China vs. the Current Economic Situation in Canada

When you come to Canada to study as an international student, you will soon find that many students around you have part-time jobs. Whether they are graduate students, undergraduate students, college students, high school students, local or international students in Canada, it seems common to have a part-time job while studying.
In China, it is also common for university students to work part-time, but high-school students rarely do. This difference in Canada is caused by the dual factors of thecurrent state of the country and the culture.After all, the priority of Chinese high school students is to deal with the college entrance examination. In Canada, first of all, students have fewer courses in high school, and the course load is relatively lighter. Secondly, in terms of culture, parents pay more attention to training children's independence. Therefore, even the high school students with a very good family background are urged by their parents to find part-time work.

Why should students be encouraged to get a part-time job?

Regardless of family background, students should to work to earn their living expenses. We personally feel that the experience of studying abroad incomplete without any working experience,&nbspbecause working part-time while studying has the following benefits:

  1. Working in an English environment is good for practicing your language skills. From personal experience, even working at Tim Hortons is a great way to practice the basic “Restaurant English.” Some people may comment that learning the expressions for ordering food is not that useful and a waste a time. While they may be half right, even a small set of "Restaurant English" sentences may be sufficient in doubling your confidence when you first come to Canada. Plus, you will be able to pick up some new words along the way.
  2. Earn living expenses: Part-time earnings can be put towards your living expenses;
  3. Become familiar with Canadian workplace culture, labour laws and compensation systems;
  4. Let us acknowledge the old saying: "Money doesn’t come from trees!" Studying abroad itself is the best opportunity to practice independence. Without parental care in all aspects, you must rely on yourself and your peers to solve problems you encounter abroad. After arriving in Canada, many international students get a part-time job for the very first time. The grievances, anger, scolding and exhaustion that they endure in the process is better understood through experienced.

Long story short, no matter what your purpose is, in a culture that shapes one's independence in Canada, it is crucial for international students to earn a little extra money by doing part-time jobs.

Jobs for International Students During Their Studies

In general, there are three main types of employment for international students during their studies: internship, on-campus, and off-campus. Internship: Whether there are paid internship opportunities mainly depends on specific colleges and programs. On-campus jobs: The first choice for many students; Off-campus jobs: A wide variety of positions and more freedom.

Co-op / Internships

Strictly speaking, Co-op and Internships are different. However, in our lives, we rarely make a distinction between the two. The following is a list of the differences that UtoCanada has put together for you:

Many students are provided with paid internship opportunities through off-campus cooperative companies in the final semester of their university/college programs. International students who do this type of work need to apply for a work permit called the “Co-op Work Permit.” This work permit is different from the “Post-Graduation Work Permit,” and not all international students can apply. There must be an internship opportunity stated in their program’s curriculum.
For example,Red River College&nbspin Manitoba offers many majors with internship opportunities. In this case, the school can provide a letter of essential employment issued by the advisor in your program. So, what are the requirements for applying for co-op?

What are the requirements for a co-op work permit application?

  1.    Hold a valid study permit.
  2.    Provide a letter of essential employment issued by the school (internship work must be an essential part of your program in Canada);
  3.    The internship must not exceed 50% of the entire program duration

Work On-Campus

Job opportunities on campus commonly consist of librarians, TAs (teaching assistant), computer room assistants, dormitory administrators, campus bartenders, student service centre staff, etc. Generally speaking, the treatment you get is better than off-campus workplaces, and the commute to work will be easy since it is located in the school. Therefore, once these positions are open, many local students apply. Therefore, those who want to apply for work on campus should always pay attention to campus job postings.
International students who meet the following conditions can work in the school they are studying at without applying for a work permit:

  • Hold a valid student visa;
  • Studies full-time at a Designated Learning Institution designated by Immigration Canada (usually all public colleges and universities in Canada are on the list of DLI institutions designated by Immigration Canada);

Work Off-Campus

Before June 1st, 2014, all international students had to apply for an off-campus work permit if they wanted to work outside their schools while studying. However, changes to the regulation on June 1st, 2014 state that as long as international students meet certain requirements, they do not need to apply for an off-campus work permit, and are permitted to work legally if they hold a study permit.
So what are the basic requirements for international students to work outside school? The government website specifies the following items for international students:

  1.  Hold a valid student visa;
  2.  Study full-time at a&nbspDesignated Learning Institution designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada;
  3.  Started studying in the university/college program’s courses. In other words, international students studying ESL at language centres cannot legally work outside the school;
  4. SIN card: International students need to&nbspapply for a SIN card&nbsp(Social Insurance Number), with a 9-digit number for tax payments and refunds when working in Canada. On March 31st, 2014, Service Canada stopped issuing SIN cards. Instead, the SIN is issued on a paper document.

That is to say, as long as you are a full-time student legally enrolled in any public college/university in Canada, and you have a SIN, you will then be permitted to work outside the school.

Can high school international students get a job?

Answer: No! The government website clearly states that high school students studying in Canada cannot be employed.
So why do so many online articles share the experience of high school students working part-time? I can only awkwardly reveal this secret: they are working under the table. If they were to be caught by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or CIC, they may not be able to renew their student visas, and they could be deported. In 2016,a news story published on 51.com reported on a high school international student who worked illegally.As a result, his visa renewal application was rejected by CIC. Please take this as a warning.

