By: Taylor Villeneuve, Build ON Employment Consultant
When coming to Canada and entering the labour market, there are a whole host of concerns that a newcomer may have. How will I get a job without any Canadian experience? How will I build up a network in my industry? How will I get Canadian references? Here at Build ON, these are common questions that we hear daily. In this blog post we will debunk myths surrounding survival jobs, and shed light on why survival jobs can be a stepping stone into your dream job.
There is a common misconception that survival jobs are exactly that- working just to make ends meet. Yet, survival jobs are a vital part of the workforce, encompassing a wide range of roles that are essential for keeping society functioning smoothly. What isn’t often considered, is that survival jobs do not actually have to be a job outside of your field, yet, they can actually be higher paying roles within your field of expertise. Whether you're a server at a restaurant, a janitor in an office building, or a professional in your field taking on temporary work to make ends meet, your contribution is valuable and worthy of respect.
There are many avenues that you can begin exploring for survival jobs.
Career Edge is a website that has short term contract jobs in a variety of fields. By creating an account, you are one click away from paid job opportunities in banks, engineering companies, and accounting firms.
City websites also have a variety of jobs available in many fields – and these opportunities at cities often open up doors to other jobs available within the city. Another great opportunity is the
Canada Summer Jobs program for ages 15-30, where you can gain experience by working a summer contract within the public or private sector.
Another area to look into are Canadian hospitals. These hospitals pay above minimum wage and offer a variety of work, such as administration, scheduling clerk, finance, and IT jobs. Non-profit organizations also offer a wide array of roles –
Charity Village is a hub for opportunities within Non-profits. For example, at the
YMCA, there are also a variety of jobs available across Canada. Here in Canada,
Costco is one of our largest department stores – by taking a look at their career page, you can see all of the opportunities that are available for accounting, customer service, procurement and supply chain, pharmacy assistants, baking, and maintenance work.
Build ON specializes in assisting clients who work in construction, engineering, skilled trades, and related professions. So, you may be thinking, how can someone in this field of work find employment at somewhere like a hospital, or a non-profit organization? This is where it is key to begin looking at your transferable skills. For example, if you are an engineer, you likely are proficient in math, scheduling, planning, and delegating tasks. This would make you a good fit for a scheduling clerk or a lead administrative assistant. If you are a project manager dealing with complaints from your workers or industry partners, this may mean you are a good fit for
service centre representatives at organizations such as at a City Centre, Costco, banks, and non-profit organizations. If you work in construction, you most likely are able to think on your feet, problem solve, and work effectively with your hands. Take a look at
maintenance or repair positions that are readily available here in Canada.
When you are job searching in Canada, be open to contract opportunities, or jobs where you can utilize your transferable skills. The reason is because this is how you will gain experience for your future job search, and these roles will also get you acquainted with the Canadian Job Market.
With that being said, survival jobs are often looked at as a short term goal for newcomers. However, the benefits of survival jobs should not be overlooked. Here at Build ON, you are able to work with
your employment consultant and they will help you identify your key transferable skills, and help you understand what alternative careers are best suited for you.