A bilingual interview in Canada usually means one of two things. In the federal public service, your second official language is measured by separate, standardized tests (reading, writing and an oral assessment rated A, B or C), while the job interview itself is held in the official language you choose. In private-sector jobs in Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau and other bilingual markets, the check is usually informal: part of the interview switches into French or English to see how you cope.
This guide explains both, with the federal rules checked on canada.ca as of October 2026, and gives you a plan and example answers we wrote. For the rest of the federal process, see our Government of Canada interview guide; for Canadian hiring in general, start with our job interview tips for Canada.
How does a bilingual interview work in the federal public service?
The key rule is in section 37 of the Public Service Employment Act. An examination or interview that assesses qualifications other than language proficiency "shall be conducted in English or French or both at the option of the candidate". An interview that assesses your knowledge of English or French is conducted in that language. The PSC Staffing Manual adds that all qualifications except language proficiency must be assessed in your official language of choice, wherever the job is located.
In practice, that means:
- Your main interview about experience, abilities and personal suitability happens in the language you pick. Pick the one you're strongest in.
- Your second-language level is measured separately, usually through Public Service Commission (PSC) second language evaluation tests.
- Timing varies. The PSC says that for bilingual positions you could be tested at any point in the hiring process.
Bilingual positions are normally staffed "imperatively", meaning the person appointed must meet the language requirements at the time of appointment. The PSC describes imperative staffing as the norm and non-imperative staffing, where a candidate can be appointed and then trained, as the exception. Read the poster to see which applies.
What do CBC, BBB and other language profiles mean?
Federal bilingual positions carry a three-letter linguistic profile. Under the Treasury Board's Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages, the letters are in a fixed order: reading comprehension, written expression, then oral communication. CBC means level C in reading, B in writing and C in oral. A dash replaces a letter when a skill isn't required.
| Level | Oral communication | Reading comprehension | Written expression |
|---|---|---|---|
| A (basic) | Asks and answers simple questions on familiar work topics; gives or understands simple instructions | Understands simple texts on routine work topics, such as forms, agendas and short emails | Writes isolated words and simple phrases on familiar topics |
| B (intermediate) | Takes part in conversations on concrete work topics; describes actions and gives factual explanations | Grasps the overall meaning of most work texts and picks out specific details | Writes short, factual texts on concrete work topics |
| C (advanced) | Explains complex, abstract or sensitive topics in detail, gives opinions and discusses hypothetical situations | Understands abstract or theoretical texts and nuance, such as policies and regulations | Writes detailed, well-structured texts on complex topics, such as reports and briefing notes |
Two other results exist. X means your performance did not meet level A. E means you met level C and are expected to keep it, so the PSC grants an indefinite exemption from retesting.
What happens in the oral language assessment?
The PSC's Oral Language Assessment page (modified April 28, 2025) describes the test like this, as of October 2026:
- Length: 20 to 40 minutes, including instructions.
- Format: by video on Microsoft Teams with your camera on. You must be alone in a quiet place, not a cubicle or open workspace.
- Structure: it starts with simple questions about your work or familiar activities (A level) and moves on to B-level and then C-level questions. The assessor may redirect you before you feel you have finished a topic. If you aren't employed, you may be asked about your studies or volunteer work.
- Scoring: a global evaluation of your sustained performance. Mistakes don't necessarily lower your rating, and you can use simpler words when you can't find the exact one.
- Validity: five years if you respect the 30-day retest period, and the result is portable to other bilingual federal positions.
Reading and writing are tested separately. As of October 2026, the PSC's test list includes unsupervised and supervised Tests of Reading Comprehension and Written Expression, and the PSC offers self-assessment tests you can try first. Take the assessment yourself and follow the employer's rules — use CoPilot Interview to practice beforehand.
What about bilingual interviews in Quebec and the private sector?
Private employers don't use the federal test. When a job in Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau, New Brunswick or a national head office needs both languages, interviewers usually check in the room: a recruiter may start in one language and switch, or one panellist may ask a question in the other. Treat any job ad that says "bilingual (French/English)" as a promise that your second language will be tested somehow.
