Older Recruit - Several Questions (DEO)

[GPK90]

Hello All,

  I had a several questions regarding my potential application.  I would appreciate any insight and helpful input, especially from those with relevant and similar experience or circumstances.

First, like many threads or posts have inquired, I am an older applicant, 51 so considering my late age and the competitiveness and volume of applicants, is this even feasible?   I am currently living in New York and I am a dual citizen: Canadian born but naturalized in the US.  If I go through with the lengthy process, I will obviously travel to Toronto Recruiting Centre for my CFAT & TSD-PI.  Considering I am traveling further than 100km from the recruiting detachment, should I book the interview and medical exam on the same day?  The application indicates this in the Applicant Self Booking Portal section as there are no appointment date/time listings when I am logged in.  Has anyone done this entire process in one day?

I am enlisting as a DEO, with a BA in Anthropology, MA in Media & Communications as well as a Post-BA Certificate in Caucasus Area Studies.  I also have numerous undergrad and grad credits in courses predominantly in history, poli-sci, culture, humanities..etc.  I am interested in the INT or SIGS trade.  I did a summer at UTEP in Texas, an ACE ICE under the US Dept of Defense and was a grad student in the INT & Nat Security Studies.  I retained a 4.0 GPA and got a Boeing Def Contract scholarship at the time.  I also previously interviewed with a few agencies in Ottawa and the US: CSIS, CIA, ODNI for similar positions.  I read the INT/SIGS trades are not usually open to direct hire and more based on internal offers.  Can anyone confirm? I am not sure based on my background, I would qualify anyway, so considering the distance, time, and of course age as factors, is this worthwhile for me to attempt.

I also have an IT tech background and have numerous, albeit some expired industry certifications such as A+, Networks+, MCSE (2003), CCNA and a now defunct, CNE (Novell).  I am currently self studying for the CompTIA Security+ to renew my older expired certs as well as shift into cyber security.  Hence, my dual interest in SIGS as a potential trade. Do these have any merit for any of the trades and do they help a candidate with selection?  If so, would I need to bring these into the interview along with my transcripts?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Canadian_beast]

Hello All,

  I had a several questions regarding my potential application.  I would appreciate any insight and helpful input, especially from those with relevant and similar experience or circumstances.

First, like many threads or posts have inquired, I am an older applicant, 51 so considering my late age and the competitiveness and volume of applicants, is this even feasible?   I am currently living in New York and I am a dual citizen: Canadian born but naturalized in the US.  If I go through with the lengthy process, I will obviously travel to Toronto Recruiting Centre for my CFAT & TSD-PI.  Considering I am traveling further than 100km from the recruiting detachment, should I book the interview and medical exam on the same day?  The application indicates this in the Applicant Self Booking Portal section as there are no appointment date/time listings when I am logged in.  Has anyone done this entire process in one day?

I did my CFAT and about a month and half later I did my medical interview and 2 days after that I did my medical exam, I ran into problems on that which then takes more time. I’ve never heard of anyone doing the CFAT and medicals in one day. I hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GPK90]

I did my CFAT and about a month and half later I did my medical interview and 2 days after that I did my medical exam, I ran into problems on that which then takes more time. I’ve never heard of anyone doing the CFAT and medicals in one day. I hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the response.  As an OUTCAN, I have to contact Detachment Toronto for scheduling both the CFAT & medical exam.  I do not have the option through self booking on the application form.  I also have to submit an ICAS or WES assessment of my foreign education credentials and an FBI background check since I lived outside Canada prior to doing any exam scheduling.  All of that will take time.  It is a lengthy process but it seems I will have to do as much as possible when I am given the appointment and I am physically present to eliminate some travel time/expense.

 

[commander-cb]

Yes 51 is... might be okay.

 

[commander-cb]

Yes 51 is... might be okay.  Most kids are useless. They refuse to work - at all - opting to play with their phone.  I see it time and again. Over and over. Hard to believe that they literally do nothing.

 

[SpruceMoose330]

I did my CFAT and about a month and half later I did my medical interview and 2 days after that I did my medical exam, I ran into problems on that which then takes more time. I’ve never heard of anyone doing the CFAT and medicals in one day. I hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I first applied (about 10 years ago), I wrote my CFAT the same day I had my interview and medical exam. This was in Halifax, and it was for ROTP.
My most recent experience in Toronto indicates that its unlikely you'd do all your tests, exams, and interviews on the same day, however I do not see the harm in asking.

 

[WannaServe123]

Just saw this-if not too late:  you can schedule everything in a day, they offered me that possibility.  But be aware, candidates over 50 have some extra medical forms and blood tests to have done, even really fit and healthy over 50s.  This is my recent experience only-Once you get the medical exam performed by the CAF, they will give you a form to be filled out by your doctor and they will give you what they want for blood work.  IN Quebec, that meant scheduling 2 doc appointments:  1 to get doc to review blood work requisition and fill our blood work form, then another appointment with doc to review results.  I was lucky-private blood work results took less than 48 hours, and my doc was free for two appointments in rapid order.  I also had been diagnosed with sleep apnea in the past, and so I know I would be getting a third form to be filled out by my sleep specialist (respirologist) so I made that appointment as well.

I passed the physical at 52.5.  Good luck to you!

Wannaserve.