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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.

Government Job FAQs

How can I find a federal government job?

The government of Canada posts available job openings along with all details of each job on their website. You can visit Canada.ca for more information. Alternatively, several online job boards also post available Canadian government job openings, such as Job Bank, Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn

How do I apply for a federal government job?

You will need to create a Government of Canada (GC) Jobs account to apply for a federal government job. Once you create your account, you can sign in and apply to any open job posting. 

Can you get a federal government job as a student?

Yes, there are several job opportunities and hiring programs specifically designed for students. In fact, the government has a program called the Federal Student Work Experience Program. Eligible students in secondary or post-secondary school can apply for jobs within various fields including sciences, trades, information technology, finance and more.
Lisa Rennie avatar on Loans Canada
Lisa Rennie

Lisa has been working as a personal finance writer for more than a decade, creating unique content that helps to educate Canadian consumers in the realms of real estate, mortgages, investing and financial health. For years, she held her real estate license in Toronto, Ontario before giving it up to pursue writing within this realm and related niches. Lisa is very serious about smart money management and helping others do the same.

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