Youth and New Professionals
Greater Toronto's Top Employers 2019
Canada's Best Diversity Employers 2019
Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2019
FAQs

FAQs

General Information

1. Where are the internships located?
Internship placements are available across the province in various ministries and agencies. While the majority of placements are in the Central region, placements are also available in the Eastern, Northern and Western regions.
Ontario Internship Program (OIP) work locations outside of the Greater Toronto Area include the following cities: Oshawa (Central region); Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough (Eastern region); North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay (Northern region); Guelph, Hamilton, London, St. Catharines (Western region).
Candidates can indicate their preferred work locations on their application form. The OIP cannot guarantee the availability of relevant work placements in all cities.
2. How many interns are hired each year?
The OIP hires approximately 100 first-year interns annually.
3. How many people apply to the OIP each year?
The OIP receives approximately 4000 applications each year.

Eligibility

4. Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit to apply to the OIP program.
5. Can an internship in the OIP program be used towards completion of a Co-operative Placement?
No, the OIP program offers full-time paid employment. Internships cannot be used towards completion of another program’s co-op requirements. Internships are available to people who have graduated or who will graduate within the eligibility timelines.
Co-op placements in the Ontario Public Service are posted at various educational institutions across Ontario. Check for co-op job postings with your school’s career centre and co-op office.

Applications

6. May I submit a paper application?
Applications are submitted through our online system. If you are unable to submit electronically and require accommodation to complete the OIP application form, please contact us at least one week prior to the application deadline at contact.oip@ontario.ca.
7. Is program information available in alternative formats?
Applicants requiring information in an alternative format should email contact.oip@ontario.ca.
8. What is the process to apply for bilingual placements?
The majority of placements in the Ontario Internship Program are English-language positions and all applicants will complete the full recruitment process in English. Only those applicants who have successfully completed the full recruitment process and have indicated in the on-line application that they are interested in a bilingual position will proceed to additional testing. These applicants will be invited to an assessment of their French language skills (i.e. writing and speaking). The individuals who pass the French language skills assessment will be considered for a bilingual placement subject to available assignments. Individuals who do not pass the French language skills assessment will be placed in an English-language placement.
9. I have a disability. Will my disability be accommodated?
The Ontario Public Service is an equal opportunity employer. The OIP will accommodate persons with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities will be provided at each stage of the recruitment process and throughout the internship. If you have a disability and require accommodation to complete the OIP application form, please contact us at contact.oip@ontario.ca. In addition, if you are invited to participate further in the selection process, you will be asked whether you require accommodation. Please notify us of your requirements at the time of your invitation, so we can make arrangements in advance.
10. Can I make changes to the content of my application once I have submitted it?
No. Once you have submitted your application, you cannot make changes to its content.
11. How can I update my contact information if it changes after I submit my application?
It is your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date throughout the recruitment process. Visit Apply Online in order to update your contact information. You will be required to enter the username and password that you created when you registered. This information was displayed to you on screen and an acknowledgement email was sent to you with your username and password.

Written Test, Interviews, Job Offers

12. How will the OIP program communicate with me throughout the recruitment process?
Applicants will receive a confirmation email following the submission of their application. Please ensure that your contact information is up-to-date so that we can stay in touch with you. If your contact information changes, it is your responsibility to notify the program.
13. Will I be notified if I am not selected to participate further in the selection process?
No. Only those candidates selected to participate in further stages of the selection process will be contacted during the specified recruitment timelines.
14. If I don’t receive a job offer, can I reapply to the program?
If you are unsuccessful, you may reapply to the program the following year provided you continue to meet the program eligibility criteria. Candidates may only submit one application per program year.
15. If I don’t receive a job offer, can I get feedback on my application?
Unsuccessful applicants may request feedback on the evaluation of their performance during the selection process.
16. If I accept an internship, may I choose my own job placement and/or ministry?
Interns do not choose their own job placement or ministry. The OIP assigns interns to ministry placements based on a number of factors, including organizational business needs, available focus area assignments and ministry business priorities, as well as interns’ skills, experience and geographic preference.
17. If I am offered an internship, will I be placed in my first location preference?
The OIP application asks you to identify two work location preferences. If your first preference is not possible, we will do our best to accommodate your second location preference. If a suitable placement in either of your preferred locations is not available, you may be offered a placement in another location.
18. Will I be reimbursed for relocation costs if I relocate to a work location other than where I am living?
No. The OIP does not provide reimbursement of relocation costs.

Learning and Development

19. What kind of learning and development opportunities do interns receive in the program?
Interns will experience a vibrant culture of learning and leadership. We offer blended learning approaches that suit all learning styles and career interests. As an employer, the Ontario Public Service (OPS) leverages the 70:20:10 learning principle to mirror how adults learn best: through experience (70%), relationships (20%), and formal training (10%). During the internship experience interns will receive:
  • A comprehensive orientation to the Ontario Public Service
  • A specific learning curriculum customized for each focus area
  • Access to functional communities and employee networks
  • A placement manager and mentor to help achieve their professional goals
  • Ongoing feedback, coaching and mentoring for career growth and development
20. What happens to interns after their assignment is complete?
While there are no guarantees of ongoing employment beyond completion of the program, interns are sought-after talent, well-trained and supported to compete for ongoing employment opportunities. On average, approximately 80 percent of interns secure employment immediately following the program, and 60 percent choose to stay with the Ontario Public Service after five years of completing the OIP.

Demographic Survey

21. I received a survey after I submitted my application. What is the survey for? How will my responses be used?
The purpose of collecting demographic information is to improve the recruitment practices for the OIP.
All participation is voluntary.
22. Who will have access to my information?
All information collected is legally protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The OIP will have exclusive access to this information and it will not be used for any other purpose other than to improve program delivery.
All information provided is anonymous and will be kept confidential. The results of this survey and data are collected, analyzed and will be reported on an aggregate basis. To ensure respondent confidentiality, no individual responses will be released.
23. What additional feedback is the OIP seeking regarding the recruitment process?
The Ontario Public Service (OPS) has a number of strategic initiatives underway to ensure our workforce reflects the population we serve. This year, the OIP would like to hear from under-represented groups, specifically at this time we’d like to gather feedback from Indigenous applicants and persons with disabilities to understand their experiences during the recruitment process. The feedback received through focus groups or interviews will help inform future outreach activities and program development.
OIP Applicant Survey participants belonging to either of these two groups will find more information on how to participate within the applicant survey. Those who choose to participate will have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding their experience in the recruitment process. This could include participating in focus groups or interviews.
24. Who do I contact with further questions regarding the survey?
Please email contact.oip@ontario.ca.

For more information, you may call Employment Ontario toll-free at: 1-800-387-5656 or by TTY at 1-800-533-6339.