In Quebec, French is the default language of work. Éducaloi, a Quebec public legal-information organization, explains that under the Charter of the French Language an employer can require knowledge of another language, such as English, only when the duties need it and after reasonable steps to avoid the requirement, and that the job offer must state why. If a Quebec posting asks for English, the reason given tells you what to prepare for: talking to clients outside Quebec, for example. This is general information, not legal advice; check the Office québécois de la langue française for the official rules.
Provincial public services can test too. The Ontario Public Service, for example, requires French-language proficiency testing for designated bilingual positions; see our Ontario Public Service interview guide.
Example answers we wrote, in both languages
Question: "Tell me about a recent project you're proud of." Here is a B-to-C-level answer in English and the same story in French. Both are examples we wrote for illustration.
English: "Last spring I led the move of our client intake forms online. I mapped the eight paper forms, worked with IT on a single online version, and trained the front desk team. Processing time fell from about five days to two. If I did it again, I'd involve the front desk earlier, because they spotted two problems we only fixed after launch."
Français : « Le printemps dernier, j'ai dirigé la mise en ligne de nos formulaires d'accueil des clients. J'ai analysé les huit formulaires papier, j'ai travaillé avec l'équipe informatique sur une seule version en ligne et j'ai formé l'équipe de l'accueil. Le délai de traitement est passé d'environ cinq jours à deux. Si c'était à refaire, j'impliquerais l'accueil plus tôt, parce qu'ils ont repéré deux problèmes que nous avons corrigés seulement après le lancement. »
Why it works at C level: it describes actions in the past tense, gives a number, and ends with a reflection that uses the conditional ("If I did it again…" / « Si c'était à refaire… »), which is the kind of hypothetical language the C level calls for. For more on structuring stories in French, see our French guide to behavioural questions and the STAR method; if English is your second language, see our French-language guide to interviewing in English.
How to prepare for a bilingual interview
- Check the requirement: the linguistic profile on a federal poster, or the language line in a private-sector ad.
- Prepare your core stories in both languages: introduction, a project, a conflict, a mistake and a recommendation you made. Keep the vocabulary simple enough that you can speak smoothly.
- Learn job vocabulary: the ten to twenty terms you use daily (file, deadline, stakeholder, briefing note) in your second language.
- Practise opinions and hypotheticals out loud, since those separate B from C.
- Rehearse the main interview in your stronger language. CoPilot Interview's Mock Interview builds questions from your résumé and the job description, reads them aloud, and scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer. It's free for 15 minutes a day with no account, and the browser AI mock interview needs nothing installed. Pair it with conversation practice with a colleague or tutor in your second language.
Rehearse your interview stories before test day
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Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
Can I choose the language of my Government of Canada interview?
Yes. Under section 37 of the Public Service Employment Act, an interview that assesses qualifications other than language proficiency is conducted in English or French or both, at your option. Language skills are tested separately in the language being assessed.
What does a CBC language profile mean?
The letters are in the order reading comprehension, written expression, oral communication. CBC means level C in reading, level B in writing and level C in oral communication.
How long does the federal oral language test take?
The PSC says the Oral Language Assessment takes 20 to 40 minutes, including instructions, and is held by video on Microsoft Teams with your camera on.
How long are second language evaluation results valid?
For the oral assessment, the PSC says results are valid for five years if the 30-day retest period is respected, and they are portable to other bilingual federal positions. An E result is an indefinite exemption.
Can a Quebec employer require English in an interview?
Only when the duties need it and the employer has taken reasonable steps to avoid the requirement, and the job offer must state the reason, according to Éducaloi’s summary of the Charter of the French Language. Check the official rules for your situation.
How do I prepare for a bilingual interview in the private sector?
Expect part of the interview to switch languages. Prepare your introduction and three or four key stories in both languages, learn your daily job vocabulary, and practise giving opinions out loud.