Competitive wages, job security, and plenty of holiday time off — these are just some of the perks of working government jobs such as CBSA jobs.
The reliability and stability of government employment can also contribute to healthier finances. Not only will the higher pay come in handy, but the security of government work can help you qualify for loans and be in a better position to pay off any existing debt you carry.
While many federal government jobs may require a college or university education, many others just require a high school diploma.
Let’s take a look at some of the jobs that you can get within the federal government, the salary you can expect to earn, and the qualifications you need to meet.
Federally-Regulated Industries
Federally-regulated jobs are those that are governed by Canada’s federal laws. More specifically, the Canada Labour Code (CLC) regulates these industries and workplaces.
Are Postal Workers Federal Employees In Canada?
Canada Post workers are considered federal employees. As such, they are regulated under the federal government’s laws. The following are some examples of jobs in this category:
- Post Office Assistants
- Mail Service Couriers
- Postmasters
- Letter Carriers
Are Airline Workers Federal Employees In Canada?
The federal government of Canada regulates the air transportation industry, which includes airlines, airports, and aircraft operations. Jobs that fall under this category include the following:
- Pilots
- Flight Dispatchers
- Customer Service Agents
- Air Transport Ramp Attendants
Are Bankers Federal Employees In Canada?
Canadian federally-regulated industries include all banks in Canada such as TD, RBC, CIBC, Scotiabank and National Bank. Jobs in this category include the following:
- Bank Clerks
- Loan Administrators
- Investment Bankers
- Credit Analysts
- Financial Advisors
Federal Government Jobs You Can Get Without A Degree
Plenty of federal government jobs are available that require nothing more than a high school diploma. While most require some level of relevant experience, the following jobs do not require you to have a degree.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
CBSA Salary: $75,100 to $89,068
Language Requirements: English or Bilingual. Note, to qualify for bilingual positions, you must be at an intermediate level when reading, writing or speaking in the second language.
Education Requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training.
Experience requirements: There aren’t many requirements to be eligible for a CBSA position, however, you will be tested and interviewed heavily during the application process. You will need to pass a:
- officer trainee entrance exam
- Interview
- Firearms safety courses
- Fitness test
- Security clearance test
- Psychological assessment
- Medical exam
Administrative Assistant
Salary: $50,980 to $55,027
Language requirements: Bilingual, or English in a casual position
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience requirements:
- Dealing with the public
- General administrative services, such as document preparation, scheduling meetings, and maintaining and managing files
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
Professional Buyer
Salary: $96,225 to $108,091
Language requirements: Various, depending on the specific position and location
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience requirements:
- Experience in leading contracting processes in areas such as planning, assessment, negotiations, and bid evaluations
- Experience in providing advice on complex procurement issues
- Experience in managing client relationships
Human Resources Coordinator
Salary: $61,152 to $65,887
Language requirements: Bilingual
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Experience working in a client service work environment
- Experience in using a Human Resources software
Bilingual Call Centre Agent
Salary: $56,326 to $62,175
Language requirements: Bilingual
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma
Experience:
- Experience working in a client service environment
- Experience providing services to the public
- Experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
- Experience conducting online research
Integrated Data Governance and Quality Control Analyst
Salary: $72,171 to $77,758
Language requirements: Bilingual
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Experience in researching and analyzing data
- Experience in preparing and maintaining records and reports
- Experience in coordinating and managing projects
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
Project Coordinator – High Frequency Rail
Salary: $78,834 to $85,187
Language requirements: Bilingual
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives
Experience:
- Experience in a commercial real property environment
- Experience preparing written products, such as project summaries, briefing notes, or guidance material
- Experience in analyzing information and conducting research
Airfield Maintenance Specialist
Salary: $24.98 to $27.13 per hour
Language requirements: Bilingual
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Experience as an operator of maintenance equipment, such as farm tractors, dump trucks, and snow blowers
Service Canada – Payment Services Officer
Salary: $60,424 to $67,582
Language requirements: Various
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Proficiency in oral and written communication
- Ability to work effectively with others
- Ability to use technology
Cleaning Services Officer
Salary: $24.38 to $26.31 per hour
Language requirements: English
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Experience using computer programs, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and e-mail
- Experience cleaning in commercial, multi-residential, or institutional environments
- Experience in maintaining mechanical equipment
Client Accommodation Services Officer
Salary: $61,152 to $70,622
Language requirements: English
Education requirements: Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of relevant education, experience, or training
Experience:
- Experience using financial information systems, such as SAP S/4HANA
- Experience extracting and analyzing data and preparing reports in Excel
- Experience in providing client service
Federal Government Job Requirements
As an employer, the government of Canada may require job candidates to undergo specific testing. This is done to ensure that individuals chosen for certain jobs have the knowledge and capabilities to carry out their tasks competently.
Tests are selected based on the job being applied for. Some general tests you may be asked to undergo include the following:
Language Tests
As a government employee, you will need to be proficient in either English, French, or both, depending on the position. These tests will typically include oral, reading, and writing aspects. The proficiency levels that you will be classified under are:
- A (beginner)
- B (intermediate)
- C (advanced)
General Competency Test
If you do not have a secondary school diploma, you may be asked to take the General Competency Test: Level 1 (GCT1-207). You must score at least 28 out of 50 to pass. This test is used to determine your ability to solve problems. It’s used to ensure you have the reasoning skills to tackle problems appropriately within administrative support positions and certain operational positions.
Situational Judgement Test
This test will put you in several hypothetical situations that you might encounter in the workplace, such as serving clients, managing conflicts, and handling ethical issues. You’ll be asked 102 questions and have 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete the test.
Manager Assessment
If you’re applying for a managerial position, you may be asked to undergo a manager assessment, which will assess your managerial abilities.
Test of Judgement
This test is used to assess your judgement when applying for an officer-level position in the federal public service. The results will help your employer in where to appoint you or whether you may have to participate in a training program before starting your job.
Do You Need A Good Credit Score To Get A Job?
The jobs mentioned above do not mention any credit score requirements, however, there may be some jobs that do. Certain job positions, particularly those involved in banking, insurance and finance may require a credit check. Employers may check your credit for these positions to ensure you have the financial capabilities to handle the job and to ensure there’s no security risk.
If the job you’re applying for may need a credit check, be sure to check your credit score before applying and improve it if necessary.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to spend years in college or university to get a good-paying job with the government of Canada. There are plenty of employment opportunities to be had, many of which pay well and require little more than a high school diploma. Simply create a GC Canada account and apply to one of the many job openings currently available to start a lucrative career and become financially responsible.
