MISSION IMPOSSIBLE : WORKING FOR DND

[brave little soldier]

I have been working for a DND contractor for 4 years as an International Consultant. I have assisted hundreds of military families relocate to and from all over the world.

I am familiar with all aspects of travel claims, IRP policies and procedures ; I am also familiar with DND : my husband is an officer, currently serving in Kabul...

I love my job but looking for new opportunities. My name has been in a pool of qualified AS people for DND Ottawa almost a year now ; I have a diploma in Accounting, diploma in Administration, diploma in International Trade and I am fluently bilingual, English C-E-C.

I thought I'd be getting an offer anytime... Well, that pool is about to expire and nothing has come out of it... How do people actually get to work for DND ??? Is there a password or something ?

Thank you !

 

[kincanucks]

brave little soldier,

Sometimes it looks like the Public Service is a secret club.  From people have told me getting hired in Ottawa is more difficult due to the target rich environment (lots of qualified applicants).  Hang on and keep trying.  Good Luck.

Kincanucks

 

[slowmode]

I have been working for a DND contractor for 4 years as an International Consultant. I have assisted hundreds of military families relocate to and from all over the world.

I am familiar with all aspects of travel claims, IRP policies and procedures ; I am also familiar with DND : my husband is an officer, currently serving in Kabul...

I love my job but looking for new opportunities. My name has been in a pool of qualified AS people for DND Ottawa almost a year now ; I have a diploma in Accounting, diploma in Administration, diploma in International Trade and I am fluently bilingual, English C-E-C.

I thought I'd be getting an offer anytime... Well, that pool is about to expire and nothing has come out of it... How do people actually get to work for DND ??? Is there a password or something ?

Thank you !

  From people I know who work at DND it took them A LONG time to get reply back. A couple of them even getting a reply two years after applying. I say keep up the hard work your doing and keep calling and asking .

 

[muffin]

My name has been in a pool of qualified AS people for DND Ottawa almost a year now

There are a few confusing aspects of the hiring process with the Public Service, one of which is the candidate pool. For bilingual AS positions in Ottawa, the AS pool could have been made up of hundreds of candidates. Ottawa is full of people deploying from one position to another, and priority transfers etc. These people are hired because they are easier to move - very little paperwork involved. Also, there are levels of priority -  If the pool was run closed and open at the same time, the closed competition candidates will have priority over the open ones - etc.

I am sure I understand the desire to switch from the contractor to the PS - as it is more job security and they will accomidate your husband's postings etc.

You may wish to look at trying for a lower level competition for now - CR4 -5 .... I know there is an AS3-5 competition running now as well but I am not sure if it is open to the public. Once you have your "foot in the door" you are eligible for Acting poisitions, deployments (position transfers - not overseas lol), secondments etc and would be able to get to a position in your preferred classification fairly easily. Many people come in at a level lower than they wanted, but find themselves where they'd like to be within a year or so.

Unfortuanly in Ottawa, the biligualism isn't as helpful, because the majority of people applying are biilngual, whereas in other parts of the country that can give you a huge advantage.

We have found as well, that with the "baby boomer" generation retiring from the CF and the new regulations concerning closed comeptitions and regforce/reserve members, there has been a huge influx of military members switching to civilian positions - they are able to apply to closed competitions while still military, and can then release to the civi position if they are sucessful. What you find then, is the AS positions are being filled by WO's and Capts/Majs who have either been in the field and doing the job for 20+ years - and/or who have Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Business Admin etc. That's some stiff competition.

Here in Kingston, I find a lot of former military taking the positions in my group (CS-computer systems) - a lot of the sig trades have IT/IS/IM components.

If I were you - I would apply for every single competition you qualify for - and you are bound to get something soon Ottawa lists 5-10 competitions a day it seems.

Best of luck to you!
muffin

 

[dapaterson]

My entry into DND:  Competition open to the public.  ROughly a year later, an invitation (at the last minute) to write a qualifying exam.  Several months elapse.  Informed I passed.  Next step will be interviews.  Months more elapse.  Informed that the competition was abandonned.

Flash forward five years.  Applied for an internal competition (full-time military at the time).  Exam four months after application; interview two months later; into qualified pool four months after that, intent to appoint posted two months after that; appointed four or five months later.  Second go round, all together, took about 18 months from application to being a public servant.

Remember that transfers are easier than new employees, so most managers will go that route if they can.

 

[Haggis]

My entry into DND:  Competition open to the public.  ROughly a year later, an invitation (at the last minute) to write a qualifying exam.  Several months elapse.  Informed I passed.  Next step will be interviews.  Months more elapse.  Informed that the competition was abandonned.

Flash forward five years.  Applied for an internal competition (full-time military at the time).  Exam four months after application; interview two months later; into qualified pool four months after that, intent to appoint posted two months after that; appointed four or five months later.  Second go round, all together, took about 18 months from application to being a public servant.

