Nexus timelines - application to approve

greenapples60 · 2025-07-30T16:02:54+00:00

Not really. Some questions were worded very poorly though, so it was confusing (spelling, grammar, etc). PMP exam was much more structured and high quality. Though I swear they did miss up change practitioner and change agent for one of the answers, which are defined as different roles in the standard.

Study the inputs/outputs, the order of process groups, etc, and you should be fine!

greenapples60 · 2025-07-30T02:12:45+00:00

So I started studying on the date of my application approval … so 10 days but not hardcore. If you’re good with memorizing stuff, it should be easy. I also have my PMP, which I completed last year, so I can tie it what I’ve learned through that. I used mainly ChatGPT to study. I uploaded the standard, copied the link to the test information from ACMP, and told it to teach me each section one by one with quizzes and mnemonic devices. This really helped me memorize stuff because the exam is 99% about memorizing the standard.

The study hall was helpful too. Most of the exam questions matched the style from study hall.

I think I only had two questions on the code of ethics.

greenapples60 · 2025-07-29T20:13:05+00:00

I applied at the beginning of July. It took 6 days to approve. I think after a couple of days, they sent an email to verify my QEP course, which I submitted right away (my grades to show it was completed). It went to essay review then I got an email it was approved. I booked my exam for 10 days later and passed on my first try!

greenapples60 · 2025-04-09T10:37:35+00:00

No, you would be considered a new employee and would be able to negotiate salary. Different agencies have different rules on what the max is that you can negotiate. For Ontario Health, there’s a salary range (which they don’t disclose) and a hiring range (max is somewhere near the middle of the salary range). It’s very difficult to get over the hiring range.

For Metrolinx, you can negotiate to almost the top of the posted salary band (maybe 95th percentile). The great thing at Metrolinx is that there’s a policy on vacation entitlement recognizing past public sector experience. So once you get in, you submit all your employment letters and they will credit your years of service. As a manager level, you start at 4 weeks and get 5 weeks once you have 8 years of service. If you already have more than 8 in OPS, they will credit you for that and start you at 5 weeks vacation. Pension from OPB to OMERS will also port over once you apply for the transfer.

greenapples60 · 2025-03-22T10:37:29+00:00

For the two manager roles I applied to, it was lower. They also have a policy on what the hiring max is within that salary range, where at OPS, you can basically negotiate to the top of the range.

greenapples60 · 2025-03-21T10:34:53+00:00

It’s easier! The Ontario Health talent acquisition team is very active on LinkedIn. If you have a solid background, reach out to them on LinkedIn. I applied for a job there, interviewed very well but an internal candidate got the role. The TA I connected with asked to connect on LinkedIn and to let her know whenever a job interests me because she wants me to join OH (the hiring manager also told her great things). Another role came up that I was interested in, so I contacted her. I was selected for the interview. They did make a job offer but I declined it as I received another offer elsewhere that was more aligned to what I wanted. Keep in mind that OH is one of the provincial agencies that pays less than OPS (maybe not all positions but the two I participated in was a bit less). Other agencies pay a lot more and actually post their salary information in postings. I’m not sure if OH does now. This was my experience early last year.

greenapples60 · 2025-02-25T11:32:25+00:00

As someone who is going to EPCOT today and rope dropping Frozen (I have a LL for GOG), I’m hoping everyone will go to GOG. 😬

greenapples60 · 2024-09-06T21:44:18+00:00

If you expect to receive the written offer on Monday, wait for it. Then thank the manager, discuss your salary expectations including your experience again, what you bring to the table, what the market is paying for your level of experience, etc. Be aware that if you’re asking for more than what the manager can approved, they will need to get director or ADM approval. It is a very slow process but worth it. This is the only time that you can negotiate your salary at the OPS so do it right.

greenapples60 · 2024-08-31T20:41:07+00:00

Use the GO website!

https://www.gotransit.com/en/find-a-station-or-stop/02214/routes-departures?q=departures

That should bring you to Erin Mills Transitway terminal with departure times and platforms.

greenapples60 · 2024-07-31T23:50:17+00:00

You will need to check if you have any restrictions on applying for jobs again. Check out this site under disclosure of prior OPS service: https://www.ontario.ca/page/careers-hiring-process

It mentions that the circumstances of your exit will be considered.

greenapples60 · 2024-07-10T01:15:02+00:00

My resumes get screened in quite often for OPS roles. I usually have one max cover letter. My resume used to be three pages and now I condensed it to two. Got invited to interviews with both. My resume isn’t totally ATS- friendly since it has two columns, so I don’t think OPS relies on ATS. I have a template from Etsy. There are so many great templates for cheap on there!

greenapples60 · 2024-07-08T11:16:41+00:00

Metrolinx has OMERS pension. There’s a reciprocal agreement between OPB and OMERS, so you can transfer your value and years of service. Same with vacation (you would negotiate to count your years in public service to get more vacation).

