How to Get Hired in Recreation

Information Sessions

Recreation Job Information Sessions are being hosted virtually. Get connected with program area staff and learn about:

• working in Community Recreation
• current job postings
• what qualifications are needed
• how to apply online.

Questions will be answered at the end of the session. Each session is about an hour long.

What You’ll Need

• access to a computer, tablet or smartphone
• access to internet

Sessions

Date	Session	Time
May 19, 2022	After-school Recreation Care (ARC)	5 to 6 p.m.
May 26, 2022	General	5 to 6 p.m.
June 1, 2022	Skate	5 to 6 p.m.
June 14, 2022	General	5 to 6 p.m.
June 29, 2022	Aquatics	5 to 6 p.m.
July 6, 2022	General	5 to 6 p.m.
July 26, 2022	Skate	5 to 6 p.m.
July 27, 2022	Aquatics	3 to 4 p.m.
July 27, 2022	General	7 to 8 p.m.
July 27, 2022	After-school Recreation Care (ARC)	5 to 6 p.m.

Questions

Visit Important Information to learn more about the different recreation jobs available.

If you still have questions, email recjobs@toronto.ca

Current Part-Time Job Opportunities

A complete list of job opportunities is available online. You can also search by job category:

• Adapted & Inclusive
• After School Recreation Care
• Aquatics
• Arts & Culture
• Camps
• Community Gardens
• General Interest
• Leaside Gardens
• Museums
• Recreation Support
• Skate, Ski & Snowboard
• Sports & Fitness

The City of Toronto may offer opportunities to teach and deliver a range of Virtual Recreation Programs.  Staff will instruct programs online from a City of Toronto community centre; locations to be confirmed.

What to Do With a Job Posting

Understanding a Job Posting

A job posting describes the type of work or tasks you will be doing if you get the job, and provides a list of skills and experience we are looking for when we read your application. It is a good idea to make your application match what we are looking for under responsibilities and qualifications. Make sure to tell us about any experience you have for each skill we have asked for.  You can give us this information in either your resume or cover letter.

Be sure to apply before the job posting end date. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

What You’ll Need

• access to a computer, tablet or smartphone
• access to internet

Tips

• You will be more likely to be picked for an interview if you show us that you have most of the skills or qualifications we are looking for.
• Read through your application to make sure you have included the most recent information, and that your phone number and email address are right.
• Make sure to highlight your experience and skills that are in the job posting.
• When you upload your resume to the application portal, you will lose a lot of the formatting. Bullets and graphics will not show up. It’s best to upload a very simple version.
• Remember to spell and grammar check your documents, and always have someone proofread them to catch errors the computer may have missed.

More Job Application Tips are available and have information about how to format your resume and create a good cover letter.

Apply Online

We use an online application system for jobs. We no longer accept mailed, hand delivered or faxed resumes and cover letters. You must apply online.

We thank all those who apply, however, only applicants who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. It could take up to two months to hear from us, depending on the length of time the job is posted and how many applications we have to sort through.

If you do not get an interview and are interested in receiving feedback, please email recjobs@toronto.ca.

Create a Profile

You will need to create a profile before being able to submit an application online. To create a profile, you will need:

• an email address, and
• you will be asked to create a password.

Remember to save your password. You will need it to access your profile and to apply for other jobs.

Application Periods

Each year, the City of Toronto begins recruiting for part-time summer jobs in December and fall, winter and spring part-time jobs in June. Please look at the postings for specific dates.

Be sure to submit your application before 11:59 p.m. on the end date listed on the job posting.  You can’t apply after the posting closes.

If you want to apply for more than one position you must submit separate online applications for each job you are interested in. Each application should have a resume that describes your skills and qualifications for the posting you are applying to.

Pre-screening Questionnaire

When filling out the online application, there are a few questions to answer. This is called a pre-screening questionnaire. The pre-screening questionnaire helps us sort your application. Make sure to read your answers and confirm they are right before clicking “Confirm and Submit Application”. Once you have submitted the application, you can’t make changes to it.

