Competencies & Skills Explained: What Does the Government of Canada SJT Measure?
Judgement & Decision-Making
What Does Good Decision-Making Look Like on the SJT?
This measures how well you choose the best possible action in challenging situations.
Good responses show:
- Weigh risks and consequences before acting
- Follow policies and public service values
- Make practical, reasonable choices
- Know when to escalate or seek guidance
Poor responses usually show:
- Overreactions
- Ignoring safety or policy
- Creating conflict that can be avoided
- Avoiding taking action
Sample Situational Judgment Test Question -Competency: Judgement & Decision-Making
Scenario:
You are part of a small team responsible for preparing a briefing note for a manager. The document is due at the end of the day. One of your colleagues, Sarah, was responsible for drafting a key section, but she has not submitted it yet. She has been overwhelmed with her workload recently and mentioned earlier that she might not finish it on time. Your manager has a meeting in the morning and needs the briefing note reviewed and finalized today.
What is the most appropriate action?
A. Wait a little longer for Sarah to submit her section. She said she was trying her best, and you do not want to pressure her further.
B. Let the manager know immediately that Sarah may miss the deadline and that the briefing note might not be ready.
C. Reach out to Sarah to check on her progress and offer help. If she is unable to finish, take steps to complete the section so the team meets the deadline.
D. Rewrite Sarah’s section yourself without consulting her, since completing the task is urgent and you don’t want to risk delays.
Correct Answer: C
Option C is the most appropriate because it demonstrates sound judgement, teamwork, and proactive problem-solving. It balances respect for your colleague with your responsibility to meet the team’s deadline. You check in first, offer support, and ensure that the work gets completed on time. This approach aligns with Government of Canada values of collaboration, professionalism, and service delivery.
Why the other options are less effective:
A (Ineffective): Waiting without taking action risks missing the deadline. It shows passive decision-making and poor prioritization.
B (Partially effective but premature): Alerting the manager may be appropriate if needed, but you haven’t taken reasonable steps to resolve the issue within the team first.
D (Ineffective): Acting without consulting Sarah creates confusion, undermines teamwork, and may lead to errors or duplicated work.
Option C provides the most balanced, professional, and responsible response, making it the best choice.
Problem Solving
How Does the Test Evaluate Your Problem-Solving Skills?
You’re expected to recognize what the real issue, which may not be obvious, and choose actions that fix it professionally.
The SJT tests whether you can:
- Identify root cause of the problem
- Think logically under pressure
- Select constructive, efficient solutions
- Stay objective and calm under pressure
Problem Solving Practice Question
Scenario:
You have assigned your team some work with a tight deadline which unless met means that the company is going to incur huge losses. You assign Jackie is to lead the team delivering the assignment. Two days before the deadline, Jackie shows up in your office and explains to you that it will not be possible to deliver the project on time because one of the team members failed to play his part.
How are you going to handle the situation?
A. Quarrel with Jackie and blame the delay on her entirely as a team leader.
B. Brainstorm with her on what may be done to cover up the undone work
C. Ensure that both Jackie and the employee get a salary cut
D. Call a meeting and shame the entire team for failing.
Correct Answer: B
What has happened in the past is hard to reverse and instead of wasting more time, a good leader would first, work towards meeting the requirements. In this given scenario, the possibility of incurring losses would be blamed on you. The most correct thing to do therefore is to brainstorm with Jackie and the rest of the team on what may be done by each member to meet the deadline.
Why the other options are less effective:
Choices A, C and D will lead to resentment against the company and yourself and would be bad for moral. The object is to avoid loss and complete the project.
Teamwork & Collaboration
How Do You Show Teamwork in SJT Scenarios?
Many scenarios involve coworker conflict, workload challenges, or team misunderstandings and issues.
Strong teamwork means:
- Support colleagues at all times
- Share information when appropriate
- Address and resolves conflict constructively
- Promote a respectful and positive work environment
Teamwork Sample Question
Scenario:
Your team goes out for a party but there is a line-up and the wait time is too long. Some of your team grow impatient and want to leave. How should you handle this situation?
a. Offer incentives and ask them to be patient.
b. Request patience for a little while longer.
c. Lead them in demonstrating against the unfair treatment.
d. Keep quiet and let things fall into place.
Correct Answer: B
You are nominally in charge so it fall on you to handle thesituation. However, you can’t do much about the line-up. Choice B, ask for patience for a bit longer is the best choice.
Why the other options are less effective:
Choice A, offering incentives may be considered later depending on how long you wait. Choice C, and D don’t do anything to diffuse the situation.
Communication (Clarity, Respect & Professionalism)
How Is Communication Scored in the SJT?
Your communication and interpersonal skills is tested through your responses — not entirely through your writing.
You are evaluated on whether you:
- Communicate clearly and respectfully with co-workers and the public
- Maintain professionalism at all times
- Choose the right time and place to communicate
- Help de-escalate conflict and resolve confusion
- Build positive relationships with the public and co-workers
- Stay calm with difficult people
- Earn trust through respectful interactions
Communication Sample Question
There have been communication and misunderstandings in yokur department in the past.
How should you prevent similar incidents in the future?
a. Encourage all employees to use written communication.
b. Make clarifications where needed and encourage team members to do the same.
c. Refuse to consider any verbal communication.
d. Be complacent in communicating with others.
Correct Answer: A
Verbal communication is not always the best because there is never proof of communication. The best way to communicate is through written communication. By following written communication, you are provided with evidence of communication for reference in future.
Why the other options are less effective:
Choice B, refusing to consider verbal communication is too extreme. Choice D is incorrect be-cause you don’t want to be complacent when communicating with others.
