Learn more about co-op placements in the ODS
We get a lot of questions about how more people can get involved with the work of the Ontario Digital Service. One of the ways to join the team is to do a co-op placement with us; here, I’ve highlighted some of the questions people often ask us when they are considering applying to a co-op position.
Who can apply for a co-op placement?
Any student enrolled in a co-operative education program approved by a college or university is welcome to apply, but you must be eligible to work in Canada.
What programs lend themselves to co-op placements?
To be honest: all of them, really.
Did you know that Mick Jagger studied at the London School of Economics before joining the Rolling Stones? Sometimes a person’s background doesn’t link in obvious ways to the value they bring to, and can get from, an organisation.
Our focus in recruiting co-ops is on skills: it’s less about being from a particular school or program, and more about being able to do the work. In some cases, your formal education will be unrelated to your expertise for the role, which can be self-taught or acquired using books, online courses, and a heck of a lot of practice.
If you have the skills and passion, apply. In your cover letter, help us understand why, for instance, your degree in geology/biology, and previous experience working as a veterinary tech will help you work for us in web development. (This is a real example of an awesome ODSer; we weren’t kidding around about recruiting from a range of backgrounds).
What kinds of roles are there?
Our needs for co-op students change depending on the type of work we’re doing at that time. For spring/summer 2018 specifically, we are looking for user researchers, interaction designers, and software development talent. You can find more about the roles on Ontario.ca/digital.
What type of personal characteristics do we look for?
If you have taken a look at our Diversity Pledge, you will know we that making sure our teams reflect the diversity we see in Ontario is a central component of our work. We strongly encourage people from all walks of life to apply, including those who are career returners (people beginning/returning to a career or education later in life), mature students, people who have taken non-traditional education paths, and people who have taken longer to complete their degrees are strongly encouraged to apply. Whatever your circumstance, if you are passionate about this work and you meet the eligibility criteria for a co-op placement, we would love for you to apply!
We get excited about people who are critical thinkers, and are capable of using analytical thinking. Critical thinking is important because at the ODS, we need to understand complex problems, then develop practical ways to solve those problems and relate back to fundamental issue we are looking to address.
We also want people with a genuine interest and passion for what the digital government movement is about, and how it manifests in a variety of contexts. Students who have read our blog posts, and familiarize themselves with the work of our friends at CDS, GDS, DTA, 18F, and e-estonia, will be at an advantage.
Where can I do my co-op placement?
You can work either in downtown Toronto or Kitchener. The exact location will depend on what team you’ll be joining — for instance, experience design, or technology — and where the work is happening.
How much do you pay?
Our co-op students earn a pro-rated salary based on their experience and expertise. Currently, we pay students $735.22 — $980.29 weekly, depending on the work term. First-term co-op students would be eligible for salary at the starting rate, up to the maximum rate for students in their 6th co-op term.
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
Portfolios are not mandatory, but hugely beneficial. It’s harder to get large files by email, so an online portfolio is ideal. Links to where we can see your work in action is another option for anyone whose portfolio is still under development.
Also, if you don’t know what we mean by “portfolio”, it likely means for your area of interest (for instance, policy), it isn’t normal to use a portfolio to apply for work. In contrast, if you are an Interaction Designer, it is expected that you would have some portfolio type work to share.
What’s next? How do I apply?
Our placements for summer 2018 are already posted on Ontario.ca. With the exception of University of Waterloo co-op students (who can apply through the UW Co-op system), all applications will be received by email, with the details in the individual job postings.
All applications will be kept on file, and considered for future roles; if you wouldn’t like us to keep on file, please let us know in your application email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted at this time.
If you are chosen for an interview, they will take place in the second week of February. (Video interviews are available for anyone that can’t come in person to Kitchener or Toronto.)
If you have any other questions, please do let me know! We’re looking forward to having many of you join the team and join us on our work to make digital services faster, simpler, and better for all Ontarians.