Confirmation

After you have submitted your online application, you will receive a confirmation email to the email address you gave us. You can also log into your account and click on “Application Management”. Here you will be able to view what you have applied to and see if your resume was uploaded successfully.

A Quick Checklist for the Hiring Process

Follow this list to make sure you complete all the steps required for applying to a Parks, Forestry and Recreation job competition.

The Application

• Create a professional resume that shows us your skills and experience that match what we are looking for under responsibilities and qualifications.
• Submit an application with your resume online. You can also create and submit a cover letter if you wish.

Virtual Interview

If your application has shown us that you are a good match for the job, we will invite you to a virtual interview. It could be weeks between when you apply online and when you hear from us, so keep a copy of the job posting and the resume you submitted.

What to Expect

On the day of your scheduled interview, you will be contacted by an interview team, either by computer video conferencing or by telephone. Please make sure that you are prepared for their call 5 minutes before your interview time. We recommend that you are in a quiet place with limited distractions.

• The interview can take up to twenty minutes.
• Interviews will be conducted in a panel format. This means that 2 or more City of Toronto staff will ask you questions.
• Staff will be busy taking notes as you give us your answers. It might feel a little awkward but it’s ok, that’s normal.
• Please give us as much information as you can think of in your answers.  The more you tell us, the better your chance of success. You are allowed to return to a question to add more to your answer if you think of something before the interview is over.
• Some interviews may have a practical assessment. This means you may have to demonstrate your skill in the area you are applying to. For example, for camps you may be asked to prepare a group activity, for a Rink Guard position you may be asked to skate. Staff will let you know by email what to expect and how to prepare.

Tips

• Review the job posting to prepare for the interview.
• Look at the skills and experience we asked for and make notes about your own experiences. It is a good idea to think of examples of your experience to tell us about in your interview. Your experience can be from your personal life, school, work or volunteering.
• Bring your resume to the interview (if it is in person).
• Map out your route and arrive early to find the right location for your interview (if it is in person).
• Bring contact information (phone numbers and email addresses) for at least two references who can speak about your work, volunteering or personal characteristics.

 

Accommodation

If you need accommodation to apply for this position due to disability under the Ontario Human Rights Code, please email us at recjobs@toronto.ca, quoting the Requisition ID (Req ID) and the job title.

The City is committed to providing Code-protected accommodation throughout its hiring process. Please visit Hiring Policies and Statements for more information.

Once You're Hired

You will be contacted by a staff person who will let you know the specifics of your new job, like who you will be working with and where you will be working.

We will also let you know about the training you will have to attend before you begin your new job. The training is provided by the City, and is free to attend. In fact, we pay you to do it!

Within Five Days

An email will be sent to you with a link to securely upload pictures or scans of the following documents:

• Relevant certifications for the job, if any (e.g. first aid).
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card. If you do not have a SIN card, please visit Service Canada.
• Government issued photo identification (driver’s license, photo health card, or passport).
• Banking information to set up direct deposit for your pay including a void cheque (branch transit number, account number). You need to have your own bank account to get paid. Be sure to set one up with a bank of your choice and ask the bank to give you a cheque or direct deposit form for your bank account.

Tips

• You can use a digital camera, smart phone or scanner to capture both sides of the document.
• Electronic copies of these documents must be smaller than 4MB and saved as either a  .png, .jpg, .pdf or .docx file.

Vulnerable Sector Screening

One of the requirements for working with children and vulnerable adults is that you need to have a Vulnerable Sector Check completed and share the results with the City of Toronto. For Recreation Worker positions, we are only able to consider candidates who have passed the Vulnerable Sector Check.

Once you are given a conditional offer of employment, we will ask for a Vulnerable Sector Check on your behalf if you live in the City of Toronto. If you live outside of Toronto, you will need to ask for a Vulnerable Sector Check from your local Police Service. For more information about vulnerable sector screening, please contact your local Police Service.