Canada is a gap year hot spot with wild landscapes, fascinating wildlife, and its multicultural scene, making it a great country to explore.
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Canada is an expensive place to live and to travel. The country’s enormous size makes you rely on long-distance buses and expensive domestic flights to get around. For this reason, some travellers decide to buy a car when they arrive.
You will also find out quickly that food, drinks, and accommodation are expensive, and even more so in places like Vancouver. Toronto and other large cities.
Whether you’re a newbie traveller on a gap year or a returning old-timer, you might come to Canada with the intention to work in Canada to support your travels.
Finding work while you travel requires a good attitude and a flexible mind.
Don’t expect to find a good-paying job if you’re on a working holiday visa, also known as International Experience Canada, IEC visa. Come down the high ladder and don’t think that you’re too good for certain jobs.
Working in Canada is a great way to meet people from all walks of life. However, it will be a culture shock when you realize that it’s nothing like at home.
The working holiday visa gives you the opportunity to get temporary work to top up your travel funds. It’s not meant to cover the cost of your trip. This is the reason you are required to bring $2,500 with you when you arrive in Canada. If you arrive with less money you might end up broke and have to go home early.
Canada gives you an open work permit on WHV, which means that you can stay with one employer for the whole duration of your visa.
Before you start working in Canada, open up a Canadian bank account and apply for a social insurance number (SIN). This saves you hassles down the road. A SIN is a number issued in Canada to administer various government programs. Your employer will ask for it when you start work.
To apply for your SIN visit your nearest Service Canada office on arrival. Bring your passport and work permit and your permanent Canadian address. If you don’t have one yet, use the address of the hostel you’re staying at, your work address, or the address of a friend.
You will receive your SIN on the same day. Keep it in a safe place and don’t lose it. The SIN will expire on the day your visa expires.
Many Canadians work for minimum wage at a couple of different jobs and still struggle to pay their bills. There is a good chance, that you will get paid the minimum wage as well. The minimum wage amounts vary in all the different Canadian provinces and territories. Check out the Retail Council of Canada Website for the current numbers.
Now that we have taken care of the basics, here are valuable tips to help you find work in Canada.
There is a good chance that you will book into a backpacker’s hostel when you arrive in Canada. Hostels are a source of excellent information when you’re looking for work. Most hostels have a notice board with job opportunities on display and hostel staff can point you in the right direction.
Hostels are also where you meet fellow travellers who might share their job-hunting experiences with you.
Even hostels themselves sometimes offer jobs in exchange for free accommodation and a little spending money. Check out the Canadian Hostel Job Websites:
Canada is fond of certifications and safety regulations in the workforce.
If you are planning on working behind a bar or restaurant where alcohol is being served, you’ll need the Serving it Right certification.
For working in a kitchen or any food service industry in British Columbia, you might need a Food Safe certification which is a one-day course.
An occupational first aid certificate will give you a big advantage if you are looking for work in the adventure tourism industry, in the mines, or in oilfields. It’s a mandatory requirement for most jobs.
Working at construction sites and other labour jobs requires additional “safety tickets” like Fall Protection, Worksite safety, and many others.
All provinces and territories have their own requirements, therefore the same certifications may not be valid in a different part of Canada. The certifications needed depends on the type of job you’re applying for and the company.
Most courses can be done online and are offered by specialized Online Training Centres.
I’m amazed at how many people get stuck in the big cities and run out of money before they have seen any of the Canadian backcountry. City life is expensive, not only for travellers from abroad but also for Canadians.
Before you leave home, do your research and check out smaller towns where you might find work.
In smaller towns, you not only will save money but also will meet authentic Canadian country folks and learn about the Canadian way of life.
City life is not what Canada is all about. Honestly, to live in a city you don’t need to come to Canada. Cities are similar all around the world.
Many small businesses in Canada rely on volunteer workers. Finding a paid job on a farm or ranch is not easy and will depend on your experience. If you dream about a paid ranch job in Canada where you can ride and work with horses all day, I wish you good luck.
You have a better chance of finding a job at one of the many orchards in southern British Columbia. Most seasonal jobs offered at orchards are hard work. Be ready for kneeling, crouching, and lifting heavy boxes for minimum wage. Make sure you get all the details of a job before accepting it.
Links for you to check out:
Canadian Ski resorts depend on seasonal workers from overseas. What could be better working at a ski resort and saving up some cash during the long Canadian winter? Once the season closes you will be ready to hit the road and explore Canada during its best time of year. Most ski resorts have a job section on their website where you can apply.
For a full list of Canadian Ski Resorts click HERE.
Don’t expect that you will land the perfect job in Canada. Be flexible and open-minded and take whatever opportunity comes along. Many of the jobs are short-term and often good fun, once you change your attitude and get over the social awkwardness. Look at jobs you haven’t considered before like labouring, cleaning jobs, night shifts, or working in a warehouse.
Job hunting in Canada can be hard work; don’t let rejections put you off. Have a resume ready when you arrive. A Canadian resume doesn’t include a picture, age or marital status.
Check the bulletin boards at the hostels. Drop-in at government employment agencies. Check the local newspaper and online job resources like Indeed and Monster.
If you’re in a smaller town it’s quite common to walk into a store or restaurant with your resume in hand, asking for work.
Don’t come to Canada for the money, come for the experience. And make sure to practice some Canadian slang before you arrive.
Instead of working in Canada for a wage, consider doing volunteer work. Although you won’t get paid for your hard work, in exchange you will get free accommodation and food at most places. It is a great way to meet local people and it’s a rewarding experience.
If you are working in Canada, you pay between 15 and 29 % income tax, which gets taken off your wage. The good news is that you may be able to get some of your money back through the Canadian tax refund. Find out more here.
If you’re participating in the Canadian Working Holiday Visa program (IEC), you will need to prove insurance for the full duration of your work permit. My favourite two travel insurance companies for independent travellers are Safety Wing and World Nomads. Both of them are worth checking out.
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Yrene lives in the Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of BackcountryCanadaTravel.com. She was born in Switzerland, lived and worked on different continents and has travelled the world. Yes, that's me, an Entrepreneur, wilderness nut and animal lover who prefers off-the-beaten-track places. I write about things I love. Mostely.
7 Comments
Imoh tony edet
I’m a professional driver, with more than 15years working experience, have been using this profession to pay my bills and also take care of my family, i will like to up my carrier if am giving opportunity to work over there. Thank you
Okechi Jonah
I’m a professional truck driver from Nigeria with over eleven years of experience. I would really like to live and work in Canada because it’s one of the most peaceful countries in the world
Yrene Dee
You should try to apply for a work visa. As far as I know, they are always short of professional truck drivers in Canada. Give it a go and follow your dream! Good luck!
Adele
Canada is a great choice, a beautiful country and it is colder here than in Australia and this is very important now. For the sake of space and nature, it is worth coming and staying here. Of course it’s best to get the necessary permits and certificates here in Canada to get a good job.
i want to work in switzerland
There is definately a great deal to find out about this issue.
I love all of the points you made.
George
Hi Yrene Dee.I appreciate for good work you have been doing by providing us with information about travelling experiences in that beautiful land , Canada.
It’s very informative.When I’m going through that enlightening and encouraging ideas, I feel like to visit the rural part of Canada and feel the experiences myself.
Thanks.
Yrene Dee
Thank you so much for your note, George. I’m happy that my information is useful. I hope that you will be able to visit many rural parts of Canada in the near future. Rural is the best!