Best Seasons to Find Work in Vancouver
To find work in Vancouver, one of the most important things to consider is the best season to visit in. If you know when people are hiring, especially for seasonal work, you can plan your study and work period much better.
Vancouver is a growing city and has a lot of employment options for international students. While it is always possible to find some casual or part-time jobs, there are certain times of the year when employers are very active in their search for new employees.
A driving force in the employment sector is tourism.
The tourist industry brought in $15.7 billion in revenue to the province of B.C. in 2015. So, if you are coming to Canada, choosing the right season is important. Otherwise, you might be working against the economy, and the local economy is driven by tourism.
Generally, the hiring season starts from mid-April to mid-May.
The Alaska cruise ships begin their season during the first week of May, leaving from downtown Vancouver. Thousands of people arrive at the Vancouver airport. They stay downtown, eat at various restaurants, go sightseeing, and shop. There are constant new arrivals until the end of September, bringing a sea of potential customers to the Vancouver area. Employers hire staff in the retail industry, hospitality, food and beverage, the hotel business, and tourism.
What if you are unable to come during the spring and summer seasons?
If you are looking for a retail job, there is a small window of mass hiring for seasonal workers in the retail sector that typically occurs during the first week of November. Generally, people who are hired during this period are kept under contract until around the second week of January.
It is, of course, still possible to find jobs year-round. However, taking advantage of these periods will greatly increase your chances of being hired. If your English is low, give yourself 3-6 months to study English before entering the workforce. By adjusting your schedule, you can spend some time improving your English, and perhaps volunteer so you can meet people who may offer you a job later on.
