If one has no connections, is there really any viable way to a government job?

Between the US and Canada (local and provincial in Canada, everything in the US) its been something I have worked on for 15-20 years without any success.

Seems to get in as an outsider you really do need to someone on the inside or have a very specific hard to fill skill, or be able to work in a position that hires on a larger scale such as police or border which is not an option.


Gov't seems to the only viable way to a decent income and retirement, hence why I try so much to get something.....


It's just anecdotal evidence and the few I used to know in person who work for a government entity were all related so can't tell me they were just all lucky to get the job, and not just a job but in the same dept at the same agency...lol.....

Hitman.

Bats can give you some pointers.

There may be nepotism and cronyism, but mostly, like any other job, it's down to qualifications and experience. It is ever tougher for those who don't take the time to get some qualifications to even get a foot in the door.

Or clowns.

All circuses need clowns

I know it's not Canada or the US but I got my government job by first doing a load of temp work. I managed to find an agency that contracts to the department I wanted to work in then registered, wowed them with my skills and got a few temp roles. One or 2 were only for a matter of days but I never said no if a hospital wanted me. After doing that for a bit I got offered a 3 month temp job which turned into 6 months. Then another 6 month temp job at another hospital. While I worked for an agency I was making contacts and showing that I was a good worker willing to go beyond the basics of my job. When a permanent job at another hospital was advertised I had references from coworkers and doctors.

Where my permanent job is I also make a point of being available when needed - my consultants and the registrars have my mobile number and my home email. They know not to abuse it but that they can contact me after hours if they need something. In turn I'm now on my 4th secondment at higher duties pay because I have proven I'm worth investing in.

Let me just say though that the days of a government job being secure and for life are gone. My job is on the line now (massive job cuts in my state) and my sister, who had worked in government all her career went from an office of 8 people to just her and one other before she packed it in. Job cuts, cuts to budgets, increased workloads. It's not a cushy ride anymore.

I know that with union jobs the hirer is often forced to go through the motions of recruitment but then has to give the job to union members before the general public if they fit the job requirements. This means a lot of recruitment efforts are in vain. Having said that outside people do get hired.

I'm another one who got a municipal government job here through temping. Someone I knew happen to mention that the municipality had its own in-house temping agency so I applied when they advertised and got in. It then took me just over two years of temping jobs before I found a job I was covering where they asked me to apply and I had the opportunity to try it and liked it so thought why not! Working in their internal temp agency puts you above external applicants but below union staff in the hierarchy so it gets you further up the list so to speak. After 8 years I still don't qualify as 'permanent' - a lot of the roles are two year project positions but a lot of people make a career or moving from one role to another.

I know others who got jobs as temps from outside agencies - they found which agencies the municipality used, got in as a temp and the employer liked them so much they got hired in a recruitment drive.

Apparently even people who worked one time as a summer lifeguard for the municipality get pushed up the list above the general public in job competitions.

I also know that the University here in Calgary has a running temporary staff ad so maybe there are places near you that might have something similar?

Great analysis. You summed up perfectly everything I find annoying about unions in most hiring scenarios. Once you get into a government position it is virtually impossible to fire a person. Very similar to tenure.

My wife is in the administrative office side of a school board and her stories of the union and its power makes my blood boil.

I don't consider any job for life, just the pay in the gov't sector is better vs the private sector.

That is the only interest I have in a govt job, the better pay.


I don't know if the local muni uses temp agencies, the only the place I find their job is on the city website. I have applied to temp agencies in general though, but they have anything it seems as they never call and ignore any calls I make and never call back.


Biggest issue in Squamish was unless a high up manager in the muni none of the lower level people ever leave as there is nothing in that town they could make the same level of pay in the private sector.

Probably the same in other city's. Pay is too good to leave for many I am sure.

I am not the most skilled person out there, but some of the jobs are within my skill level.


I'd gain more skills if the gov't would make education affordable, but right now the tuition is beyond our ability to pay.The willingness to learn new skills is there, the financial part of paying the school is just no an option at the moment.

I don't think it's consistently the case that government jobs pay better, traditionally that hasn't been true. As a contractor I've sat a desks next to people doing essentially the same job in Ottawa, in Gatineau and in Washington. I've been paid two or three times rate per hour that the employees were getting. Indeed, at Revenue Canada in the early 1990s, most of the employees had other jobs or businesses as they could not reasonably live on their salaries.

What government jobs offer is tenure and benefits and these can be worth more than pay. If, for example, you intend to have lots of children and to take maternity leave, then a government job is perfect. If you intend frequent illness then I'd say a government job is ideal. If you have a big project in your life, say building a house, then a rest from 9 to 5 might be nice or you could use that time to be on the phone arranging things.

Apart from social connections, advantages in pursuing government positions might be citizenship and speaking French. Oh, and qualifications in the field which the department regulates might be useful, academic ones though, practical ones not so much. For example, the Milk Board likely wouldn't want dairy farmers but might be keen on the holder of a Masters in Lactation.

'Special interest' movies you mean?

If UK government jobs were as good as people say they are here, I'd probably be living in Vancouver or maybe Westmount, Montreal now.

They aren't permanent jobs but Statistics Canada has a fair few jobs going working on the long fir census. Have a look at the website

Now you mention that, there are temporary ones at election times too.

There is a lot of truth in what you say. My missus is a public servant. It's her second career after leaving the army. Her detox took several years but she's there now. Milking the system for everything she can. Decent salary for a middle-management position (approx 80k) on top of her army pension, plus shedloads of annual leave, sick days, study days, family days, dental insurance (two plans), drug insurance, etc etc. It's nigh-on impossible to get fired.

North Americans in general are fanatical about qualifications. The Canadian public service is obsessed with them.