Federal Hiring Guide
Which Federal Government Classification Should I Target?
Most people looking at GC Jobs for the first time see dozens of job titles across dozens of departments, each with a code like EC-04, AS-02, or PM-03 attached to it. Those codes are classifications, and understanding them is the most important strategic step before you apply. This guide explains what they mean and how to think about which ones fit your background honestly.
What a classification actually tells you
A classification is how the Government of Canada groups jobs by the type of work they involve. Every federal position belongs to a classification group (a two-letter code like AS, PM, or EC) and a level within that group (a number like 01, 02, or 04). Together, the group and level set the salary range, the type of work expected, and the qualifications the screening board will be looking for.
The classification is not just an administrative label. It directly shapes what evidence you need to provide in your application. An AS-02 position and a PM-02 position might have similar job titles, but the merit criteria, the screening questions, and the evidence they require are structured differently.
Targeting the wrong classification does not mean your application fails automatically. But it usually means your evidence does not fit what the screening board is trained to look for. That mismatch is one of the most common reasons qualified applicants get screened out.
The most common classification groups
There are dozens of classification groups in the federal system. These are the ones most applicants from outside the public service are likely to encounter.
Administrative Services
For people who coordinate, administer, and keep organizations running. AS roles typically involve coordinating processes, managing information, supporting programs, and working across teams and branches.
Levels: AS-01 to AS-03 are entry to mid-level coordination roles. AS-04 to AS-07 move into supervisory and managerial territory. Many career public servants start here.
Programme Administration
For people who deliver programs, manage grants and contributions, conduct client or partner outreach, or work in service delivery. PM roles tend to require evidence of program delivery, file management, stakeholder engagement, and judgment in applying policy to cases.
Levels: PM-01 to PM-03 are common entry and intermediate program delivery roles. PM-04 and above often involve managing people, budgets, or complex program portfolios.
Economics and Social Science Services
For people with research, analysis, policy, evaluation, or social science backgrounds. EC roles are common in policy branches, central agencies, and departments with a strong research mandate.
Levels: EC-02 and EC-03 are typical entry points for recent graduates or analysts. EC-04 to EC-06 are mid to senior policy and research roles. They typically require evidence of writing, analysis, briefing, and working with data or policy frameworks.
Clerical and Regulatory
For people with strong administrative, data entry, client service, and records management skills. CR roles are often entry points into the public service for people moving from private sector administrative or customer-facing roles.
Levels: CR-03 and CR-04 are common starting levels. CR-05 involves more independent judgment and is often the ceiling for roles without a supervisory component.
Information Technology
For people in technology, systems administration, software development, cybersecurity, and IT project management. IT roles span from technical support to enterprise architecture and are found across most large departments.
Levels: IT-01 is typically entry-level technical support. IT-02 and IT-03 are analyst and specialist roles. IT-04 and above involve senior technical leadership or management responsibility.
How to think about your fit
Start with what you actually do
Think about what fills a typical week in your current or most recent role. Do you coordinate processes and support teams? That points toward AS. Do you deliver programs and work with clients or partners? That points toward PM. Do you analyze data, write policy, or produce research? That points toward EC. Do you handle records, data entry, and service delivery? That points toward CR. Do you work in technology? That points toward IT. Most people find one or two groups that fit clearly, and a few that are a stretch.
Your job title is not the answer
Private sector and broader public sector titles do not map cleanly to federal classifications. A Project Manager at a private company might fit an AS-05, a PM-04, or an EC-03, depending entirely on what the work actually involved. A policy analyst at a provincial government might be closer to an EC-03 or a PM-03. Focus on the work, not the title.
Be honest about your evidence
Before targeting a classification and level, read two or three real GC Jobs postings at that level. Look at the essential qualifications. Ask yourself whether you have concrete, specific examples of doing what those qualifications describe. If you do, that is a realistic target. If most of the qualifications are a stretch or require fabrication, that level is not the right starting point. There is no value in applying to roles where the evidence does not exist.
If you have not read a GC Jobs posting closely before, the guide on how to read a federal job posting explains what each section means and which parts actually control your screening outcome.
Choose your entry level carefully
Higher levels require more complex, more senior, and more clearly documented experience. AS-01 and AS-02 are realistic first targets for people new to the federal system with strong administrative backgrounds. AS-05 and above typically require supervisory experience and significant program responsibility. Applying to a level above your honest evidence is one of the most common mistakes external applicants make. Starting at the right level, getting into a pool, and advancing from there is a legitimate and common path.
Common mistakes to avoid
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Applying to every classification at once. Broad applications with generic evidence rarely succeed. Pick one or two realistic targets and write to their specific merit criteria.
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Assuming your private sector title determines your level. It does not. The essential qualifications in the posting determine whether you qualify, not your previous job title.
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Targeting a level because of the salary. Salary is a reasonable factor in deciding whether to apply, but the evidence requirements at each level are real. Apply to levels where your evidence fits.
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Skipping the essential qualifications section of the posting. That section is the entire screening criteria. Everything else is secondary.
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Applying without reading the SOMC. The Statement of Merit Criteria tells you exactly what the board is screening for. If a posting has one, read all of it.
What to do next
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Read two or three real postings
Go to GC Jobs and search for classifications that seem like a fit. Read the essential qualifications carefully. Note which ones match your actual experience and which ones are a stretch.
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Download the free Federal Job Directory
Our free guide maps common backgrounds to likely classification families and lists where to find postings by type.
Get the Federal Job Directory free → - 3
When you have a target posting, score your application
Our Cover Letter Rewriter and Resume Rewriter score your application against the specific posting's merit criteria. Free preview included. You only pay to unlock the full rewrite.
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Apply selectively
A focused application built on strong, specific evidence for one or two postings is more likely to succeed than five generic applications. Once you have a real target, put your effort into answering its merit criteria well.
FedJobReady™ is operated by 17795131 Canada Inc. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Government of Canada, the Public Service Commission of Canada, or any federal department or agency. Classification information in this guide is based on publicly available GC Jobs postings, Treasury Board policies, and PSC staffing practice. Always verify current classification details against official sources.