Essential qualifications
Qualifications that must be met for appointment, as opposed to asset qualifications.
Plain English
The requirements you must meet to be appointed. Assets are the nice-to-haves that may be used to narrow the field.
If you’re new here
Address every essential explicitly in your application, using their words. Screeners look for them literally.
What they probably mean
“Miss one of these and you're out, however good you are.”
Interpretation offered as humour, not authoritative guidance.
Bureaucracy level
How much government-speak this phrase carries. Playful indicator, not a judgement of anyone using it.
Related terms
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Important
GC Simplified is an independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, and it does not provide official advice. Plain language is an interpretation, and interpretations can be wrong. Always verify against the source and your organization’s own guidance before acting.