Careers in the federal public service
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What you'll get
Each of us has different priorities at any given time.
The public service has a compensation package with benefits that will appeal to you at all the various stages of your life and career.
Compare our total compensation package with those of other employers and you'll see the advantages of a career with us. The package includes:
- Opportunities for advancement
- Access to continuous learning
- Access to employment security and mobility
- Vacation leave and holidays
- Numerous types of leave
- Generous insurance, pension plan, dental and health care plans
- Flexible work arrangements
- Fair salary
- Safe and healthy physical environment
Opportunities for advancement
There are many openings for qualified employees who are seeking new challenges and promotions.
Management opportunities are offered through various programs, including:
- Career Assignment Program
- Management Trainee Program
- Accelerated Executive Development Program
- Pre-Qualified Pool of Executives
Access to continuous learning
The public service is committed to maintaining an educated and knowledgeable workforce.
On-going professional and personal development is a key method of meeting this objective.
We encourage professionally-oriented training that helps you stay current and even run ahead. There are also personal development courses to help you explore other career choices or to enhance your opportunities for advancement in your field.
Some long-term training programs allow employees to complete or undertake a degree while still employed. Sometimes we even pay!
Access to employment security and mobility
The public service provides employment security for its employees to the greatest extent possible.
Should a job be declared redundant, we strive to find the affected individual alternative employment.
As well, when a spouse is relocated, we try to find the employee a job in the same location.
The ability to move within an organization, between organizations and between regions of Canada offers mobility not often found with other employers.
Vacation leave and holidays
While specific entitlements are defined in various collective agreements, in general employees have:
- 15 days of vacation after one year of employment
- 20 days after 8 years
- 25 days after 18 years
- 30 days after 29 years
In addition there are 11 paid statutory holidays each year.
Numerous types of leave
Numerous types of leave are available to employees of the public service. The main ones are:
- 15 days of paid sick leave per year
- leave with pay for family-related responsibilities
- other paid leave, (e.g., for marriage, bereavement)
- education leave
- self-funded leave
- parental leave
- leave for the care of preschool-age children
- leave for personal needs
- leave for the long-term care of a parent
In addition, certain professional categories of jobs offer even more types of leave.
Generous insurance, pension plan, dental and health care plans
Benefits generally include:
- dental and health care plans, with coverage for prescription drugs, vision care, paramedical practitioners, and hospitalization for you and your family
- disability insurance
- a competitive pension plan
- a death benefit
Flexible work arrangements to help balance your personal and professional lives
Many public service organizations, depending on the type of work performed, allow employees to work flexible hours or a compressed work week.
Alternative work arrangements such as telework are also becoming more commonplace in the public service.
Fair salary
The public service offers fair salaries and, for some occupational groups, the rates of pay are considered very competitive.
Safe and healthy physical environment
The public service provides a physical work environment that meets and exceeds the norms followed by other sectors.
Specific technological aids are provided for persons with disabilities when required.
Let us know about your skills and expertise. Take advantage of the ease of application.