Updated: Febraury 2023.
Many people assume that Canada is in a permanent state of winter, but we also have a fantastic summer season! Working in Canada over the summer will allow you to experience beautiful emerald-green forests and turquoise lakes, epic wildlife – from bears to whales, wolves and moose – and adrenaline-fuelled activities (more on that later). In fact, there is so much to see and do that a summer working holiday really is the best option, as the IEC Working Holiday visa allows you to work and travel in Canada for 12 to 24 months, depending on your country. So, if you’re interested in a Canada summer working holiday, read on to discover everything you need to know about getting a summer job in Canada.
The summer season is very popular in Canada because the weather is hot and tourists come to enjoy the beautiful wilderness. Can you imagine jumping in one of those turquoise lakes you see in pictures of Canada? It’s possible!
Working the summer season in Canada gives you access to hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking opportunities not available during the winter. Better still, you can do many of these outdoor activities before or after your shift. That’s the benefit of working at a resort or hotel in Canada!
If you are planning to work in Canada in the summer, the sooner you arrive, the more job opportunities you might have. Want to come this season? There are still job positions available, so it’s time to strike while the iron is hot!
If you plan on arriving later, we can secure your job with start dates as late as early August, so you can still enjoy the last part of the summer in Canada.
Resort employers will start doing interviews for their summer working holiday season as early as March and as late as June each year. This is because you can begin working as early as April in some places, but most often you will start working between June and early July.
It is important to note, the longer you want to stay in Canada, the better chances you have for finding work. This is because resorts and hotels prefer to hire staff for the longest term possible. They invest a lot in your training on the resort’s operations and service standards. If you are planning to stay for both the summer and ski season, we make sure that you are going to work for an employer that will be open all year.
First things first: you will need to secure the IEC Working Holiday visa. This is a work permit that allows international youth from participating countries to travel and work in Canada for a certain amount of time, usually 1-2 years. Check the IEC Working Holiday visa requirements to see if you are eligible to apply.
Next, you will need to update your resume and cover letter to the Canadian format before applying for summer jobs. After which, you will have an interview, much like applying for jobs in your home country.
Our Working Holiday Resort Job programs guarantee you a resort or hotel job with accommodation before you arrive in Canada so that you can earn money to fund your travels. Plus, you’ll have some of Canada’s best wilderness at your doorstep as the resorts we work with are located in Canada’s most beautiful destinations (think: Banff, Lake Louise, Tofino, Kelowna, Whistler, Revelstoke and more).
You will also have more time to enjoy your first few days in Canada as we will make sure all your essentials are covered – like getting your work permit on arrival, sorting out your bank and everything else needed to get you set up.
Yes! We take the time to work with you and make sure you will be a great fit for the employer. Employers like working with us, as we make their recruitment easy. We know what they look for in candidates and we do our best to prepare our participants for them. If you want to work for a specific ski resort or hotel, we will advise you on how to succeed in your interview with that employer.
It is important to note that although we will get you the interview, you are still responsible for the result. Our team will help you get there, but you are the one that will succeed in receiving a job offer!
We want to be realistic. We will never promise you a job that we don’t think we can find for you. That’s why we do a free consultation before you pay our program fee. We want to make sure we can help you before you join our program. If you put in the energy and the effort, you will get the job at the resort location you are dreaming of!
The sooner the better. You will have 12 months to activate the permit, so if you plan on working in Canada this summer, the sooner you secure your work permit, the sooner you can make plans!
Hotels and resorts will want a guarantee that you have an approved working holiday permit before hiring you, so it is worth getting into the pool early to increase your chances of getting an invitation (ITA) to secure your Working Holiday visa.
If you did not make your decision that far in advance, no worries, you can still make it. Normally IEC opens early in the year, so you can get prepared to apply as soon as the pool opens for your country.
During our free consultation together, you can let us know your start date preferences.
