Online Application

Individuals can apply through the Department of Finance website until June 16, 2013. Applications submitted after this deadline or by other means (e.g., mail, fax) will not be considered.

When applying, you must complete a questionnaire, submit your résumé and a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position, and provide your university transcripts. You must also provide proof of membership or professional designation (Bar, Order of Notaries, accounting designation), if applicable.

We encourage you to review the application process in order to familiarize yourself with the information that is required to successfully apply. Please review your application carefully before submitting it as any omissions could lead to your application being rejected.

Screening Process

The first step in the screening process is to determine whether candidates meet the essential qualifications based on their application. In addition, one or more of the asset qualifications may be used to select candidates for an interview. For further information, please refer to the Job Poster and the Statement of Merit Criteria for the position you are applying for.

Only those applicants who qualify for an interview will be contacted.

Interviews in Ottawa

The Ottawa interviews are expected to take place at the Department of Finance in the months following the closing date. Candidates may have to assume their own travel expenses to attend these interviews. Additional information will be given to candidates during the scheduling of their interviews.

The interview generally provides selected candidates with the opportunity to discuss their qualifications with one or more hiring officials from the Department of Finance. The main purpose of the interview is to determine whether a candidate possesses the qualifications required for the position, as laid out in the Statement of Merit Criteria. As part of the interview, candidates may be required to complete a written assignment.

Potential offers of employment may be made until March 31, 2014. Offers are conditional on obtaining your security clearance.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If you have been selected for an interview and you have a disability, please contact us and we will make arrangements to accommodate you.

Online Application

Individuals can apply through the Department of Finance website between October 10 and November 9, 2012. Applications submitted after this deadline or by other means (e.g., mail, fax) will not be considered.

When applying, you will be required to submit your resume, complete a questionnaire relating to your experience, respond to an essay question, and provide relevant university transcripts.

It is very important that you follow the instructions on the application carefully. We encourage you to review the application process as soon as possible in order to familiarize yourself with the information that is required in order to successfully apply. Please review your application carefully before submitting it, as any omissions could lead to your application being rejected.

Screening process

An assessment board of hiring managers and human resource professionals will screen applications based on the following essential qualifications:

1. Field of study: Candidates must have or be working toward a Master's degree in economics, international studies, public administration/policy, or finance from a recognized university. Candidates must be in a position to complete their degree by December 2013. A 75% cumulative grade point average in your last completed degree is required.
2. Acceptable specialization or courses in economics: University coursework must include the equivalent of at least three courses in economics (either 6 half-year courses or 3 full-year courses). Candidates who do not have the equivalent of at least 3 courses in economics but who have a concentration in finance at the Master's level will be considered.
3. Language proficiency: English or French or bilingual
4. Ability to analyze problems and synthesize information, understand issues and identify economic, social and/or financial implications.
5. Ability to communicate effectively in writing: The candidate must write in a clear and compelling manner.

Applicants meeting the essential qualifications will be included in a pool of partially assessed candidates, which hiring managers from the Department of Finance and other federal government organizations may draw on until December 2013.

As this is a collective staffing process, the qualifications required may differ from one position to another. Our staffing process allows hiring managers to identify their individual needs for the position they are looking to fill. One or more of the asset qualifications may be used to identify candidates who are a good potential fit for a particular position. Other criteria may also be used such as citizenship, official languages or organizational needs.

Only applicants who meet the essential qualifications will be advised by e-mail that they have been placed in the pool of candidates.

Interviews in Ottawa

The Ottawa interviews take place over two days in mid-January. Finance Canada may decide to pay for transportation costs to Ottawa and for accommodation expenses for the duration of the interview process. Candidates residing outside of Canada may be required to fund their own travel arrangements. Additional information will be given to candidates during the scheduling of their interviews. Alternative interview approaches such as videoconferencing (via Skype) or phone interviews may be considered. If you are contacted for an interview, it is your responsibility to inform us of any accommodation you may require so that you can be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

The Ottawa interviews provide candidates with the opportunity to discuss their qualifications with one or more hiring managers from Finance Canada. As part of the interview, candidates may also be required to complete a written assignment. The assignment would follow a format similar to the assignment submitted as part of the online application.

Candidates will have the opportunity to meet recent recruits, who can provide first-hand insights about working at Finance. Finance will also host a reception to give you a chance to meet other candidates, employees and managers across the Department. Managers will begin to make offers of employment 1-2 weeks after the Ottawa interviews. These offers are conditional on obtaining your security clearance and completing your required coursework. When a verbal offer has been accepted, the Department will begin to process the required paperwork.

This year, Finance Canada expects to hire 11 to 12 economists and policy analysts.

Only those who have been placed in the pool or invited to an interview will be contacted by December 2012.

Online application

When applying, you are required to upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and an example of your research. Candidates who have not yet defended their thesis are also asked to also submit a Thesis Statement signed by you and your supervisor indicating that you will able to defend by December 2013. In addition to documents upload to the website, a minimum of two reference letters supporting your application should be sent to phdrecruitment@fin.gc.ca before November 25th, 2012.

Interviews

• The Ottawa interviews may take place in February. Finance Canada may decide to pay for transportation costs to Ottawa and for accommodation expenses for the duration of the interview process. Candidates residing outside of Canada may be required to fund their own travel arrangements. Additional information will be given to candidates during the scheduling of their interviews. Alternative interview approaches such as videoconferencing (via Skype) or phone interviews may be considered. If you are contacted for an interview, it is your responsibility to inform us of any accommodation you may require so that you can be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.
• Selection of candidates to participate in interviews may be made on the highest results achieved for one or more of the qualifications assessed in the on-line application. In addition, one or more of the asset qualifications (academic and/or research excellence and experience with current modeling techniques) may be used to identify candidates for a particular position. Other criteria may also be used such as citizenship, official languages or organizational needs.
• The selected candidates for an interview in Ottawa will present their research and meet with managers in the Department's main research Division. The interview will provide candidates with the opportunity to discuss their qualifications with one or more hiring officials from Finance Canada. The focus of the interview process is to evaluate whether a candidate possesses the qualifications necessary to work at Finance Canada as laid out in the Statement of Merit Criteria.
• The public service is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted for an interview, it is your responsibility to inform us of any accommodation you require to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodations measures will be treated confidentially.
• These offers are conditional on obtaining your secret security clearance. When a verbal offer has been accepted, the Department will begin to process the required paperwork.
• This year, Finance Canada expects to hire up to 1 doctoral economist.
• Only those accepted in the partially qualified pool will be informed by December 21, 2012.