Employment Opportunities at the OPC

Tips for applicants

Resume Tips - What Does It Take to Get Screened In?

• Read the entire job advertisement closely (including the notes) before applying. Review all of the Merit Criteria: the Essential Qualifications, Asset Qualifications, Operational Requirements and Organizational Needs.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter for each and every job you are applying for. Advertisements can vary, even for similar jobs.
• Keep your resume to 2-3 pages if at all possible, without leaving out essential details.
• Your resume and cover letter should be concise and relevant. Your resume is not your life story, rather a tool to get you to the assessment stage.
• Create a good first impression: clearly demonstrate how you meet all of the criteria and provide all the requested information.
• Prove and illustrate by using concrete examples that you have the required qualifications (i.e. experience, education and any other criteria that the poster advises may be used to screen/eliminate candidates).
• Don't just parrot the advertisement back at the employer; don't just say you have the experience, prove it with relevant details and examples. Here is one:
  “I use Word and WordPerfect to write letters, fax cover sheets, reports with tables and graphs, conduct mail merges and print labels.” This kind of approach is much more effective than saying something vague like: “I have extensive experience with word processing software”.
• Begin sentences with action words to describe your experiences and accomplishments (i.e. “developed file tracking spreadsheets” or “trained new employees”).
• List your work examples and accomplishments in the same order as they are identified in the Statement of Merit , ie, provide your education background, followed by experience details that address each of the experience qualifications in sequence, as they appear in the advertisement.
• You need not write about all the duties you've performed at every job, rather include those that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
• Acronyms can be confusing. Spell names and titles then follow with the acronym. e.g. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).
• Specify your language proficiency.
• Quantify your experience wherever possible. Cite numerical figures, time periods, efficiency improvements, etc. Demonstrate accomplishments due directly to your work (i.e. reduced office expenditures by 10%).
• List education and work experience starting with the most recent first.
• Don't forget: you can include relevant volunteer experience.
• Creating an effective resume may require writing several drafts and getting feedback from friends, co-workers or resume experts.
• Proofread your resume to ensure there are no spelling, grammar or typing errors.
• Don't include additional documentation unless requested to do so.
• Use a resume format that compliments you: chronological, functional, or combination.

Interview Tips - How do you “Ace” the Interview?

• Prepare, Prepare, Prepare before the interview! Think of real life work examples from your career that demonstrate the competencies, knowledge and abilities outlined in the Statement of Merit Qualifications.
• Preparation may include asking questions of the hiring manager, current incumbents in the position, and obtaining a work description from Human Resources. You want to know: “What's it like to work there?”
• Practice, Practice, Practice! Thinking of a good example “on the spot” is difficult, so take the time ahead of time to find good examples of past experiences. Practice answering hypothetical questions by yourself or with a friend. Hearing yourself respond to questions will help you assess if you need more practice.
  Example 1: “Interpersonal skills”: Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult client. How did you handle this situation?
  Example 2: Describe a situation when you encountered an individual who was less than polite and courteous.
• You will always know what competencies you will be evaluated on based on the advertisement. These are outlined in the statement of merit qualifications.
• Keep your answers concise and focused. Use the “star acronym” with your examples: S/T: describe the “situation and task”, A: describe the “action” which you took, R: describe the final “result”
• Monitor your body language. Make good eye contact, relax, smile, and take a deep breath between questions to relieve any stress. Remember, a lot of communication is non-verbal.
• Take a moment to think about your answer before speaking. Organize your thoughts first and do not worry about “pause times” between questions.
• If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or rephrase it.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer/s. For example, ask questions about the work environment, hours of work, and opportunities for growth & training.
• Be punctual and don't forget to bring a positive attitude!

More information on interviews: How to Get Ready for the Job Interview