Situation Awareness Sample Question
Scenario:
You work as a Federal Program Officer in a regional office. Late in the afternoon, you are reviewing files while several colleagues are preparing to leave. As you walk to the printer, you notice an unfamiliar individual standing near the secure file room door, looking at a list posted on the wall. The person is not wearing a visitor badge and appears unsure of where to go. No one else seems to have noticed them.
What should you do FIRST?
A. Politely approach the individual, ask if you can help them, and verify whether they have signed in and been issued a visitor badge.
B. Ignore the situation for now because security staff will handle it if it’s actually a concern.
C. Return to your desk and send an email to your manager describing what you saw, asking for guidance.
D. Quickly confront the individual and demand to know why they are near a secure area.
Correct Answer : A
Approaching the person in a calm, helpful, and observant manner demonstrates strong situational awareness and appropriate response. You are verifying identity, confirming adherence to security protocols, and assessing whether assistance is needed. This balances vigilance with professionalism.
Why the other options are less effective:
Least Effective: B
Ignoring a potential security issue shows poor situational awareness. Threats or breaches often begin with small irregularities. Relying solely on security staff without taking reasonable immediate action could allow a problem to escalate.
Moderately Effective (but not ideal) C
Reporting concerns to your manager is appropriate, but emailing and waiting for guidance is slow and passive. Immediate, low-risk action (such as politely verifying the visitor’s status) is expected. This choice shows awareness but lacks initiative.
Ineffective D
Confronting someone aggressively, without verifying context, may escalate a situation unnecessarily and violates expectations for respectful, professional conduct. While you are right to notice the concern, the approach is inappropriate.
Adaptability & Stress Tolerance
How Is Adaptability Measured?
You will be given situations that involve sudden changes or make a decision under high pressure.
Strong responses demonstrate:
- Show flexibility
- A calm, stable behaviour
- The ability to manage competing priorities
- Show Professionalism during unexpected events
Adaptability and Stress Sample Question
Scenario:
You are a Program Assistant in a federal department. You have been working all week on a time-sensitive briefing note that your manager expects by the end of the day. An hour before the deadline, your manager informs you that priorities have shifted due to new information from headquarters. They need you to pause your current draft and instead compile a short summary of key facts for an urgent meeting starting in 30 minutes. You already feel under pressure to complete your original task, and now your workload has suddenly changed.
What is the most appropriate response?
A. Acknowledge the updated priority, ask clarifying questions about the new task, and begin preparing the summary right away while planning to return to the briefing note afterward.
B. Tell your manager that changing tasks now is stressful and that you will complete the original briefing first, then work on the summary if time allows.
C. Try to quickly finish as much of the original briefing note as possible before starting the new task, even if it means missing part of the meeting deadline.
D. Accept the new task but work through it while expressing your frustration to colleagues about constant last-minute changes.
Correct Answer A
This option demonstrates strong adaptability, composure under pressure, and alignment with shifting organizational priorities—key expectations in federal SJT competencies. You acknowledge the new requirement, clarify expectations, and respond promptly. This shows resilience and the ability to pivot tasks without becoming overwhelmed.
Why the other options are less effective:
Least Effective: B
This response shows an inability to adapt to changing priorities and does not meet the department’s immediate needs. Expressing that you will only complete the original task fails to demonstrate flexibility or stress tolerance, and does not support team or organizational goals.
Ineffective: C
Attempting to finish the original task first ignores the updated priority and increases the risk of missing two deadlines. This shows poor time management under stress and an inability to reprioritize effectively.
Moderately Effective but Not Ideal D
Although you accept the new priority, complaining to colleagues shows poor emotional regulation. It undermines team morale, demonstrates low stress tolerance, and is inconsistent with professional behaviour expected in federal roles.
Compliance With Rules, Procedure
How Does the SJT Assess Your Knowledge of Government Policy?
You are not tested on specific regulations or policy — but on your ability to follow them.
You are evaluated on whether you:
- Stay within your role and your authority
- Follow departmental guidelines
- Report or document issues when required
- Understand when escalation is necessary
Compliance With Rules, Procedure Sample Question
Scenario:
You are a Federal Service Officer working at a public-facing counter. Near closing time, a long-time client arrives asking to submit a form that must, according to departmental policy, be verified with two pieces of identification. The client has only one piece of ID and insists they have submitted the same form before without being asked for two. They are frustrated and say it would be a major inconvenience to return another day. There is no supervisor immediately available, and the policy is clear.
What should you do?
A. Calmly explain the policy, clarify why two pieces of identification are required, and offer alternative options (such as returning tomorrow or using the online submission portal), while remaining empathetic but firm.
B. Accept the form with one piece of ID since the client is familiar and it is close to closing time, and make a note to verify the second ID later.
C. Refuse to help the client and tell them they must leave immediately if they cannot follow the rules.
D. Tell the client to wait while you search for exceptions to the policy, even though you already know there are no exceptions.
Correct Answer: A
This response demonstrates strong compliance with rules and procedures while maintaining professionalism and service quality. You remain firm about the requirement, clearly communicate the rationale, and offer practical alternatives. This aligns with public service expectations: apply policy consistently, treat clients respectfully, and protect program integrity.
Why the other options are less effective:
Least Effective: B
Accepting the form without the required documentation violates a clear policy and undermines fairness, consistency, and program security. This is the lowest-scoring option because it shows disregard for compliance.
Ineffective: C
Although you enforce the rule, the approach is unnecessarily harsh and does not reflect the professionalism expected from federal employees. It may escalate the situation and compromise service standards.
Moderately Effective but Not Ideal D
While you are not breaking any rules, delaying the client by pretending to look for exceptions is misleading and inefficient. This avoids the real responsibility: clearly communicating the policy and guiding the client appropriately.