Well, that pretty well echoes my experiences working in a CS-03/AS-05 position (as an MWO) for 28 months.  Still involved in a competiton for said AS-05 job, which I entered in May.  Did the written exam last week (5 months).  I have changed CF jobs since then and will likely get another tour before the process is decided.

Brave Little Soldier be patient!

 

[brave little soldier]

People,

Thank you for your kind words and for showing support...  :warstory: Muffin, your comments were very especially appreciated, you thought me a few things about the process...

FastEddy, here is why I want to work for DND :

I am an ambitious person who doesn’t shy away from challenges! I thrive in a continuously evolving environment.  Consequently, I adapt to new situations and acquire new skills with enthusiasm. I am considered dynamic and extremely motivated. I accomplish my tasks rapidly, with acute precision and remarkable ease. Fully bilingual, I communicate very effectively in both official languages, orally and in writing. Highly effective interpersonal skills allow me to interact with people tactfully and positively. I am recognized for demonstrating strong work ethics and I am well respected among co-workers, clients and third parties. I have a true sense of fulfillment when, at the end of a day, I have the feeling that I went above and beyond what was expected of me.

Please explain the reasons why you reacted so negatively to my post : this way, I can better prepare for my next job interview... 

 

[Drag]

The big problem I see with many civilian positions in DND is that, even though they go to competition, the competitions are designed to hire a particular person who allready works in that department and all else is for show.  I know many people who accepted lower level positions to get their foot in the door so they can be that person around who the position requirements are designed.

 

[brave little soldier]

Hi Drag !

Yes, I know that I was interviewed and tested for one particular position just for show ; they already had someone in mind... Still, I am hopeful... 

 

[daftandbarmy]

Hello FastEddy,

I came across army.ca one night in September. I browsed the site and decided to create a profile. When prompted to find a nickname, the only one that came to my mind was brave little soldier.

My husband is an officer currently serving in Kabul. Needless to say, I do miss him terribly and some days are worst than others ... That was one of those days...

A Brave little soldier is a little boy who has to fight cancer...
A Brave little soldier is a little girl who has lost her kitten...
A Brave little soldier is anyone who faces challenges with courage and determination...

You are right : I have never worn the uniform and I have never held a gun... But I am a Brave little soldier.

So if you're really brave, why not try the private sector?

It sounds like you're well on your way to building a strong expertise in the HR field. Guess what? Most companies these days need good HR people due to current demographic shifts and other imperatives. Boldness, in your case, may mean edging away from the perceived security of a government job and pursuing the benefits and challenges available aplenty in the corporate world.

Fix bay'nets...

 

[Greymatters]

It sounds like you're well on your way to building a strong expertise in the HR field. Guess what? Most companies these days need good HR people due to current demographic shifts and other imperatives. Boldness, in your case, may mean edging away from the perceived security of a government job and pursuing the benefits and challenges available aplenty in the corporate world.

Hard to beat a government pension, not all corporate entities offer that...

 

[brave little soldier]

Indeed, I was self-employed for many years and enjoyed those years immensely. I was a successful, bold  8) business woman and I was self-centered. The tragedy of September 11th shook me to the core... If I had died that day, what would have been my greatest achievement ?  ???

My desire to work for DND (not just any other department) goes beyond the perceived security of a government job or a pension... I have the greatest admiration for its men and women and I want to do my part supporting the mission. 

If I was really really brave, and a few years younger, I might have considered becoming a real soldier...

 

[George Wallace]

bls

DND and the CF are not the only ones who are defending this country.  There are numerous Police and other Emergency Services.  There are other Government Departments.  There are numerous agencies involved in the defence of this country besides DND and the CF.

 

[the 48th regulator]

Hi BLS,

Have you made use of this site;

Public Sevice Commision Job Opportunities

DND advertises there, as well as all other Government Departments.  I made good use of it, before I bacame a PSE with DND.

dileas

tess

 

[brave little soldier]

Hello, the 48th regulator

Indeed, I have created a profile on that site and have applied to all positions that I qualify for. This is how I was interviewed and got my name in a pool.

I have also browsed other websites but find that most ads are posted by placement agencies. So I have also registered with one of them.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Folks, I cleaned out all the crap in the litter box that was this thread, I don't plan on having to do it again.

This is the only warning.
Thanks,
Bruce

 

[brave little soldier]

;D

There is hope : my husband tells me that he might get a contract (sigs) in Kingston upon his return from Kabul...

Wondering : would cutting my hair for a more mature look help me find a position with DND ?  :

 

[Loachman]

NO. And even if it did, it's not worth it.

 

[the 48th regulator]

;D

There is hope : my husband tells me that he might get a contract (sigs) in Kingston upon his return from Kabul...

Wondering : would cutting my hair for a more mature look help me find a position with DND ?  :

Depends,

What do you look like now?

dileas

tess


(This is for purely professional advice, however any boudoir shots, will gladfully be accepted via PM....)

 

[brave little soldier]

???

What do you mean, what do I look like now ? I look like my profile picture...  :-\