FAQ’s – College students and new graduates
Q: Can I apply for a position at Imperial Oil if Imperial Oil is not recruiting at my college?
A: Absolutely! The postings on this website are open to all qualified applicants. Visit the job search page to view our postings and apply.
Q: How many opportunities can I apply for?
A: To apply for more than one position, jot down the job codes of all the positions you are interested in. You will only be able to submit one application so apply for the position that is of greatest interest to you and then insert the other job codes of interest when prompted during the application process.
Q: What if I don’t have all of the applicable documents to upload at this time? Can I still apply?
A: Yes! However, once you have received your required documents, please upload them to your candidate profile prior to the job posting deadline. Only those applications with all required documentation attached will be considered.
Q: How can I verify that my application has been received?
A: Once you submit your completed application you will receive a confirmation email with a Candidate Reference number. Please keep this for your records. You can use this number to later modify your application.
Q: After I’ve applied for a position online, when should I receive a response?
A: If selected for a first interview, you can expect to receive a response from Imperial Oil within three weeks of the application deadline. Please note, only those selected to be interviewed will be contacted.
Q: Where are the job opportunities located?
A: Our positions are located across Canada. Check individual job postings for specific information.
Do you want to find out more about our coast to coast operations? Click here for details.
Q: What type of interview can I expect?
A: Imperial Oil uses an interview style that is behaviour-based. This means that we will ask you questions about previous experiences you have had in terms of competencies and technical skills. This method of interviewing not only allows us to assess your qualifications and fit for potential employment, but it also provides you with an excellent opportunity to highlight your skills and accomplishments in detail, and to assess us and see the potential we offer as one of Canada’s leading employers.
You first interview will be approximately 45 minutes in length and will likely be conducted at your school location by an Imperial Oil employee working in the area to which you have applied. For graduate positions, the selection process includes second interviews at the Imperial Oil work location.
All candidates will be asked a set of job-related questions that will provide us with an objective set of facts from which to base our hiring decision. We will be looking for recent examples from your work experiences, community involvement, extra-curricular activities, etc., all of which can offer impressive testament to your knowledge, skills and abilities.
For more tips on how to prepare for a behaviour-based interview, visit your career centre or co-op office.
Q: If I am offered a position, how soon must I give you an answer?
A: For student and graduate offers you will be given up to two weeks to respond.
Q: What if I have a problem with a start date? Some postings indicate a start date seven or eight months away. Is it possible to change the start date?
A: Some flexibility may exist to allow for a reasonable change in your start date. Always ask if you have any concerns.
Q: Does Imperial Oil provide relocation assistance for new hires?
A: We understand that changing locations for employment can be an exhilarating and exciting experience, but also a challenging undertaking. To assist both new graduates and students term hires in moving to the assignment location, we provide support in the following manner:
For graduates moving to their first assignment, Imperial Oil will provide:
- A house/apartment hunting trip
- A one-way trip from the school or home location to the assignment location
- Temporary living expenses for up to 14 days at the new location
- Shipment of household and personal belongings from the college location and from one secondary location, if necessary, to the first assignment location
For students, Imperial Oil will:
- Pay travel expenses incurred from the college location to and from the assignment location
- Pay for hotel accommodation and reasonable living expenses for up to five days, if required, while you look for accommodations at the work location
- Shipment of personal effects up to a maximum, dependent on the length of the work term
Details will be provided with your offer.