Frequently Asked Questions

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Updating Your Profile How to login to OFAS Hiring Deadlines Managing Your Application Letters of Reference For Referees

Updating Your Profile

To edit your profile (ex. name, password, contract information, or work status), click on ‘My profile' in the navigation menu. Click ‘Update Profile’ once you have made the desired changes.

Note: You are also able to view your submitted applications on this page. Refer to the ‘Managing Your Application’ section in the FAQ for more information.

How to login to OFAS

If you have already applied to a position using this system before, then you already have an account and you can log in using those credentials.

If you have a University of Waterloo WatIAm userid and password, you can log in using those credentials.

If neither of these apply to you, you have to create an account and then log in using those newly created credentials.

Hiring Deadlines

Job postings will be removed from the homepage at the specified 'Hiring End' date at 12:00AM, Eastern Standard Time. No late submissions will be accepted. After this point the jobs status will change from 'Open' to 'Closed', and it will only be listed in the 'My Profile' section provided you've applied to it.

Managing Your Application

All submitted applications can be viewed under ‘My profile’. You can either ‘View’ or ‘Withdraw’ your application, which will be labeled as either ‘Submitted’ or ‘Committee Review’.

The ‘Committee Review’ status indicates that the faculty members belonging to that position’s review committee have started to review the list of applicants. You will no longer be able to edit your submission. You may only withdraw or view your application once it reaches the ‘Committee Review’ stage. If your application makes it further in the review process, you will receive an email outlining the next steps you should take. If your application is rejected for the opening, you will also receive an email informing you of this decision.

Updating

You can edit your application to upload additional documents, including after the job listing has ended so long as your application has not been selected for review. Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to edit your references. You may only click ‘Resend Request’ in order to prompt a referee to submit their letter of reference if the application is still open.

Withdraw

Clicking ‘Withdraw’ will only indicate you are no longer interested in being considered for the position; Once your application package is marked as withdrawn it will still be visible to the committee reviewing the applicants, along with all the files you uploaded. You may resume a withdrawn application should you choose to.

Delete

You can delete an application by clicking ‘Delete’ found beside your applications under the ‘My Profile’ tab. This option results in permanently deleting all files and reference letters. The application will then no longer be visible to the admin and committee.

Letters of Reference

As you fill out your application you will be prompted to enter the email addresses of your referees. The OFAS system will then generate an email to each of the referees that include a web-link. Referees use this link to upload their letters of reference. Please check the status of your application to see which referee has provided their letters of reference.

If your referees have not submitted a reference yet, it will say ‘Waiting for reference’ next to the email of the referee when viewing an application. Also listed here is a ‘Resend Request’ option, which allows the applicant to send another reference request email to their referees.

Please note that to make changes the existing referees, you must reach out to the job contact for the posting.

If you would like your department admin to upload letters on behalf of your referees, you will need to provide their email addresses in the referee requirement section. Your referees will then receive an email with instructions on how to upload the letter, they can forward the email to the department admin and using the link provided in the email upload the reference letter.

For Referees

Referees will receive an email requesting their reference letter once the applicant successfully completes their application. Please use the link provided in the email to submit the reference letter, alternatively, an email address is provided in the email where you can submit the reference letter.