Other Things You Need to Know About Working in Canada

Canada is a country with viable laws. Except for the fact that high school international students are not permitted to be employed, other international students are allowed to work under the circumstances that their work does not affect their studies. At the same time, the interests of Canadian locals are taken into account. For example:：

  • During normal semesters, you can only work up to 20 hours per week. However, this limit is only applies to normal semesters. Usually during summer vacation (a 5-month duration) and winter vacation, international students can work full time (more than 40 hours per week).
  • Working hours and overtime:During summer and winter vacations, the standard working hours in Canada are eight hours a day and forty hours a week. There should be at least one day off every week. Working hours that exceed 40 hours each week must be compensated at a higher rate (for example, 150% of the hourly wage). Managers and supervisors do not qualify for overtime pay if the work they do is managerial or supervisory.
  • Payment of wages: Canadian employers pay wages at least once every half a month, and the pay date must not be later than eight days after the work period. The pay period shall not exceed 16 days.
  • What is net pay?You get my pay cheque, and you notice that chunks of your money under “EI” and “CPP” were deducted. You ask, "What the hell are EI and CPP?" Or "How did my cold-hearted boss deduct so much of my pay?" In fact, CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and EI (Employment Insurance) are compulsorily collected by the government. So, the wages you get are all after tax.
  • Public Holidays: You are entitled to 1.5 times or 2 times the salary when working on a public holiday in Canada.
  • Resignation notice: Employee must give employer a notice of resignation; usually at least two weeks notice.
  • Failure to pay wages according to the law: For example, if an employer illegally withholds wages, the first thing to do is to formally ask for the payment.

The above mentioned is the most common legal knowledge you need to know during your employment. If you are treated unfairly while working legally, you can appeal to the Employment Standards Branch.

What kind of part-time job should I look for?

There are several factors behind the reason to find a job during as a student. Everyone should take these into account:

  • English environment: Part-time work in an English-speaking environment is one of the most effective ways for&nbspinternational students to improve their English. Therefore, working in a Chinese company is recommended, unless you are absolutely compelled to. Otherwise you will lose a good opportunity to practice English. I often hear international students say, how can I be hired if my English is not good? As a matter of fact, you do not need an expert level of English proficiency to work. Instead, many employers value hard work, punctuality and reliability of their staff.
  • Compensation: The wage is generally not a major issue for international students to consider, because in general, most of the jobs that international students can find are of minimum wage according to the law. Fast food chains like Starbucks, A&W and KFC are the best examples.
  • Business practices: Some international students are more realistic and willing to accept working in restaurants and cafes. However, there are others who find these labour-intensive jobs exhausting. It is worth mentioning that on many current study permits (Study Permit), the following is stated: "Not valid for employment in businesses related to the sex trade such as strip clubs, massage parlours or escort services.”
  • Transportation: In Canada, it is often snowy and streets are often covered with ice. If you go to school in a small town without a public transportation system, definitely take this aspect into consideration.

Considering the above factors, most people realize that the part-time jobs on-campus is definitely the best option (that is why the competition is fierce). Do not be discouraged if you have not seized the opportunity to get a part-time job on campus. Working outside the school also means you can meet people from different levels of society, and it is also very helpful to understand and directly experience Canadian culture.

The rise of alternative part-time jobs (great for international students)

It is worth mentioning here that the scattered labour market platforms such as UpWork.com and Fiverr.com and ZBJ.com also provide flexible and part-time opportunities for international students. The biggest advantage of this type of work is the ability to work from anywhere, and the flexible working times.
UpWork.com and Fiverr.com are for the world of freelancers. Countless employers will post requests for website designs, SEOs, logo designs, translations and other forms of work on these sites. If you major in graphic design, you can pick up a gig to design a logo, a business card, or more. If you can program, you can pick up a small project to design a website; if you are good at Chinese and English, you can try translating.
In addition, if you have a G license, you can also be an Uber or Lyft driver. Driving an Uber can be a good option. Uber drivers have free time and can earn a lot. They can also take advantage of the opportunity to expand their social network. Talking to passengers is a very good way to practice your English skills. If you want to become an Uber or Lyft driver, just Google the name and you will see a clear application procedure.

How can I find a part-time job outside school?

Where to find a part-time job depends entirely on what kind of job you are looking for.

  • Door-to-door :If you have your eyes set on a popular chain of fast food restaurants in Canada, such as Tim Hortons, MacDonalds, Subway, etc., then bring your resume directly to their door and ask. This may be a much quicker and more direct way. You can ask, "Can I talk to your manager/supervisor?" Then ask, "I was wondering if you guys are hiring." Under normal circumstances, the store staff will give you an application form to fill in with your contact information.
  • Online delivery:Part-time.ca, Indeed  andKIJIJI Generally, small restaurants and shops do not post jobs on websites like JobBank and Monster. They prefer posting on Indeed  andKIJIJI&nbspIn addition, each city generally has its own Chinese community forum. Toronto has YorkBBS and 51.ca. Vancouver has vanpeople.com and vansky.com. Even small cities like Halifax have nschinesehalifax.com. A lot of job postings can be found on the websites above.
  • Friend referrals:Canadians attach great value to internal employee referrals. Try asking your friends who are working part-time already, whether their companies are recruiting people.

Possible consequences of "working under the table"

In a broad sense, illegal employment in Canada can be called "working under the table" or “moonlighting”. For example, high school students take part-time jobs outside the school. Under normal circumstances, what we mean by "working under the table" is that a person is working for cash, that is, accepting salaries without paying taxes.
you live in a big city like Toronto, it seems to be very common. Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, and bubble-tea shops are where there are the most illegal workers. You have to remember that if you work illegally in Canada, you are likely to be caught and deported.

To sum up:

It is a very important part of personal growth for international students to work part-time while earning extra money. During the job, you will get a preliminary understanding of Canada's working environment and salary system. It should be noted that the preparation of a SIN is required, along with your choice of career. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to comment below.