Frequently asked questions

No, you do not have to be a Veteran to work at Veterans Affairs Canada. We welcome anyone from any background to apply.

You don't have to qualify for benefits or services to apply for a job through VAC JobConnex. If you served in the Canadian Armed Forces or worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, you can apply as a Veteran on VAC JobConnex.

If you served in the Canadian Armed Forces or worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, you can apply as a Veteran on VAC JobConnex.

Visit Applying for Government of Canada Jobs: What to expect for more info.

• You will receive a confirmation email.
• Your application will be added to a pool of candidates that hiring managers can draw from when they need to fill job vacancies.
• If your skills and experience match what the hiring managers are looking for, they may contact you to schedule an interview or offer you the job.

VAC offers professional career counselling through Career Transition Services (CTS) for eligible CAF members, Veterans, spouses, common-law partners, or survivors. CTS coaches can help with many aspects of applying for public service jobs including support with resumes, navigating the application process, and interview preparation. You can find out if you are eligible and how to apply for CTS here: Career Transition Services - Veterans Affairs Canada.

There are many different jobs available in the public service that you might enjoy. Some involve working with Veterans and their families, while others are behind the scenes. Whatever you choose, you could have a very fulfilling career. Examples of jobs include:

• Finance
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Policy
• Client services
• Health care
• Communications
• And more!

It depends on the job. Usually, you'll need a mix of education, experience, and skills. You can find out exactly what qualifications you need for each job by looking at the job posting.

If you completed your education outside Canada, you need to show how your education compares to Canadian Standards to qualify for jobs at Veterans Affairs Canada. Find more information about Foreign Credential Validation against Canadian Standards.

To create a profile in the GC Jobs, visit jobs.gc.ca and click on "Create an account." You will need to provide some basic personal information, including your name, email address, and password. Once you have created your profile, you can search and apply for job opportunities.

If you applied for a job through GC Jobs, it may take a few weeks to a few months to hear back. The time it takes depends on how many people applied and which job you applied for. If you don't hear back after a while, you can contact the person in charge of hiring for an update.

If you applied through VAC JobConnex, a hiring manager will contact you if you are being considered for a job.

There are two official languages in Canada: English and French. You will have to work in at least one of these languages. You might need to use both English and French in some jobs. These are bilingual jobs. If a job is bilingual, you will need to show that you can read, write and speak in both English and French.

Learn more about second language evaluation in the public service.

If you live in Canada, you can apply for jobs on GC Jobs or on VAC JobConnex. But Canadian citizens and permanent residents may have preference.

The pay scale for jobs at Veterans Affairs Canada depends on the type of job. You can find out how much a job pays by looking at the job posting on GC Jobs. You can also check the Rates of Pay for Public Service Employees.

If you get offered a job, you can also ask the hiring manager how much you will get paid.

Casual employment is a short-term job opportunity. Casual workers are hired for no more than ninety (90) working days in one calendar year. You might work for one or more periods, but you can’t work for more than ninety days in one department in one year. Find out more about casual employment.

If you want a student job with Veterans Affairs Canada and you've never worked for the government before, there are different ways to apply:

• Federal Student Work Experience Program: Apply through the Public Service Commission’s ongoing student recruitment portal.
• Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program: If you’re interested in completing your Co-op or Internship through Veterans Affairs Canada, send an email request to our HR team. Include your program/area of study, your resume and any other requirements for your Co-op or Internship program.
• Research Affiliate Program: If you’re interested in completing an applied research project through Veterans Affairs Canada, send an email request to our HR team. Include your program/area of study, your resume and any other requirements for your Co-op or Internship program.
• Vimy Student Guide Program – This program is a special opportunity to live and work in France. You will learn about Canadian history, and meet people from all over the world.

You can apply for student jobs through the VAC JobConnex. To qualify, you must be:

• Registered as a full-time student at an accredited academic institution. This includes students with a visible or invisible disability deemed to have full-time status by their academic institution and those participating in adult education and retraining programs at the secondary level.
• Returning to full-time studies in the next academic term; and,
• The minimum age of employment in your province or territory of work.

Hiring managers can use student bridging to hire graduates at Veterans Affairs Canada. To be eligible for student bridging, you must have either:

• Worked in the federal public service through a student employment program. Or,
• Worked in the federal public service as a casual or part-time employee during your studies.

Submit your application to VAC JobConnex.

Term/specified period employment refers to temporary employment of a fixed duration.

Indeterminate refers to permanent employment. There is no end date.