Our hiring process

Wondering what the hiring process at the BC Public Service is all about? Well, here’s your chance to find out. Below you’ll find details about our process as well as information, TIPS and a video that will help you find that perfect job. So what are you waiting for? Check out the information below to assist you in creating or editing a resume profile, searching for job opportunities and applying at the BC Public Service. Further questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Applying

Step 1: Create your profile

• Begin your search by creating an online resume profile. If you are a BC Public Service employee, your profile has already been created for you, you just need to complete it. You can edit your profile at any time and use it to apply to multiple jobs with the BC Public Service. Here are the steps to edit/submit your resume:
  
  
  • Go to the Career Centre tab.
  • Click on “Edit my profile”.
  • You will notice a section called “Your Resume” – copy and paste your resume and cover letter (if required) into this section.
  • When you are finished, hit Save at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Adding your resume and cover letter (if required)

• Using the copy and paste function is the easiest way to add your resume and cover letter (if required - click for more info here) into your profile. If a posting contains instructions to provide a cover letter, you have the option of adding it to your application by copying and pasting it before your resume in your profile as one document. This is the only method that can assure your cover letter is received for the position to which you are applying. Check out our video on how to paste your cover letter and resume into your profile. 
  
  
• You can also type a summary of your employment history, job skills, qualifications and education directly into your profile. It’s that easy! Before completing your online profile, be sure to tell us if you’d like to be considered for other career opportunities which match your qualifications. When you first complete your profile there is a statement at the bottom which asks: Would you like to be considered for positions applicable to your qualifications? You will have a chance to say yes or no.

Step 3: Search for jobs

• Once you have created a resume profile, you are ready to search for opportunities at the BC Public Service. Simply go to our employment site to access the career opportunities. You may choose to view all opportunities or narrow your search using a number of criteria. You may also want to consider using our automated job search agent, to do your searching for you. Choose “My job search agents” on the Career Centre page to create a search alert which will notify you when a position matching your pre-defined criteria becomes available.

Step 4: Apply

• Once you have searched our employment site for available jobs and found one for which you want to apply, or you have used the job search agent, simply click on the job title link to view the posting. If you are ready to apply, click “Submit your Resume” at the bottom of the posting. Remember, if you want to customize your resume for this specific position or add a cover letter (if required), you will need to go back into the Career Centre and edit your resume BEFORE you apply for a vacancy. Once you hit “Submit your Resume”, the information in your profile becomes your electronic application for that position and cannot be changed. 
  
  
• Many postings contain a questionnaire which you will need to answer as part of the application process. If a questionnaire is used, it will be noted in the job posting and you are advised to allow up to 20 minutes to answer the questions. You will want to have a copy of your resume handy as the questions will be about your education and experience. You only have one opportunity to answer the questions as you will not be able to go back and view or edit your answers, so make sure you have your information close by and you have sufficient time to complete the questionnaire.
  
  
• Once you have completed the application process, you will receive an email notification to confirm your application has been received. This is your verification that we have received your electronic application. If you want to verify that your application has been received, simply go to your Career Centre, and under Submission History it will show you the positions you have applied on.
  
  
• If you wish to apply for multiple positions, you will need to submit your profile for each job to which you want to apply. If you want to customize your resume for each position, remember that you need to do so BEFORE you hit submit. Ensure you submit an up-to-date resume profile whenever you apply for a position, as only your most recent resume profile is kept in the system.
  
  
• Track the status of your application process through the Employment Opportunities Website any time. You can view all of your past applications with the BC Public Service by choosing “Submission History” on the Career Centre page.
  
  Click on the image below to find out more information about your submission history.

Selection

• We review all of the applications and choose those candidates whose qualifications most closely meet our requirements. For more information on writing your resume, view the resumes and interview section.

• We may 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.

• As part of the selection process, you may be asked to come in for 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, review the competencies section. 

• All appointments to and from within the BC Public Service are based on the principle of merit. Past work performance is a factor of merit. Our policy requires that an assessment of past work performance must be conducted for each appointment and will include an employment reference from a supervisor or equivalent. Past work performance checks usually are the final step in our recruitment process, however they may be conducted earlier. 

Final steps

• The BC Public Service is committed to providing you with information on the status of your application to a competition. You may be notified at different points throughout the recruitment process including the final results of the competition. After you are notified of the final results, if you are interested in receiving feedback, you may wish to follow-up with the hiring team.

• If you have been selected as our successful candidate, we usually verbally offer you the position first, followed up by an online offer of employment in your Career Centre. Together, we will decide on an appropriate start date.

Application Tips

1. Take the time to ensure that all your application information (resume and cover letter) is complete BEFORE YOU APPLY, as you will not be able to go back and change your information once you’ve hit submit.
   
   
2. Check your resume in your profile. You may want to add additional details or emphasize certain parts of your experience to help make it easier for the hiring manager to see how you meet the requirements of the position. If a cover letter is required, do this as a piece of text with your resume. This ensures it will be part of the application and there will be no mistakes.
   
   
3. The format of the resume and any additional text in your profile does not matter. Because this system is a database, the focus is on the words and content, not the format. It is advised to remove elaborate formatting from your resume to make it very simple and easy to read in this format. The appearance of a resume (apart from issues like spelling and grammar) is not a consideration in assessing applicants.
   
   
4. Review all the information about ‘how to apply’ BEFORE you start the process – and make sure you have given yourself uninterrupted time to focus on this task. Check out our Career Advisor Blog videos with helpful tips and information on the application process.
   
   
5. Once you’ve applied for the position, you may want to reset your resume to a more generic version, without any specific covering material intended for one job. This will ensure you don’t inadvertently apply to one job with a resume tailored for another.
   
   
6. Be sure to view the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website for more information BEFORE you apply.

If you have any questions about the hiring process or experience any technical difficulties, please send an email to BCPSA.Hiring.Centre@gov.bc.ca.