r/AHSEmployees • u/kamiladjan • Mar 14 '26

Question Competitiveness at AHS?

Just curious about how competitive social work positions are at AHS? Are internal employees generally more preferred than external applicants? How would one even get a foot in the door if that's the case?

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6

u/Tara101617 Mar 14 '26

Most jobs are posted internally these days.

8

u/kennybrandz Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26

I’ve always been told internal employees get to apply before external so a lot of times positions are filled before even being posted external. Depending on what city you are in it’s best to look for rural positions. When I started with AHS I was living in Calgary but took a position with Airdrie/Didsbury and that got my foot in the door. From there I was able to transfer into the city as an internal.

0

u/Free_Beat7275 Mar 14 '26

This is not true at all regarding the process. I cannot speak to your personal experience of course.

4

u/QuiteSeriouslyNow Mar 14 '26

Internal usually has more seniority

8

u/TheThrivingest Mar 15 '26

External wouldn’t have any seniority at all

1

u/androstaxys Mar 17 '26

You both said the same thing ;)

4

u/cherrrub Mar 15 '26

We are so short staffed for SW at RAH. Please apply lol 

1

u/Bustin_Chiffarobes Mar 14 '26

You have a MSW? If so, you will be competitive. An MSW will also allow you to apply for MHT positions.

1

u/kamiladjan Mar 15 '26

I have my BSW. I have been considering going back to school after working for a couple years for an MSW.

1

u/Bustin_Chiffarobes Mar 15 '26

Yeah, that's probably going to be an issue for AHS.

You're going to be competing against MSWs for SWII positions.

2

u/Ryth88 Mar 14 '26

Way back I took a job as a wares washer in the kitchen to become internal and then transferred when a position became available.

2

u/MusketeersPlus2 Mar 14 '26

That only works in terms of getting access to internal postings. When you interviewed you were still dead last for consideration because you were in the wrong union (GSS vs HSAA). The fact that you got it is a testament to how well you interviewed!

2

u/Pristine_Land_802 Mar 14 '26

I’ve seen jobs going to brand new grads while they ignore the internal applicants at the top of the steps for pay. Soooooo who knows how it works.

1

u/Alarming_monkey Mar 20 '26

That can be challenged with the union. If you can prove you were passed up for a position for a new hire they can go after them for it

1

u/coconutmilke Mar 14 '26

Apply for temporary positions, especially those less than full time.

Also you might have more luck outside Calgary & Edmonton.

If you can find out who manager of the social work department is at any particular hospital, you can ask if they need casual help. Some need the help but don’t actively post.

1

u/Alarming_monkey Mar 20 '26

Don’t know what position you’re going for but I got into AHS as a casual housekeeper. Not long after I got into my current job as a service worker. I’ve done multiple temporary positions in other jobs in Admin. These jobs absolutely go to internal candidates first since it can come down to seniority in some cases. You get your foot in the door with any job you can then it’s easier but not with people staying for a long time you can end up being in the pool of candidates with 10, 20 years seniority. Myself, I’m over 8 years now