Most part time and student employee hiring at the Town of Oakville is done on a seasonal basis in our recreation and aquatics programs, parks and open space maintenance, and cooperative education programs. Summer job opportunities are posted from the first week of December until the third week of January on our employment page and applications are accepted online only.
Working for the town as a part-time and/or student employee has some great advantages:
- Opportunity to work within a community dedicated to providing quality service to residents
- Opportunity to work with great people in a supportive and fun environment
- Competitive wages
- Excellent orientation and training programs
Part-time and student reminders
Any student or part-time jobs that require a driver's license, require at a minimum, a valid and unrestricted Ontario Driver’s Licence Class G2 (Ontario Driver’s Licence Class G preferred) with a driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour.
Please note that applicants with 6 or more demerit points are ineligible for consideration for jobs requiring a driver's license.
Successful applicants will be required to provide the town with a copy of their driver's license and a current driver's abstract (no older than 30 days) and all new hires will be required to pass a town administered road test as a condition of employment.
Summer jobs are typically found in the departments of Recreation and Culture, Parks and Open Space, Engineering and Construction, Roads and Works and Transit Services. Summer employment is often available in the following areas:
- Children's day camps
- Children's tennis camps
- Tiny tots programs
- Aquatics (instructors, lifeguards, slide attendants/cashiers, etc.)
- Cemeteries
- Harbours
- Horticulture
- Turf & Sanitation
- Sportsfield
- Technical Services
- Urban Forestry
- Engineering Design and Construction
- Roads and Works
Preparing for the interview
- Expect to be interviewed by at least two people. Their job is to evaluate the competency of the candidates, like you, by asking questions related to the soft skills as well as the experience required for the position.
- When invited for an interview, always ask for the names and job title of the people who will be interviewing you. Research what relationship they have to the job - this can help you tailor your answers in the interview and help you to ask informed questions.
- The more research you do the more confident you will be in the interview.
- Look up the responsibilities of the job and consider how your skills and experience align with them
- Reach out to friends and family who have worked in similar roles to gain a better understanding of the role
- Look at the job posting and search online to predict what questions may be asked and practice your answers out loud. There are three kinds of questions that may be asked:
- Behavioural — Your interviewers are looking for examples of how you have thought and behaved in the past in order to determine how you may react to work related problems. These questions usually start with “Tell us about a time when you…” Think about experiences from school or the work place that demonstrate your skills in areas such as time mangement, problem solving or inter-personal conflicts. Be prepared to explain what you learned from the experience and what you would do differently.
- Situational — Your interviewer wants to know how you would do if a certain situation arose. This shows your analytical thinking on how you would approach and handle the situation. The question might start with “Tell us what you would do in the following situation…”
- Informational — Your interviewer is looking for you to provide details on your education, experience / assess skills, abilities and aptitudes and may ask you to elaborate on information provided in your application.
- Be prepared to tell the panel why you would be the best candidate for the position.
During the interview
- When meeting the panel shake their hands (if you are comfortable doing so) you might find they offer their hand when introducing themselves.
- When responding to questions on your experience give the information in a clear, concise manner.
- Do not ramble, if you do, stop and ask if you could start again and be concise when you do. Do not be embarrassed to ask to have the question repeated if you are unclear or did not hear it all. You do not lose points for asking.
- Do not feel you have to ask questions at the end of the interview. If you do, ensure they are relevant.
After the interview
- Shake hands (if you are comfortable doing so) and thank each panelist when you stand up to leave.
- Send a follow-up email thanking your interviewers. You may also wish to use this opportunity to briefly reiterate why you are interested in the role and would be a good fit.