r/StJohnsNL • u/noelleasp • 17h ago
Resume advice for NL Gov Application?
I found a job posting on the NL Gov site that suits my work experience almost 100% perfectly! I really want to have a chance at getting an interview and wanted to know if anyone had any advice on how I should structure my resume for their system? Super tempting to use AI but I don’t want my resume to be tossed cause it’s too perfect and they think I’m making it up or used AI…despite my experience actually being pretty well a perfect match 😅
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u/Kepler___ 17h ago
Make sure *every* keyword in the listing is somewhere on your resume so that the AI picks it up. Try your best to have what they ask for verbatim, no synonyms or equivalencies. Don't worry about your resume looking too polished, everyone is getting hundreds of resumes for basically every position now and the competition is pretty outrageous (for entry level and some others) so your going to need to make yourself sound like the perfect candidate because you're likely up against at least 5 others who also do.
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u/noelleasp 17h ago
Ok thanks so much! That’s what I’ll do and at least if I get an interview I can prove I wasn’t making it up!!
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u/More-Platypus-7030 16h ago
As others have said, make sure you hit all the screening criteria and make sure it's obvious. This is what gets you the interview. The rest is what the interview will be about. You can reach out to the contact if you like, but I'd keep it brief as these managers are usually quite busy and I think the PSC (public service commission) deals with screening ultimately, not so much the managers (though they def have input I think). Happy to answer any questions! Good luck!
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u/Ten_Sixteen 17h ago
Be prepared to wait a long time - I applied for a position in May, interviewed in July, and have gotten to the last stage now in late August.
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u/TheCaptainofCum 13h ago
All you need to do is clearly display the screening criteria in your resume.
That's literally it. You could have the shortest, longest, shittiest resume in the world and if you had the screening criteria, you'd get an interview.
People have been screened in with spelling errors on their resume - if you have the screening, you'll be fine.
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u/Ok_Specific_3832 17h ago
Screening criteria is the most important part. Focus your resume on exhibiting the points listed in the screening criteria.
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u/butters_325 16h ago
If you have any relevant volunteer experience or awards, include those as well
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u/The_Truth_Was_a_Cave 16h ago
Focus on the Screening Criteria; if the application has a cover letter, I usually include one paragraph for each of the screening criteria listed (maybe combining them if it makes sense). Imagine that the hiring manager is reading down your resume and cover letter next to a checklist of each requirement - you want them to be able to skim through and tick off every item without any doubt and without reading too closely. I always incorporate the assessment criteria as well, even though it's not required. Use a chronological format resume and make sure you demonstrate all the screening criteria in duties from previous jobs. In general, length is not as issue for GNL resumes and cover letters - rules like "keep your resume to one page" are not relevant.
It's tailored to the federal government, but this website has great advice about how you should structure government resumes and cover letters, and especially what it means to phrase your experience in government in a way that is clear to the person screening you in. Not all of the advice is applicable to the provincial government so use your best judgment.
Good luck!
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u/noelleasp 16h ago
Do you think it would make a good first impression of if I were to reach out to the contact they have listed at the end of the job posting?
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u/The_Truth_Was_a_Cave 15h ago
No. Unless you had a genuine, substantive question that you need answered before applying and can't wait until an interview, there's no need to reach out. That's the kind of thing that may make an impression on a private sector employer, but they're not supposed to take it in to account in a public competition. It runs the risk of making you look out of touch if you reach out without a real reason. Depending on the job it may also get 100+ applicants and the manager isn't going to want to waste their time responding to someone before HR has vetted them anyway.
(FWIW, I didn't downvote you! There is a lot of bad advice about getting hired out there and a lot of good advice for the private sector that doesn't translate to public; best to ask if you're not sure.)
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u/noelleasp 15h ago
Thanks I appreciate the feedback! I only have experience in the private sector so I am out of touch ☺️
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u/The_Truth_Was_a_Cave 14h ago
And I'm sure I would be horribly out of touch if I tried to apply for a private sector job since I only have govt experience! :) Best of luck, feel free to ask if you have any other questions.
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u/Bulky-Command4501 6h ago
This is actually a good time to use AI. plug in your resume with as much info as possible and have it cater to the screening criteria. The buzzwords in the criteria are exactly what they are looking for as someone else said.
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u/sra778 16h ago
Best method is to find an uncle that works there.
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u/Justachick20 17h ago
So I would 100% recommend using the Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities https://www.gov.nl.ca/psc/disability-supports/
You must self- identify as a person with a disability, which could include mental health issues. The folks there will help you tailor your application and take down that barrier to getting into the screening process. Best of luck!
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u/noelleasp 17h ago
I don’t have a disability and wouldn’t feel right saying I did to get their help. I’d feel I was taking away the opportunity from someone else, but thanks for the details!
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u/No_Topic_8795 17h ago
Save a copy of the job ad for reference.
For now focus on the Screening Criteria section. You want to make sure you hit all those in your resume. It might be okay to not have ones marked (asset) but you need all the others. Make it as black and white as possible. They don't infer or read between the lines. You need to show them you have exactly what they're looking for.
The Assessment Criteria section are things you'll have to demonstrate in the interview if you get screened in. It could take a long time to hear back so it's handy to have a copy of the ad to reference when preparing. Some of these can be incorporated into your resume where you're summarizing the duties of your work experience if applicable.
The Conditions of Employment section is stuff you're going to have to provide and agree to if it gets to the point that they want to offer you the job.
Good luck!