Working For the Feds: An Interview with CIDA’s Executive Vice President, David Moloney

This article was originally published in the Arts Co-op Connect Newsletter in Spring 2011.

David Moloney, SFU’s Champion from the Federal Government, has described himself as someone who “…can’t decide what he wants to do when he grows up.” Given the fact that he is currently the Executive Vice President of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Ottawa and someone who has worked in the federal government for over 25 years, this may come as either a surprise or a reassurance. 

Along with David Moloney’s experience working in government, he also has experience hiring staff. With the confession of having interviewed as many as a thousand students over the years, Mr. Moloney gave insight into what the government is looking for when you apply. He stated that though academics and performance are heavily weighted, having a little “something else” can put you ahead of the curve. He recommends getting involved in part-time work, Co-op, volunteering, sports, student government – something to show your curiosity, your energy and your drive, giving your interviewers and (future) employers insight into who you are. His final piece of advice: make sure to invest in yourself by “ask[ing] a million questions in your first job! You need to, and if you don’t, they [employers] will wonder why you don’t.”

Beyond the Article:

• Start to get that "something else" by learning from other student's co-op reflections.
• Want to work in Federal government? Read about Vanessa Leung's co-op term working for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Also, be sure to check out these tips on how to increase your chances of working in government.