This article is written by Rell DeShaw, Manager, Government of Canada, and occasional blogger.

During the global pandemic, the job market is certainly shifting and this is a tough time for many who are losing their jobs. That said, I think that governments around the world will continue to do important work to help all of us get through this. If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and do some hard work to land a job in your local or national government, I have some tips that may help you along the way.

My main message is that while government hiring managers make the final decision, there are many things you can do as a job-seeker to stand out in a positive way.

I have spent over a decade hiring people at many levels (from entry-level workers including recent graduates up to the manager level). I have led or helped lead several large hiring processes and reviewed hundreds of resumes. Though I have occasionally found the needle in the haystack (I once found a gem of an employee in a group of 10,000 resumes), these tips will help you shine to prospective managers.

Though my tips are rooted in the Canadian context, many are applicable elsewhere.

What hiring managers wish that you knew

Move quickly — even if the system doesn’t: As hiring managers, we often want to hire quickly, but are often prevented from doing so — in large part because we are trying to be fair and transparent in our hiring. That said, some managers are authorized to hire people quickly (often for shorter periods of time). To help us help you, please respond quickly if we contact you for any reason.

Don’t let avoidable mistakes rule you out: Our “want ads” may not stay up for very long. This does not mean that the process is less than genuine. Short application windows are a way to manage huge volumes given that we can expect hundreds of applications a day. Be diligent about visiting job websites daily and follow instructions to the letter. After looking at hundreds of applications, it is frustrating and sometimes heartbreaking when you cannot consider an application because the person didn’t meet a deadline or didn’t follow the instructions. For example, if you are asked to list your courses in a certain specialization and you merely list your degree, be prepared to be eliminated from further consideration in the hiring process.

This piece of advice may be the most important: do what you can to keep your spirits up

Bring your A-game: We hope that you will treat every interaction with a potential hiring manager, human resources official and administrative assistant like an audition for working with the team: Please bring your “A game” for every exchange with every member of our office. This means being polite and professional as well as proof-reading your emails for typos (and especially ensuring that you are giving us correct contact information for yourself and your references).

Things you can do to break into government

Be prepared to send a “cold” email or request an information meeting with prospective managers in areas where you’d like to work. It may be nerve-wracking but if you are professional in your approach you have nothing to lose and much to gain. Some tips:

  • Use whatever leads you can find. For example, our government has a directory of workers online. Target managers for whom you’d like to work, making explicit links between your experience and the work you’d like to do for them. Make it short — managers will appreciate the brevity.
  • Create a short (one to three page), polished CV to share, accompanied by a short email “pitch” about who you are and what position you are hoping to land. Strong email and document titling is also very helpful (“seeking work as an HR assistant” vs. “reaching out”).
  • Highlight any government-specific qualifications that you have in your products.

Suggested inclusions:

  • Your security clearance
  • Your language profile
  • Your availability for work and what kinds of work you’d accept (part-time, shift);
  • Past government experience including as a student; and
  • Information pertaining to whether you have already been found qualified for any government jobs (regardless of whether you have actually been offered the job). Here, details are important (which Department, which year, which process number etc.)

Update your Linkedin profile — this will show that you are serious about job hunting, and some employers are also using it for headhunting.

If you’re not sure what government job is right for you, LinkedIn can also be a good place to start. Use LinkedIn to find public servants with skill profiles that match what you are looking for (i.e., managers in health policy). If they agree to connect, see if they’re willing to tell you more about their job, so you can sense if a similar role might be a good fit for you. If you see a want ad for an interesting position, but you are not quite qualified, you may still wish to see if the poster contains a name of a hiring manager or a staffing advisor to whom you could send your CV. If nothing else, you’ll be able to express your interest in similar positions.

This last piece of advice may be the most important: do what you can to keep your spirits up. Job hunting can be a slog. Try to strike a balance between job-hunting and activities that keep you healthy and nourish your spirit. Keep at it — we always need good people. — Rell DeShaw

(Picture credit: Unsplash)