THE BENEFITS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT

WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF YUKON

Public Service Commission

This document is intended to provide an overview of Government of Yukon
staffing processes and practices, and provide guidance for individuals
seeking to apply for positions with the government. The processes and
practices described in this pamphlet are subject to change.
This document is published by Corporate Human Resource Services, Yukon
Public Service Commission.
Information in this handbook may be used for non-commercial purposes
with proper credit to the Government of Yukon.
Contact:
Corporate Human Resource Services
Yukon Public Service Commission
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Y1A 2C6
www.psc.gov.yk.ca

© Government of Yukon, 2008.

The benefits of being
a public servant
Extensive employee benefits
12 annual designated paid holidays
40+ days of paid leave (sick, vacation, special) for all permanent and
term employees
Permanent, term, and auxiliary employees may be eligible for an annual
Yukon bonus of $2,042 following two years of continuous service (some
restrictions apply)
Employer pays 85% of extended healthcare, long-term disability, and
dental coverage for permanent, and term employees
Competitive pension plan
Community allowance for positions outside of Whitehorse

Opportunities for professional development

Numerous workshops to develop your personal and professional skills
Tuition reimbursement
Opportunities to expand your professional skills and knowledge by
working in different branches and departments
Leadership development programs

Flexible work options

Part-time employment and job-sharing
Compressed work-week
Flexible start and end times
Averaging hours
Deferred salary leave

Strong Employee Support

Orientation program for all new government employees
Career counseling and assessment
Job coaching and mentoring
Disability accommodation
Employee Assistance Program
Employee recognition

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 1
Seeking out and applying for
employment with the Government
of Yukon
Look for Government of Yukon employment opportunities!
www.employment.gov.yk.ca
local newspapers
of Yukon job board (lobby of the Main Administration Building on
Second Avenue in Whitehorse)
First Nation Government offices
Canada Employment Center
offices in the communities

Competitions can be:

1) to Government of Yukon employees only.

All competitions have a job

description and a job posting
(also called employment
opportunity) that identifies
the Essential Qualifications
that will be used to evaluate
applicants. Get a copy at
www.employment.gov.yk.ca
or by contacting the person
identified in the job posting.

* To be eligible for appointment,

candidates must have the legal
right to live and work in Canada.

2 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon

 Employment Opportunity
Corrections Officer I (6 Permanent positions)
Department of Justice, Whitehorse Correctional Centre
1
Competition No.: 07-IS11-08 Closing Date 5:00 p.m.: August 27, 2007
Salary: $50,535 to $58,185 per annum

Preference will be given to persons of Yukon First Nations ancestry.

Under the direction of a supervisor, the Correctional Officer works on a rotational
shift and is responsible for maintaining security, safety, good order, discipline and
care of adult inmates by providing orientation, direction, guidance and programming.
The focus is to engage the inmates in a process that provides maximum opportunity
for change in an environment that is productive and supportive and in which they are
treated in a respectful, fair and equitable manner. This position is classified as a Peace
Officer under the Criminal Code of Canada.
The ideal candidate requires competency in leadership, listening, understanding
and responding, conflict management, self confidence, team work and co-operation,
problem solving/judgment, customer/client service orientation and integrity, with a
genuine commitment to working with inmates and fellow corrections workers to affect
positive change.
If this opportunity interests you, please submit a resume clearly outlining your:
- Post-secondary coursework/training in criminology, justice, corrections or other
related fields.
- Experience supervising groups, motivating and instructing, and enforcing rules and
2
regulations.
- Experience with the enforcement of rules and regulations.
- Experience in the client/customer service industry.
- Experience using a computer in a work environment.
Condition(s) of Employment: Security and Medical clearances, First Aid and CPR
certification to be obtained within six months, successful completion of all Corrections
Officer Basic Training modules. 3
Job Requirements(s): Shift work and wearing a uniform.
A six-month eligibility list will be established from this competition to fill future
4
vacancies for identical positions.
Go to www.employment.gov.yk.ca for more information or contact Sue Richards
at (867)667-8212. We thank all those who apply but only those selected for further
consideration will be contacted.
Quoting the competition number, please submit your resume/application to: 5
Yukon Government, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 2703, 2071 Second
Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2C6. Telephone: (867) 667-5653, Fax: (867)
667-5755 E-mail: resume@gov.yk.ca

Public Service Commission “Committed to employment equity”

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 3
 1 Categories of Employment — may be on either a full or
part-time basis
Indeterminate: no confirmed end-date
Term: typically from six months to two years (and may be extended)
Auxiliary: either on-call (no end date) or seasonal (three–ten months
during the same time each year)
Casual: has an end date or short term jobs (up to six months) to fill a
specific or urgent need

2 Essential qualifications (EQs)

Clearly outline your resume and cover letter to meet the essential
qualifications listed in the job posting.

3 Conditions of employment and job requirements

You must meet all employment conditions to be eligible for the
position. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, phone the contact
person listed in the job posting.

4 Eligibility lists
All candidates who certify will be placed on an eligibility list (if it is
indicated in the job posting).
The list will be used to fill future vacancies for identical positions
(and may be used for similar positions).

5 Contact Information
Contact the person in the job posting if you require additional
information regarding the position.

4 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon

Preference Hiring
The Government of Yukon may give preference to a particular group
(e.g. persons of Yukon First Nation ancestry, persons with a mental or
physical disability, etc.) depending on the current levels of Government
of Yukon employees from that group and the applications received.