We will always make sure to inform each employer about your desired start date. This includes the extra time you will need to get settled in Canada before moving to the resort. Normally we recommend our participants set aside at least one business day to get their bank account, SIN number, cell phone, and a few more items sorted out with our team.
When hotels and resorts interview our participants, we will have previously notified them of your start date availability. Therefore, they can offer you a summer job position along with an assigned orientation date to start working in Canada! These orientation dates are great because you will be starting at the same time as other workers, meaning you won’t be the only new staff member on the team!
You do not want to miss your orientation date with your employer in Canada, as that’s a perfect day to meet new people, learn the policies of the company, all your benefits and perks, and so on. Attending will set you up for success and give you a great idea of the employer you are about to work the summer for in Canada.
Staff accommodation is by far the greatest advantage of working at a ski or summer resort. You will live close to your job, removing the need for a car, and you will save money because of the lower rent prices.
When you travel to Canada on our Summer Working Holiday program, staff accommodation is always guaranteed! You will travel to Canada with a job offer in hand, accommodation pre-arranged, and the tranquillity of having our assistance if you have any problems.
It is important to note, that not all resort employers offer extra benefits or perks to their staff. This makes it difficult for us to confirm the exact benefits that you will be eligible for when working for a summer resort in Canada.
In any case, we have put together the most common benefits and perks you might have while working in Canada during the summer. You will find:
There are so many amazing destinations during the summer to work in Canada. Have you ever experienced those beautiful blue lakes? Well, what about waking up to one every day? The beauty of Canada is that it offers an amazing summer season that captures so many tourists from all over the world. You will be surprised at how many amazing destinations you can not only work at but also enjoy as a gateway from your working holiday experience when working in Canada:
The job positions available during the summer season are very similar to those offered during the winter. The biggest difference is that during the summer, hotels and resorts will have way more activities outdoors. For example, in Whistler, you will find the golf court open so hotels like the Fairmont Whistler will be offering jobs as part of their golf course team. The hotels might need staff during the summer for locations that are closed during the winter months, but getting started there will open doors for any potential openings for winter-season roles!
Also, during the summer months, there are a lot of activities and rentals close to the hotels such as kayaking, mountain biking, rafting and climbing, with many roles available. Not to forget events that are very seasonal, such as weddings, where you can work as a server to get some extra hours and save more money!
Contrary to popular belief, Canada does get hot. During the summer season, temperatures range from 20 – 30°C and sometimes even reach 40°C depending on where you go. Generally, the coastal areas have more moderate climates while the interior regions like Osoyoos, and the Okanagan Valley in central British Columbia can get really hot in the summer. That’s when it is awesome to enjoy the amazing lakes to cool off for a swim!
It will fully depend on where you will work in the summer. Some destinations are more expensive than others. Overall, it could be between CAD $400-600 per month. In most cases, you will need to leave a deposit, like in a regular rental place. The apartments are ready to live in, you will just need to get your bedding, but no worries, we will be guiding you through the process, so you will know what is needed in advance. The rental fee is discounted from your salary and normally includes all the costs.
During the shoulder season – the time in between the busy ski and summer seasons when tourism is slow – most working holidayers opt to travel around Canada or to the United States. Hit the road with your fellow workmates and take advantage of travelling during the off-season! By which we mean fewer crowds, more availability, cheaper lines and better photo ops. Plus, you’ll get a better sense of local life.
If you want to stay to experience Canada’s famous ski season (you definitely should!), we can also secure you a job for the winter season. Read our Canada Ski Working Holiday guide for more information on working during the winter season.
Our main goal through our Summer Resort Working Holiday program is to have all of the stress taken out of planning your working holiday in Canada! You’ll get your job locked in advance, so you’ll know exactly where you’ll be working and living for your summer in Canada!
Our Summer Resort Working Holiday program is open for the summer 2023 season! As soon as you connect with us, we will email you to arrange a FREE meeting to see how we can help you plan your Canada summer working holiday.