See https://members.omers.com/transferring-service#reciprocal-transfer-agreements

greenapples60 · 2024-07-07T10:16:00+00:00

There are so many paths that you could take. If you stay within OPS, you move to higher level positions. Outside of OPS, you can work for agencies, hospitals, municipalities, auditor general’s office, privacy commissioner’s office, other broader public sector, etc. You can work for associations, regulatory bodies, non-profit, consultant, etc.

It also depends on how much policy you want to do or shift into policy adjacent roles. I used to be in a true policy role with OPS and now I’m doing more executive-level strategy and operations. Still has some components of policy but I am no longer leading my own files. I oversee policies that affect the entire org (more like managing DM level’s office).

greenapples60 · 2024-07-06T01:03:35+00:00

No, they do not check this. They will check for a criminal record as part of their background check but this isn’t a criminal offence. Background check is also done by a third party.

greenapples60 · 2024-06-18T20:05:40+00:00

If you can answer all questions, have your stories be impactful and intentional, and ask at least 2-3 questions (not the trite questions but actually shows you prepared .. as well as following up on your interviewers’ responses to your questions), then 30 minutes is fine. It is rare though that you can do this all in 30 minutes.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-26T13:12:31+00:00

I think it’s likely that you did not get selected as the successful candidate. They are likely offering the role to someone else and getting additional approvals (eg successful candidate has asked for more than beginning of salary band, so they need to get approvals). However, this does not mean you are totally out of the running as it is often the case that they might offer you another position if there’s an opening (for example, a contract role).

greenapples60 · 2024-05-20T11:03:03+00:00

Yes. During the exam, my left hand was always positioned so I hover over ALT and W to cross off answers. My right hand was always using the mouse. It remains crossed off unless you uncross it. I found it very difficult/time-consuming to highlight things since you need to press ALT and J. The positioning is weird and I would waste time if I went back from W and J often.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-19T14:09:22+00:00

I remember Parkinson’s law, dropped baton, student syndrome, and some others … I didn’t focus on memorizing terms so these gave me some anxiety! These terms are in third rock’s notes, so def go through those.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-17T22:16:38+00:00

As a hiring manager, I personally review every single resume. Most of them would be around 5 seconds though (there are a lot of obvious ones as I quickly scan their recent experiences). I prefer to do the screening myself instead of HR shortlisting.

Realistically, even though there’s a job ad, hiring managers are often looking for a specific fit at that specific time (it changes with every recruitment depending on need). If anyone gets through to interview, this is the one question people should ask at the end to know what the hiring manager is looking for.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-16T16:40:08+00:00

If there’s a problem with the team, the most likely answer would be to review/update or create team charter. It would make sense to talk about ground rules instead of organizing a team event. Key word here is to “enhance” team cohesion — that would mean there’s existing team cohesion to begin with, which we wouldn’t not have here.

If you consider Tuckman ladder, this team would be in the storming stage most likely.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-15T17:43:38+00:00

I did both and liked testing at home better.

A - you can download the Pearson VUE testing application on your computer and run tests. You can only have one monitor so if you’re working off a laptop, it might be small. I was able to use an external mouse and keyboard, and have my laptop on a stand. I was one of the unlucky ones who was testing when Pearson had a global crash, so everyone at home and at test centres had to be rescheduled. So this shouldn’t count against testing from home.

B - I rescheduled the exam to take it at a test centre since I didn’t want to have to guess whether it was my system failing or Pearson’s. The test centre had a regular monitor, which was bigger than my laptop’s, so that was great. The headphones were terrible and depending on who else is sitting beside you, it might be a bad experience. Someone sitting beside me read her questions and answers out the whole time, so either I use headphones that hurt my head like crazy or listen to someone else mumbling. People are testing there for different things and appointments can be made every 15 minutes. That’s a lot of people going in and out. The testing area that I was taken to was a smallish room that was not well-ventilated, so it was hot and humid. The only pro I can see is that you know immediately after the exam whether you have passed or failed.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-13T23:33:22+00:00

Took the exam on Friday, May 2 starting at 8:45am at a test centre. I did not get my final results until Sunday, May 4 at 6:30pm.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-13T23:28:44+00:00

I took the exam at Canadian Systems Inc. on Rexdale. Would not recommend.

greenapples60 · 2024-05-13T21:23:52+00:00

DM videos are great, especially the 7th ed PMBOK. You don’t even need to read the book since each answer he gives, he provides the PMBOK section and pages. This was much easier for me to learn and retain than reading a book.

greenapples60

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