WHY WORK IN CANADA? CANADIAN ECONOMY.
The Canadian economy has been continuously growing for the past few years and is still growing today. The opportunities offered are excellent, especially for young people. The population and Canadian resources are limited: there is great demand for qualified workers.
Gaining a work permit in Canada is not the same as getting a job. Once you arrive in Canada, you will have to look for a job. Your success will depend on you, your professional and communication skills, on how well you speak the language, and on the way, you look for work. A good alternative is professional internships, which can help you enter the Canadian job market one step at a time.
Work on a Study Permit
Part-time work
With a study visa, associated with a professional course (in a Career or Public College) it is possible to work part-time. In this case, the work experience is a significant part of your study experience. If you have a valid Study Permit in Canada, you have three options to work:
- On Campus Work Opportunities
- Off Campus Work Permit
- Co-op / Internship Work Permit
Work on a Working Holiday Visa
International Experience Canada (IEC)
The Working Holiday Visa is very popular among Europeans aged 18 to 35. It is a Visa created for young people who want to travel, study and work in Canada. It’s the best Visa if you want to feel free to travel.
But be careful: this Visa is limited. You can only work for 6 months and there is a limited number of visas granted each year.
HOW TO START LOOKING FOR A JOB
Before starting your job search, you’ll have to prepare a resume for Canada, adapting your CV to the one used in Canada. You’ll also have to write a cover letter in which you describe your most significant experiences, your study path and the skills you have acquired so far.
Once your CV is ready, start looking for a job at once! If you have a qualified profile, you may start using LinkedIn, or start from the most popular online portals to get an idea of the most sought-after jobs, the most required skills, and the average wages.
However, the best way to make yourself known in Canada is to hand in your CV. So, make a few copies, show your best smile and hand in your CV by going directly to the shops and/or offices that interest you. You’ll see, direct contact always pays off in Canada.
WHAT IS CANADIAN WORKING CULTURE LIKE?
Average working hours: about 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, according to the Canadian labour code.
Holidays: holiday pay in Canada can be quite shocking when compared to Europe. Two weeks is the standard unless you’re working in the Saskatchewan province, where you can expect to be entitled to three weeks of holiday. Most provinces offer you the third week of holiday once you have worked for a certain amount of time. Moreover, employees are entitled to 6-10 paid national holidays, depending on which province they work in.
Tax rates: the personal tax allowance is $11,474 so you will pay tax on any amount above this amount. Canada has both federal and provincial taxes. Federal tax rates start at 15% on the first $45,916 of taxable income and provincial tax rates depend on the province in which you work.
