The Competition Process
Competitions for appointments to Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service positions follow a standard process that is based on merit. This process is designed to identify candidates who best demonstrate the requirements provided in the Screening, and Assessment Criteria sections of the career opportunity ad.
The Public Service Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador strives to provide an inclusive recruitment experience. If there is an accommodation or adjustment that may help meet your needs throughout the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@gov.nl.ca, 709-729-0130 or toll free at 1-888-729-7690. Video Relay Service (VRS) calls are welcomed. Please provide as much notice as possible, so a Selection Board Chair can evaluate your request. For common potential accommodations and adjustments during the recruitment process, click here. Accommodation information will be kept confidential.
How to Apply
Public and internal career opportunities are listed on the GNL Career Centre.
- Public - Anyone can apply for a public career opportunity. To work for the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or have written authorization to work in Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Preference will be given to applicants who are legally authorized to work in Canada.
- Internal - To apply for an internal career opportunity applicants must be employed by a GNL entity under the Public Service Commission Act or hold lay-off status from such an entity as per Government's Human Resource policies, or any applicable collective agreement.
- An explanation of eligibility criteria for internal competitions including eligible GNL entities, is provided here.
To apply for a career opportunity, select "Apply Now". A user account is required to apply for career opportunities. Your account can be created from the "Your Account" login page during the application process. E-mail notifications will be sent to you when important updates related to the status of your application have been posted to your account.
The application is an opportunity for you to make a great first impression. Ensure that your application meets the screening criteria listed in the career opportunity ad for which you are applying. Additional documentation, including a cover letter or professional certifications may also be included with the application. The following resource is provided to help you with preparing an application.
Selection Boards
Competitions are conducted by a Selection Board that includes a Selection Board Chair and a Departmental Representative. A Selection Board Chair leads the competitive process, ensures merit, and confirms adherence to Public Service Commission policies and procedures. A Technical Advisor or Observer may also be included as a Selection Board member with the approval of the Selection Board Chair.
Applicant Screening
The Selection Board will review your application to ensure that the Screening Criteria listed in the career opportunity are clearly met. Applicants that do not meet mandatory screening criteria will not progress to further phases of the competition. If your application meets mandatory screening criteria, then additional screening may occur based on the candidate pool for the specific competition.
Assessing Candidates
If you progress beyond resume screening, then you will be invited to take part in an assessment. The purpose of this assessment is to measure the competencies listed in the Assessment Criteria section of the career opportunity ad. Assessments usually include an interview and may include other forms of evaluation such as written exercises, electronic testing, presentations, work samples, or other methods. The following resource is provided to help you with the assessment process and is focused on preparing for an interview.
Candidate Selection
When the assessment has been completed the Selection Board Chair prepares a competition summary that is sent to the Permanent Head or CEO responsible for final candidate selection. The summary includes a recommendation of potential candidates in ranked order based on a holistic assessment. Candidate ranking considers several factors such as differences in demonstrated competency, work experience, and training. Reference checks are completed on the selected candidate.
Feedback
You may log into your account at any time to view notifications informing you of the status of your application. Notifications also provide contact information for the Selection Board Chair who can be contacted if you would like to request feedback or inquire about the competition process.
Request for Competition Review
After seeking and receiving feedback from the Selection Board Chair, if you still perceive that there was procedural unfairness in the competitive process you may contact the Public Service Commission Corporate Services Division to make a formal request for review.