Upcoming opportunities

Thank you for your interest in the Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) Program with the Ontario Public Service (OPS). All 2025 student summer job ads have now closed. New opportunities for summer 2026 will be posted in the fall/winter.

Job alerts

Sign up for job alerts to find out when new job ads are posted.

  • Under the “Job Categories” section, select “Student Summer Employment Opportunities”.
  • Under the “Minimum Salary” section, select “<$40,000”.
  • Under the “Subscription Length” section, select “9 months”.

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Overview

Bring your passion to help create a stronger Ontario and start your summer job here. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where employees have the resources and opportunities they need to be fulfilled and inspired to move Ontario forward.

Learn

Jump start your career. Whether you want to learn business skills, use your French language skills, help out in a lab, or work outdoors. Put the knowledge you’ve acquired at school into action.

Grow

Enhance your skills and expand your network by working on projects, leading initiatives, and sharing your ideas. Transfer the skills you learn with the Ontario Public Service to your future school and work experiences.

Contribute

In addition to advancing your professional and personal skills, you will also give back to your community. Spend your summer working to support the interests of Ontarians.

Eligibility

You must be a student or recent graduate, as defined by one of the following:

  • someone enrolled in a secondary school (currently or for the fall semester)
  • someone enrolled in a postsecondary institution (currently or for the fall semester)
  • someone who graduated from secondary or post-secondary school within six months from the start of the summer placement
  • someone who graduated in December would be eligible to start a position up until June of the next year

You must also:

  • be at least 15 years old by the first day of employment
    • some positions require you to be at least 18 years old (this will be specified on the job ad)
  • be living in Ontario during the term of employment
  • be legally entitled to work in Canada for the full duration of the employment period
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number upon being hired

Diverse talent stream 

We are committed to providing an inclusive, diverse, accessible, anti-racist and equitable workplace that reflects and celebrates the communities we serve. 

As part of our inclusion efforts and initiatives outlined in the OPS People Plan, the SEO program offers a diverse talent stream for eligible students and recent graduates who self-identify as any of the following groups:  

  • Indigenous persons (First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuk descent)
  • Black persons (African, Afro-Caribbean descent / African-Canadian descent)
  • Persons with disabilities (persons with physical, mental, and learning disabilities, hearing or vision disabilities, substance use dependencies, environmental sensitivities, as well as other conditions that limit activities of daily living)
  • Bilingual persons (proficient in oral and written French and English) 

How it works

In the application form, you are asked to complete a self-attestation to confirm you self-identify as one of the specified groups.  

Eligible candidates who meet the skills required for the available positions will have their applications considered in both:

  • the diverse talent stream
  • the all-applicant talent stream

Applicants who do not self-identify as any of the specified groups will be considered for the all-applicant talent stream only.

How to apply

Submit one application for each student job you want to be considered for. There is no limit to the number of job types you can apply to.

  1. Go to the Summer Employment Opportunities job board.
  2. Select the job type you are interested in applying for.
  3. Complete the application form and submit your resume and cover letter in one document (up to 5 pages total).

After you apply

After you submit your application, you will be directed to a “Thank you for applying” page and asked to complete an optional and anonymous feedback survey.

If you provided a contact email in your application, you will also receive a confirmation email.

Check your junk mail folders throughout the recruitment process to make sure that emails have not mistakenly been directed there. Not responding to emails may result in you being excluded from advanced stages of the competition process if hiring managers are unable to contact you.

If you are concerned that your application was not successfully submitted, you may submit a second application. If you still do not receive a confirmation email, contact SEO@ontario.ca before the application deadline.

You cannot change or update your application after you have submitted it.

Selection process

Resume screening typically happens 2 to 5 weeks after the job ad closes. Screening could take longer for postings that receive a high volume of applications. We will only contact applicants who are selected for an interview.

Applications may be matched to multiple positions; therefore, you may be contacted by multiple managers for an interview for the same  SEO  job type. 

You may accept multiple interview invitations. If you accept an offer of employment, be sure to notify the other interested hiring manager(s) as soon as possible.

If you are selected for an interview

We will notify you by phone and/or email.

Make sure to collect all relevant information you need to know to attend the interview: Virtual/in-person, location/address, date/time, which position/ministry, contact person, etc.

Prepare for the interview

Conduct research on the ministry, branch and program. Refer to the tools and resources section for support.

Make sure to arrive on time. Work attire varies per location — generally, business attire is appropriate for an office job interview.

Interviews are conducted in a formal panel setting. You may have more than one interviewer.

Make sure to highlight your individual skills and experience including school, volunteer and work. Think about why you are the best person for the job. Ask questions.

The OPS is an equal opportunity employer. If you have any accommodation needs in order to participate fully in any aspect of the interview process, please raise this to the person setting up your interview.

If you are unable to attend the interview or need to reschedule, contact the hiring manager at least 24 hours in advance.

It is your decision about which job offer(s) to accept or decline. Notify managers in a timely manner if you choose to decline an offer. 

Tools and resources

Find more general resources through Employment Ontario.

Contact us

Contact us at SEO@ontario.ca before the application deadline if you need:

  • help with your application
  • to request a disability-related accommodation