Well, I got screwed by the folks at my recruiting centre and I must say I am NOT impressed. I gave them a call yesterday to find out exactly what was going on. After all, I think after waiting since Feb. 2009, I was entitled to an answer. So I became stern and didn't take "We'll call you when a position opens up". After being as firm as I could be without becoming rude, I discovered that I was never on the merit list to begin with. My recruiting officer told me in September 2009 that I was on the merit list and that I was going to get an offer in April, which I was fine with.
I kept calling once a month since then to make sure everything was okay. I called on April 1st and they told me that the merit list resets every fiscal year and that I was put on the new list for the 2010/2011 year. then they told me that they didn't hire anyone yet and that they were still in the process of figuring out where everyone they hired were going to go. I was then told to call back the second week of April. I did.
I was told I wasn't selected(which was understandable considering there were only 60+ positions open this year). Then I get wind of someone who posted above, saying that they put their application in jan 1st 2011 and that they had a spot in Infantry set to begin with their August BMQ. (Congrats by the way. hang on to it!). This rose an eyebrow. how could someone with less training than me, be put higher on the merit list?
So I once again call my recruiting officer and he tells me that I wasn't even considered for the job because I wasn't even put on the merit list to begin with. I was speechless. he then tells me it's too late and that I'd have to redo my appointments for infantry because they expire in may. he tells me to schedule them for April 2011 when the trade opens up again. and before I could say anything in protest, he informs me that he's late for an appointment and that he had to go and proceeded to hang up on me.
Now I find this completely unacceptable. I have been waiting 14 months for a position that I wasn't even being considered for because they failed to stay on top of my file while the whole time, they were lying to me by telling me that I was all set to go and that I would have a very strong chance to get hired.
Needless to say I am not impressed with the way some (not all) of these guys/girls run a CFRC. I am not willing to switch to a trade I don't want and I'm not willing to wait another year unless I've extinguished all other options. I have contacted the local Ombudsman in order to get some answers that I so rightfully deserve. The lesson to be learned here is that everyone who has an application in has to make sure they stay on top of the people handling their file. "Falling through the cracks" is unacceptable...