Career FAQ

Career FAQ

• What job opportunities are available at the City?

  Visit our Job Postings page to see the job opportunities currently available. 

• Do employees of the City get preference over outside applicants in a recruitment competition?

  Permanent union employees are given first consideration for unionized vacancies. If there are no qualified internal applicants, the position is posted externally. External postings can be found on our Job Postings page. 

• How do I apply for a position with the City of Nanaimo?

  Visit our Job Postings page and follow the application instructions included on the posting. 

• What if I require an accommodation during the application and/or recruitment process?

  If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please email employment.opportunities@nanaimo.ca and we would be pleased to discuss how best to accommodate your needs.

• How do I apply for casual and temporary employment?

  Select apply for Casual and Temporary employment here. You can log in using Facebook, Google, Twitter or create a City of Nanaimo profile.

• What information will I need to provide?

  You will need to provide personal information including your name, address and phone number. You will also be asked to provide information about your education, skills and employment history. 

• Can I attach my resume?

  Yes, at the end of the application you can attach a resume, cover letter, letter(s) of reference, certificates and other documents relevant to your application.

  Important: Only the application form is searchable. Please ensure that you provide as much information as possible in the online application. If your application is considered further, your attachments will be reviewed. 

• What if I don't have an e-mail address?

  You can set up a free e-mail address using many public websites such as Gmail, Yahoo or others. These can be setup and accessed from any computer. 

• What happens to my personal information?

  The information in your profile and application is stored on a secure server site located in-house behind our firewall. SIN's and birthdates are not collected as part of the application process. 

• What if I have already created an applicant profile?

  Sign in using the information you used to set up the profile and update your information as required. 

• How do I save my application?

  At the bottom of the application, select “Apply”. If you have filled out all the required fields, your application will be saved. If your application is incomplete, a red error message will appear at the top of the page. 
  

• How do I update the information on my applicant profile?

  Sign in using the same information you first used to create your applicant profile. You will see your current profile and be able to update your information. 

• How do I know that you received my application?

  Once you have completed the online application and select "Apply", a green box will appear at the top of the page confirming your application has been saved. You can also verify the submission of your application by signing in again.  If your application was submitted successfully, you will see the information you previously entered.  
  

• What if I forget my username or password?

  If you created your profile using a City of Nanaimo account, select “Forgot your password?” You will be prompted to enter the email address you used to sign up. Enter your email and select “Send Password Reset Email”. Follow the link that is sent in the email, and enter a new password. 

  If you created your profile using another provider, you will need to follow their specific instructions. 

• Can I copy selected information from another electronic application?

  Yes, you can copy and paste text information from your document directly into the appropriate fields in the application form. 

• I have applied online for casual and temporary employment and there is a new external posting I am interested in. Do I need to apply again?

  Yes, when applying for external postings you must follow the specific application instructions for each posting. We do not search the casual and temporary applications when recruiting for external postings. 

• What should I submit with my application?

  Please include a cover letter and resume describing any relevant qualifications pertaining to the position, such as:

  · Education and/or courses

  · Work experience

  · Licences, certifications, etc...

   

• If I am interested in several external postings with the City, do I need to submit an application for each posting?

  Yes, every posting is considered separately. 

• What do I do if I'm interested in a specific position or City department but no jobs are currently posted?

  If there are no current postings, applicants can apply for casual and temporary employment through our online application. These applications are kept on file for six months.

• Does the City accept general (unsolicited) resumes and how long do resumes stay on file?

  You can apply online for casual and temporary employment at any time through our online system. These applications remain on file for 6 months. You can resubmit/update your application at any time. Please note: we do not accept hard copy resumes. 

• How can I find out about the status of the position I applied for?

  Visit our Job Postings page. 

• How will I know if I have been shortlisted?

  We will contact you. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. 

• Does the City conduct testing?

  Testing may be required to verify qualifications and knowledge. 

• What will my job interview be like?

  We conduct panel interviews, consisting of the department Manager, a Human Resources representative and sometimes other participants. We ask a variety of knowledge, situational, and behavioural-based interview questions. Interviews are typically 30 minutes to one hour in length, depending on the complexity of the position. 

• When is a criminal record check conducted?

  A number of positions at the City of Nanaimo require a criminal record check clearance. If a position requires a criminal record check, it will be included as a requirement in the posting for the position. 

• I am a student looking for spring and/or summer work. Does the City hire students at this time?

  There are no student specific postings, however, students are encouraged to apply for casual and temporary employment. 

• Does the City have practicum opportunities for students?

  Students are welcome to submit a request for a practicum assignment that includes program details, as well as practicum dates. If one of our departments has the capacity to take a practicum student, we would consider the request. 

• Do I have to drop off a resume if I have already filled out the online application?

  No, we do not accept hard copy resumes in an effort to be environmentally conscious. As well, online applications are searchable and updatable. 
  

• How do I apply to be a Fire Fighter?

  Fire Fighter postings will appear on our Job Postings page. In preparation for upcoming postings, you can review the Fire Fighter Recruitment page.