Clients and Practitioners

Student Summer Employment Program

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Summer Job Search Tips  |  Other Summer Employment Options

The Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities has as its mandate to increase the number of persons with disabilities employed in the public service. To achieve this, the Office operates a number of programs and services designed to assist persons with disabilities attain employment in both provincial and federal departments. If you are a person with a disability interested in a career in the public service, or if you are looking for a summer job and returning to school in September, we may be able to assist you in your job search.

The objective of our Student Summer Employment Program is to provide students with disabilities career-related work experience. Summer employment opportunities provide students with practical skills and knowledge to prepare them for their future entry into the labour market.

• Currently attending a post-secondary educational institution

• Returning to school in September

• Registered with our Office

Programs and services that are available to graduates through our Office include:

• Opening Doors

• Wage Subsidy Initiative

• Enabling Resource Centre

To take advantage of our programs and services, you must be registered with our Client Registry. To be included on the Client Registry, you must complete an application form and forward it, along with a detailed resume and proof of education, to the Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities at the address below.

Application forms are available by contacting your school’s Career Counsellor, Work Term Placement Officer, Student Advisor or from the Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities.

Building a Public Service representative of persons with disabilities

For Information on how to apply to the Opening Doors Program, please click here.

To print application form (PDF Format), click here. 

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required. Click icon for free download. 

Summer Job Search Tips

Finding a summer job can sometimes be difficult. Here are some useful tips to help you make the job search a little less stressful.

1.         A summer job does not have to feel like work - tailor your skills and interests into your job search.  For example, if you enjoy the outdoors and children, perhaps you should apply to a summer camp.

2.         Early on, get a sense of what’s out there in terms of jobs, locations, and people that can help you.

3.         If you have a career goal in mind, look for jobs that will help you develop the skills, knowledge and experience you will need in that career.  If you can’t find a paying job that relates to your career goal, try volunteering in your spare time.  Volunteering can help you gain the skills and experience you need to find paid employment that suits you, or get a career edge.

4.         Before sending your resume out, make sure you know what employers look for in the ideal job candidate.  Do not waste your time applying for a job you’re not qualified for.

5.         Advise your family and friends that you are looking for a summer job.  Be specific about the kind of job you want, as they may know of potential job openings.

6.         Use all available means to find a summer position, e.g., Internet, newspapers, temp agencies etc.

7.         Research all the possibilities before applying.  Despite the fact that the majority of job searchers use newspapers and the Internet, only 20 percent of the available jobs are advertised.  That means that 80 percent are not.  The best way to tap into this market is through research.

8.         The summer job market for teens can be highly competitive, so start your search early.  The sooner you start thinking about summer employment, the better your chances are of obtaining a job.

9.         After submitting a resume to an employer for an advertised position, allow up to ten days for a response.  If you have not received any response after ten days, follow up by telephone.

10.       Looking for a summer job is easy.  However, finding one is not.  Don’t get discouraged keep looking and trying - your hard work will eventually pay off!

Other Summer Employment Options

Community Access Program - youth aged between 15 and 30 years old are hired to help connect communities across Canada to the information highway and to promote its use. For information call toll free 1-800-575-9200 or visit their web site at http://cap.ic.gc.ca

Service Canada Centres for Youth http://www.youth.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?ta=1&lang=en&auxpageid=717&flash=1
Service Canada Centres for Youth (formerly called Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students) are another key component of Summer Work Experience. Located across Canada , these centres are generally open to the public from May to August. These centres form part of the Government of Canada's network of Service Canada Centres, which provide year-round programs and services to students and employers. Service Canada Centres for Youth offer students assistance in the form of job postings, group information sessions, résumé preparation and interview techniques, as well as advice on career planning. They are also a good place for both students and potential employers to obtain up-to-date information on wage rates and labour legislation, to learn about health and safety in the workplace and to get more information on other federal and provincial/territorial initiatives.

Federal Student Work Experience Program - the primary vehicle through which federal departments and agencies recruit students for some 7,000 temporary student jobs each year. Students must apply online at http://www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca/srp-fswep-pfete/index_e.htm

Summer Student Connection Program - provides post-secondary students with the opportunity to develop their internet, presentation and business related skills in a summer position. Visit www.studentconnections.ca for more information.

Parks Canada's Young Canada Works program offers secondary and post-secondary students summer employment and hands-on work experience in Canada 's national parks and national historic sites. Parks Canada has also initiated an innovative pilot project to offer employment opportunities to deaf or hard-of-hearing students. For more information on these Parks Canada initiatives, visit www.pc.gc.ca/jct-ycw.

Canadian Heritage's Young Canada Works is an employment initiative to help secondary and post-secondary students find summer work in Aboriginal and Heritage organizations, or work that will help them to acquire skills in both official languages. For more information on Canadian heritage initiatives, call 1 800 935-5555 or email at ycwcoordinator@pch.gc.ca.

Youth.gc.ca - Search for summer jobs in your local area. Visit http://www.youth.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?&auxpageid=127&lang=en&geo=343&flash=1&ta=1 

For more information on initiatives and services offered under the Government of Canada's Summer Work Experience and on other programs and services for youth, and to obtain information on the opening dates and hours of operation of the Service Canada Centres for Youth, please contact the Service Canada Centre in your community. You can also call the Youth Info Line toll free at 1 800 935-5555 or visit either youth.gc.ca or the Government of Canada Web site at canada.gc.ca .

The Student Work and Service Program (SWASP) Paid Employment Component - http://envision.ca/templates/swasp.asp?ID=5212 - designed to assist individuals who plan to attend or return to a post-secondary institution.

Student Work and Service Program - Community Service Component - http://www.envision.ca/templates/resources.asp?ID=4764

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Employment - Each department/agency is responsible for the filling of summer and temporary positions. If you are interested, you can contact one of the Human Resource personnel in the respective department/agency. (Link to Departments and Agencies Listing).

Youth Ventures Program http://www.youthventuresnl.com/

YMCA-YWCA recruits staff to work at the Summer Day Camps for young people. Some of the camps include: 
Adventures in Science and Engineering Technology - Provides a great camp experience combining computer time, science activities, exposure to entrepreneurship, engineering challenges and daily physical activities.
Camp Beothuk - individuals travel daily to an outdoor venue for activities including canoeing, hiking, orienteering, swimming, and sports, as well an an optional overnight camp.
Camp Wigwam - day camp at the Y on New Cove Road in St. John's with an emphasis on outdoor play and physical activity, swimming, field trips, outdoor adventure, arts and crafts.
Counsellor-In-Training - two day residential camp at Camp Morristown offers topics including communication skills, leadership, First Aid and CPR and canoeing.
Leadership Development Camp - Individuals will develop leadership skills in the area of camping and working with children.
For information on the types and variety of positions recruited for, please call the YMCA-YWCA at 709-754-2960 ext. 25 or send an email to acollins@ymywca.nf.net

Also, it is a good idea to check with the city or town council office in your area and inquire about any summer employment opportunities they may offer.