If the majority of applicants meet essential qualifications for the
competition and are from the designated group, then other applicants
will likely be screened-out of the competition
If there are few applicants from the preferred group, all applications
may be reviewed and qualified applicants screened-in
Always apply for positions advertised as preference hiring, even if you
are not a member of the designated group

Restricted Competitions
Only those who meet the criteria will be screened in on restricted
competitions.
Send your application, resume and/or cover letter:
Email: resume@gov.yk.ca — Attach your cover letter and resume
Mail: Government of Yukon, Public Service Commission,
P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Fax: (867) 667- 5755
Deliver: Public Service Commission — 3rd floor of the
Government of Yukon Main Administration Building,
2071 Second Avenue, Whitehorse

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 5
Assessment process
Commonly used assessment tools
Depending on the type of position you are applying for, it is likely that your
knowledge, abilities and personal suitability for the position will be assessed
using tests or situational exercises.
1. Tests:
(used to assess a specific area of knowledge or skill required on the job)
All candidates are given the same test.
Tests may involve performance of a typical job task (e.g.
keyboarding, knowledge of accounting principles and practices,
etc.).
Tests may be written exercises (e.g., if an essential qualification is the
“ability to prepare correspondence,” then candidates may be given a
job-related situation and asked to write a letter or memorandum).
2. Situational Exercises:
(used to assess a number of skill or knowledge areas)
These exercises include performance, problem solving, or
decision-making skills in situations similar to those expected on
the job.

6 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon

Prepare for your interview
In a successful interview, you should…
arrive mentally prepared
answer questions honestly, clearly and concisely
dress appropriately and arrive early
bring a list of references, if not included in your resume
1. Before your interview, ask for information on the position/
organization and study it.
Read the job description carefully. Make sure you have a solid
understanding of the duties, responsibilities, knowledge and skills
required.
Explore the corporate website to find valuable information about
the organizational structure of the Government of Yukon, as well as
publications and services offered to the public.
2. Reflect on your previous experiences as they relate to this position.
Review the skills, knowledge and experience that you have
obtained in previous work-related or volunteer positions and try
to frame them as they relate to qualifications described in the job
description.
3. Anticipate and prepare for
specific types of interview
questions.
Refer to the job posting
and try to anticipate
questions you may be asked.
Explain how your previous
experiences match the
qualities and qualifications
required for the position.
Areas that might be
covered in the interview
process are: teamwork
skills; interpersonal relation,
communication skills,
cross-cultural awareness
and workplace diversity,
management style and skills,
etc.

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 7
What to expect in your interview
Types of interview questions
Closed questions.................require a specific factual answer (used to assess
knowledge factors).
Open-ended questions....broader in scope and require you to work
through the answer.
Situational questions........describe a specific situation and asks how you
would proceed, given the circumstances.
Behavioral questions........ask the candidate to describe a time when they
dealt with a certain type of scenario.

Phases of the interview process

Introduction..........................You will be greeted by a selection board of at
least two people, including the supervisor of
the position and a Human Resource Advisor. The
board chair will review the interview process.
Exploration and...................Different types of questions will assess your
information collection knowledge, abilities and personal suitability.
Board members will record your answers so
they can make a complete assessment after the
interview. Don't let this distract you; it is a normal
part of the process. You may ask for a question to
be repeated or rephrased without penalty.
Conclusion..............................After the interview, you may ask any questions
about the position, the selection process, etc.
The selection board will then tell you what’s next
(e.g. reference checks and when you will receive
the competition results).

8 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon

Post-interview
After the screening and selection process, all candidates are scored and
ranked, and a reference check is conducted for the top-ranked candidate.
1. If you are selected for the position…
You have met or exceeded the essential qualifications of the
position.
You may be given a “conditional offer” pending
appeals from bargaining unit employees.
2. If you are not selected for the position…
If you received an interview, you will be notified as to whether or
not you were successful.
Ask the Human Resources Advisor responsible for the competition
to explain the reasons you were not successful (a “post-board”). This
feedback can provide useful guidance in your next job search.
Don’t be discouraged! There are many more opportunities with the
Government of Yukon awaiting you in the future.

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 9
Get your foot in the door!
It may be possible to obtain a casual or auxiliary position with Government
of Yukon without going through the competitive process – known
as a “direct hire” or “appointment without competition.” To be considered
for this kind of appointment, send your cover letter and resume directly
to department human resource offices, who will keep your information
on file and notify you if such a position arises. Please see the appendix
below for information on how to contact and send resumes to individual
departments.

10 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon

Appendix of department human
resource contacts
Community Services............................................... Phone: 667-8931, Fax: 393-6933
Economic Development........................................ Phone: 667-8411, Fax: 393-6228
Education.................................................................... Phone: 667-3718, Fax: 667-5435
Energy, Mines and Resources............................... Phone: 667-3007, Fax: 393-7422
Environment.............................................................. Phone: 667-5359, Fax: 393-7012
Executive Council Office........................................ Phone: 667-5763, Fax: 393-6202
Finance......................................................................... Phone: 667-8515, Fax: 393-6217
Health and Social Services.................................... Phone: 667-3418, Fax: 393-6900
Highways and Public works.................................. Phone: 667-5961, Fax: 667-3685
Public Service Commission................................... Phone: 667-5861, Fax: 667-6705
Justice........................................................................... Phone: 667-8794, Fax: 667-5790
Tourism and Culture................................................ Phone: 667-8590, Fax: 667-8844
Women’s Directorate............................................... Phone: 667-3030, Fax: 393-6270
Yukon Workers’ Compensation
Health & Safety Board............................................. Phone: 667-5013, Fax: 393-6279

Yukon Housing Corporation

Yukon Liquor Corporation
& Lotteries Yukon.................................................... Phone: 667-8931, Fax: 393-6933

www.employment.gov.yk.ca 11
 “Energy and persistence conquer all things.”
Benjamin Franklin

12 Seeking employment with the Government of Yukon