Frequently Asked Questions

Cannot find the answer to your question below? Please send your question to humanresources@trentu.ca.

I am an external candidate, can I still apply to an OPSEU regular/recurring position? 

How do I know if a job competition is still open and accepting applications?

Can I apply for a job, even though the closing date has passed?

Will you accept a general resume?

How do I apply to student positions?

How do I apply to teaching/academic positions?

Can I send my resume directly to the hiring manager/department?

Who should I address my cover letter to?

Can you give me an overview of the hiring process for non-academic positions?

Can I call or email the Human Resources Department to see if a position has been filled, and/or check on the status of my application?

I've already sent my resume to Trent, will you use it or refer to it for future competitions?

Will applications submitted through the External Recruitment Site be reviewed at the same time as applications submitted through the Internal Job Board?

Where can I find additional information on the Exempt & OPSEU Recruitment process?

I am an external candidate, can I still apply to regular or recurring OPSEU positions? 

In the case of regular/recurring OPSEU positions, the University will consider internal OPSEU applicants first, in accordance with the OPSEU Collective Agreement. However, external applicants are encouraged to apply to any current job posting.

How do I know if a job competition is still open and accepting applications?

Any jobs posted are open and accepting applications. If a job is not on our site then it is not an active job competition. Please note, some external advertising sites do not always remove the advertisement once the application deadline has passed.

Can I apply for a job, even though the closing date has passed?

Late applications will not be considered.

Will you accept a general resume?

General resumes will not be accepted. 

How do I apply to student positions?

Please visit our Student Academic Support opportunities, or visit Career Space for non-academic student employment opportunities.

How do I apply to teaching/academic positions?

Please visit the Dean's Office for information on teaching/academic positions.

Can I send my resume directly to the hiring manager/department?

Applications for Non-Academic (OPSEU & Exempt) positions must be submitted through the External Recruitment Site (external applicants) or the Internal Job Board in VIP (employees and individuals with VIP access), and cannot be sent directly to the hiring manager. All other applications must be submitted via the method specified on the job posting by the posted deadline.

Who should I address my cover letter to?

Applications are reviewed by an interview committee and therefore do not need to be addressed to a specific person.

Can you give me an overview of the hiring process for non-academic positions?

The following are generalized and brief steps of the hiring process. Some positions may differ from these steps and the timelines for hiring vary with each position:

• Job postings are posted on our website anywhere from five working days to "until filled."
• Once the job posting has closed applications are released to the interview committee for review.
• The interview committee identifies their short-list.
• Short-listed candidates are contacted and scheduled for interviews and testing (where applicable).
• References are checked for the top candidate.
• A hiring recommendation is forwarded to Human Resources for approval.
• A verbal offer of employment is extended to the successful candidate.
• The successful candidate receives a letter confirming their appointment.
• The remaining short-listed candidates are notified of the committee's decision.

Can I call or email the Human Resources Department to see if a position has been filled, and/or check on the status of my application?

We appreciate your interest in working at Trent University, however the Department of Human Resources does not provide any information about the status of a job competition to ensure the process is fair for applicants. If the interview committee is interested in your application, you will be contacted.

I've already sent my resume to Trent, will you use it or refer to it for future competitions?

Due to the volume we receive, we are not able to review prior resume submissions for any future competitions. You must submit an up-to-date covering letter and resume for each individual posting you are interested in. 

Will applications submitted through the External Recruitment Site be reviewed at the same time as applications submitted through the Internal Job Board?

For Exempt positions, all applications will be reviewed at the same time. For posted OPSEU positions, applications from current OPSEU members will be reviewed prior to any external applications in accordance with the collective agreement. 

Where can I find additional information on the Exempt & OPSEU Recruitment process?

Please refer to the Recruiting – Exempt & OPSEU Policy and OPSEU Collective Agreement, for further information.