Everything you ever wanted to know about applying to the Public Service Commission

If you have wanted to apply to the Public Service Commission of Canada (and work for the Feds), the Canada Public Service Agency has a page that details the entire process from initial application to selection.

In addition, you should also take a look at:

• Canadians applying to the Public Service Commission
• Graduate Recruitment (time to get your application into the general pool; exams start in late-September)
• Jobs Open to the Public (yes, they hire librarians)
• The infamous PSC tests
  

No, bilingualism is not always a requirement (check the posting) but something to strive for with the programs the Feds have in place to achieve a bilingual work force.

There are lots of wonderful cities to work in in Canada (OHMIGOD Ottawa...except in January, even I'm not that tough), and with the Feds, you might be able to work in several while contributing to work of the government, as well as assisting all Canadians.

Lies told on resumes

Ten tall tales told on resumes.

Some of these are caught because they are proofreading errors (in the military before conception), but what makes me really curious is the checks that employers have in place to discover if someone is lying. For example, how many employers still call references? Do you Google search a candidate to see if they have a digital footprint? Do you verify degrees? The survey doesn't say, do you regularly check to verify the accuracy of claims and if yes, how?

Day in the life of a public health librarian

Day in the life of a public health librarian. Techie, lots of SL. If you like technology, consider focusing your job search energy on the health care industry.

Job Diary 2008

Use this template to keep track of the effectiveness of the methods that you used in your job search. Why would you do this? Because people forget about the methods that they used to find work—and they don’t know how to look again the next time. This doesn’t mean that methods will stay the same, but that if it worked once, try it again. I would bet good money that you don’t remember where you heard about your current job if you have had the same job for more than 2 years.

Check the box if yes. Nothing if not used. Do not “maybe” or other waffling: did it work or not?

You should also close the job. When did you give up? Would you apply again? This helps you keep track of dead ends: if nothing is happening—no matter how much you want to work for them—do you keep trying? Define success: did you get an interview? Is success a job offer? Make your own definition.

 Job Diary 2008

Day in the life of a libary wiki

Day in the life of a library wiki...you can add what you or your library does to this wiki. Day in the life postings are really useful if you are interviewing for a position that has some gaps in the posting or if you are transitioning (i.e. academic to public) within the library profession. A more in-depth resource is an information interview, but you might not have enough time to line one up before your employment interview. Or you're just exploring the options, feeling the temperature of the water in the pool but not ready to jump in.