We are committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce.
On this page
- Employment equity and self-declaration
- Assessment process
- Clearance process
- Onboarding
- Questions about the candidate assessment and clearance process
Because most of our work requires an Enhanced Top Secret clearance, our hiring and clearance process is more comprehensive than that of many other organizations. Some positions require an Enhanced Reliability clearance only. The security clearance required for each position is listed on the job poster.
To apply for a position at CSE, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be eligible for the level of security clearance required for the position you have applied for
Our candidate assessment and clearance process can take 12 to 18 months. It will examine your skills, knowledge, personal background, character, family history, personal circumstances and financial history.
Throughout this process, you must:
- be honest
- be eligible for an Enhanced Top Secret clearance or an Enhanced Reliability clearance, depending on the position you have applied for
- comply with CSE’s security policies and standards
- abstain from illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs
- you must also have abstained from such drug use for at least one year before applying to CSE
Employment equity and self-declaration
At CSE, we strive to improve our workplace as we continue to learn from mistakes of the past and work towards reconciliation. We are determined to remove barriers to employment from our hiring process for the four employment equity groups and other marginalized groups. If you are a woman, an Indigenous person, a person with a disability, or a racialized person, we encourage you to self-declare in your application.
Self-declaration information is used for statistical purposes, such as reports, analyses and special studies. It may also be used to determine eligibility in job processes open only to persons from employment equity groups. To address current representation gaps, CSE may give priority to applicants who self-declare.
Self-declaration information provided in federal government job applications is considered protected information. This information is handled according to the Treasury Board of Canada’s Code of confidentiality. Learn more about self-declaring for public service jobs.
Fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion isn’t just an ideal; it’s crucial to our mission. Visit our diversity and inclusion page for more information.
Assessment process
A combination of assessments may be used to test your skills, knowledge, and suitability. This could include an interview, online tests, reference checks, etc. Assessments may be conducted via telephone, online or in person, depending on the selection process.
We will base our decision to pursue your application on a variety of factors, including:
- current hiring requirements
- test and interview results
- experience
- fit for the organization
- information provided in your resume and application
During the assessment process, we may contact you to request additional information. We will also inform you in writing if we decide to stop the process. Communications related to hiring processes are typically sent by email. Please check your inbox and junk or spam folders regularly.
Clearance process
During the clearance process, you will be required to:
- fill out a personal history questionnaire, financial questionnaire, and consent form
- agree to a background investigation covering the last 10 years at minimum, including credit and financial verifications
- meet with CSE security personnel for an in-depth interview in a major Canadian city closest to your location
- be fingerprinted and photographed
- undergo a polygraph examination to assess your reliability as an individual and your loyalty to Canada (for Enhanced Top Secret clearances only)
- undergo a psychological assessment to assess your suitability for CSE
You must abstain from illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs for at least one year before applying to CSE, and throughout the assessment and clearance process. Any illegal drug use within this time frame will result in your application being rejected.
Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dosage other than prescribed, taking someone else's prescribed medication, or providing prescription drugs to others.
Please note that completing the security clearance process does not guarantee an offer of employment with CSE. If you are not offered employment at CSE within 12 months of completing the clearance process, you will be required to complete the process again for future applications.
Onboarding
If you successfully complete the candidate assessment and clearance process and are being considered for employment with CSE, our Human Resources team will contact you to begin the onboarding process.
Questions about the candidate assessment and clearance process
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1. Do I need a university degree to work at CSE?
Certain positions require a university degree, but CSE also hires people with college diplomas, and individuals with an acceptable combination of education, training and relevant experience.
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2. Do I have to be a Canadian citizen to apply?
Yes, you must be a Canadian citizen to work at CSE. Also, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) must be able to verify your whereabouts for the past 10 years. Be prepared to provide information on periods of time spent abroad in this time frame.
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3. Can I still apply if I have a criminal record?
Yes, you can still apply if you have a criminal record. However, the details of the offence will be evaluated during the clearance process and may affect the outcome of your application.
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4. Can I still apply if I have used illegal drugs in the past?
You must abstain from illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs for at least one year ahead of applying to CSE, and throughout the assessment and clearance process. Any illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs within this time frame will result in your application being rejected.
Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dosage other than prescribed, taking someone else’s prescribed medication, or providing prescription drugs to others.
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5. What is CSE’s policy on recreational cannabis use?
Although recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, CSE employees may not report to work under the influence of cannabis or consume any product containing cannabis while conducting CSE business. This does not apply to employees who have a medical authorization to consume cannabis.
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6. Can I still apply if I have declared bankruptcy in the past?
Yes, although this may be a factor during the clearance process, which considers a candidate’s reliability and suitability.
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7. What should I expect from the polygraph examination?
It is important to speak candidly about your life experiences, ask questions and follow your examiner’s instructions. Nervousness is expected and accounted for during the examination. The most critical element of the polygraph examination is to be honest, even if there are things you are nervous about sharing.
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8. What happens if I fail to obtain the security clearance?
If a candidate fails to obtain the required security clearance, CSE cannot make an employment offer.
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9. What happens if I withdraw from a staffing process?
The assessment process is stopped. To apply for another position in the future, you must submit a new application.
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10. What happens if I am unsuccessful in the staffing process?
If you are unsuccessful in a staffing process, you will be notified in writing. The notification will include advice and guidance on when you might be able to reapply to work with CSE.
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11. Am I able to apply to multiple positions at once?
Yes, you can apply to and be assessed for multiple positions at once. However, only one application can be submitted to our security team for the clearance process. Before we submit your file to security, we will ask you to identify which position you would prefer.
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12. How long will CSE retain information from my application?
The information you provide on your application form is collected under the Financial Administration Act for the administration of recruitment and staffing activities, for statistical purposes and may be disclosed to the CSE’s Corporate Security to initiate the Personal Security Screening process, as per the Personal Information Bank PSU 917. Your personal information is protected under the Privacy Act, which gives individuals the right to access and correct their personal information as required. It will be retained in the Personal Information Bank PSU 911 and PSE 902 and it will be used, disclosed and retained in accordance with the conditions listed for each of the Personal Information Banks.
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13. What is the difference between Enhanced Reliability Status versus Enhanced Top Secret clearance?
Enhanced reliability status screening is the basic screening for positions that support security and intelligence functions or operations. Enhanced Top Secret clearance screening is conducted for certain positions in the security and intelligence community that require regular and unsupervised access to methods, sources, analytical processes and techniques related to the collection of sensitive or classified intelligence or counter-intelligence information.
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Contact us
Recruitment
Professional inquiries
Email:
careers-carrieres@cse-cst.gc.ca
Student inquiries
Email:
students-etudiants@cse-cst.gc.ca
