Frequently Asked Questions

What does NextStep Government Careers do?

NextStep provides career advice specific to the Canadian federal public service. There's a lot of general information out there on how to get a job in the private sector, but the Government is its own beast. It requires specific insight into the public service hiring process - all of its policies, tricks, tools and rules. NextStep runs on that specific expertise.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone looking for a job in the Canadian government, such as current students, recent grads, new Canadian citizens, and individuals looking to switch over from the private sector. 

It is also for current public servants who are looking for a promotion. Applying for a promotion and applying for a new government job are mostly the same process, so the explanations and guidance are applicable to both.

This book is especially for the person who has applied for government jobs and just can't figure out why they're not getting through despite being fully qualified. There's probably one thing (or a few) that's stopping you based on the structured government hiring process.

Who this book is not for: executives (Director level and above) or those who are looking for an executive level position. Those kinds of applications work differently, and although the material in the book would definitely help you, the book wasn't specifically written for that level of candidacy.

What does the book include?

The book goes through the entire application and hiring process that you would go through to become a public servant. This includes how to access and interpret the job posters and identify which ones you qualify for. 

After that, it covers how to write your resume, a cover letter, and respond to the screening questions that are required by every government job posting.

Then, we go into how to prepare for the different types of exams and how to predict your interview questions in order to be able to build and practice your responses in advance.

The book also covers all of the typical questions around bilingualism, how and when to negotiate a salary, how long the process takes, what HR looks for when they assess your application, and much more.

Why does the book cost $99?

This book truly covers everything you need to know in order to apply for the government. It essentially puts together what we used to offer within our coaching services into one package. Instead of paying $218/hour for our coaching sessions, this book now tells you what you need to know, for just a fraction of the hourly rate.

You can ask your friends questions about how to get a government job, try googling, or cruise the reddit boards, but only this book will provide you with evidence-based advice that is carefully researched and vetted. It is the product of three years of dedicated research; as a result, it is fact-based, clear and truly comprehensive. It was written by a senior level public servant who ran a successful career coaching company for aspiring public servants, and has over a decade of of experience. You'll even find links to the specific sources, policy or documents to reference so that you can fact-check yourself if you want to!

We are confident that this book provides you with literally everything you need to know to get that job. And if that's the case, then $99 is a very small investment for a government job that can pay you anywhere from $57,000 to $130,000 (and more). Plus, we have a guarantee (see next).

What if I don't like the book? Or it doesn't work for me?

Send us an email with your questions. We're always happy to discuss! We know the value this book provides, so if you're really unhappy with the book or we can't provide an answer to your questions, then we'll send you a refund.

Do I need special software to read the book?

Nope! The book is in PDF form, so any Adobe reader will be able to open it. Adobe is installed on most computers.

Do you still offer one-on-one coaching?

We do offer one-on-one coaching on a case-by-case basis. Send a message on our Contact Us page and we'll let you know if we have any availability.

Is there anything sensitive in the book?

No, all of the material is either open source/public, a result of experience conducting coaching, interviews, or the author's personal experience. Certain elements of the hiring process are protected (such as exact contents of previous exams) and this book does not have any protected information.

What if I have other questions?

Head on over to our Contact Us page and send us an email with your question! We'll answer within 24-48 hours.