percentile for this particular application?
4. Considering an average of A- at university, 12 years of experience in computer science, 5 years of experience in leadership positions, being bilingual and in excellent shape, how would you venture my chances of being selected?
5. If after this third application I am not selected, I will start applying for NCM positions, as many are actually quite interesting. If so, are my chances any different? (If I just can't make it, I would rather be part of the CF than the FFL ;-)
6. When they called to inform me that I wasn't selected, I asked each officer the specific reasons. Both times they were unable to tell me anything else other than that I was not selected "in the final rounds". Is this purely out of competitiveness or maybe they really had no idea why?
Finally, army.ca was and still is a jewel of information for all recruits. Thank's a bunch for this. :cdnsalute: