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Written By
Corinna Frattini
Feb 8, 2024
•Job Search
Once you arrive in Canada, you have a decision to make: should I get a “survival job” to earn money or look for a job in my profession? A survival job is not the best first job you can get. But, since they are easy to obtain, survival jobs can be a helpful way of earning money to pay the bills. However, once you get a survival job, do not give up on your job search. The choice you make will greatly affect how you live in Canada for the next few years. This article will help you decide which path to choose when you arrive in Canada.
We spoke to Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services) with BCCA. When it comes to survival jobs, Linda Ryan shares her advice:
“My advice is to fasten your proverbial seat belt, hunker down and budget to be out of work for up to six months. Then before you opt for that survival job (a job that pays the bills but doesn’t relate to your career dreams and/or existing education, qualifications and industry experience) take a deep breath and consider all your options and the associated positive and negative consequences of each. Only when you have given yourself the gift of considering all impacts of a decision, should you take action.
Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA
A survival job can pay the bills. But, it doesn’t relate to your career dreams or professional background. Often, it’s a low-paying job that requires little to no skills. These jobs are easy to obtain and earn just enough to pay the bills. Generally, survival jobs earn you under $20 per hour.
Survival jobs usually have long, tiring shifts with only one or two days off each week. These jobs also offer very few benefits from the employer such as medical or dental benefits. It’s good to ask the employer if they do provide any benefits.
Some examples of survival jobs include:
Since a survival job requires little skill, it doesn’t have to be related to your profession. The employer will provide training for the skills you may need for a survival job.
Getting a survival job is not always the best option after you arrive in Canada. Survival jobs can leave you little time and energy to continue your job search. At the same time, survival jobs often give you a feeling of self-satisfaction or ease. This is because they don’t require much thinking and the tasks are generally easy. When both of these factors are combined, newcomers often give up on their job search after a few years of doing survival jobs. The longer you keep a survival job, the harder it will become for you to find a job in your profession.
Another disadvantage of survival jobs in the long term is experience. It may not sound logical, but a long-term survival job can hurt your Canadian experience. Earning money with a survival job for a short time is good for building Canadian experience. However, employers may be hesitant to hire you if you have only had a survival job for the past few years. Any experience you might have had in your profession will count as older work experience and they may not consider it.
“As a skilled newcomer to Canada often the biggest shock to your career trajectory is realizing that it takes time to secure work in your field of expertise.”
Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA
Then, of course, there is the matter of income. Survival jobs earn you an annual income of around $30,000 to $50,000. Depending on where you live in Canada, this income probably won’t be enough to save for a down payment and buy a house.
In Toronto or Vancouver, this salary will barely pay the rent. Overall, a survival job allows you to earn income to help you get by until you find a job in your field. It is not meant as a permanent job, and you should not think it’s your permanent job.
Many survival jobs are in the service sector such as restaurants or tourist attractions. As Ryan explained, based on the experience of her clients: “survival jobs pay lower and create a negative cycle of ‘no time and no energy’. This is because you work longer hours to earn enough money. Or, you can’t take time off to attend interviews for your dream job. As a result, you have little energy to go home after a shift and invest in your career, pastimes, or family. This negative cycle leaves newcomers asking “why did I come to Canada?”
Another client of Ryan’s stated, “survival jobs can be more of a hindrance than a help for your career because they cannibalize the energy you have for networking, job hunting, professional development, and interviewing.”
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REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARSince they are easier to obtain than regular jobs, survival jobs are usually the first job newcomers get in Canada. Canada is an expensive country that is hard to live in for a long time without earning stable money. A survival job will earn you enough money to get by and maybe acquire some savings if you spend carefully.
Looking at the disadvantages of survival jobs, it is obvious that they may hurt your chances of getting a job in your profession. However, survival jobs are important in some situations.
When you arrive in Canada it’s wise to have up to six months of savings while you conduct your job search. If you don’t have enough savings to last a few months, it will be hard to continue your job search without earning additional money. In this scenario, get a survival job as soon as you arrive in Canada to earn money.
If you have enough savings to last a few months, you should look for a job in your profession without any distractions. If you still cannot find a preferred job after that time, and your savings are running out, it’s time to find a survival job. As the name suggests, survival jobs are there just so you can pay the bills, nothing more.
The answer to that question varies depending on your situation. Not everyone is in the same financial situation when they arrive in Canada. Whether or not you should get a survival job depends on your savings and the job outlook for your profession. If possible, try to find a job related to your field. This way, when you apply for jobs in your profession, you will already have some Canadian experience.
If you do have savings, plan how long you can live on your savings. In that time, do everything to search for your preferred job. This can include:
If you still can’t find a good job at the end of this time, it’s time for a survival job to earn money.
It’s vital to research how your profession works in Canada before you arrive. Many newcomers come to Canada thinking they will find a job in their profession easily. This isn’t always the case. Getting a job in Canada is easy if you conduct your job search the right way. This is why it is vital to research your profession before you arrive and start networking with people in your profession.
Most people will probably look for the highest-paying survival job they can find. This may not be the best approach. It is always best to find a survival job related to your profession. If you have a specific organization or company you want to work for, try to get a job there. For example, if you’re a teacher, you could try to get a job as a lunch supervisor or an assistant teacher. That way, when you apply for a teaching job, you will already have some Canadian experience that can help you land the job.
If you cannot find a job directly related to your profession, you can look for survival jobs that share some of the same skills with your profession. A good example would be teachers who could tutor part-time or even full-time to show future employers you can teach to Canadian standards. When you use this approach to search for survival jobs, your chances of landing a good job are greater.
Finding a survival job in Canada is easy if you know where to look. These are resources and techniques for finding a survival job in Canada:
Networking is the number one way of getting any job in Canada. Simply put, networking is building relationships that will help you with your career. Effective networking happens by building two-way relationships. You show value and prove you have the required skills and experience to do the job.
Your network can include your friends, relatives, and people you meet during your job search. Just showing your resumé to the HR department of the organization will not be enough. Words are more effective and convincing than any cover letter or resumé. Tell people about your skills and capabilities. When people hear about a job opening, make sure they remember you. They may recommend you for the job if you leave a good impression.
Another great way to find jobs is through employment agencies. Companies hire these agencies to find capable and experienced workers. It’s a good idea to look up some of the best employment agencies in your area and approach them. According to the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services, employment agencies hire over two million workers yearly!
Online job boards are the most common way to find jobs. Websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn are great online job boards. LinkedIn can also be used for networking. Employers use online job boards to advertise available jobs. If you see a job that interests you, you can apply directly to the employer through the job board.
In summary, a survival job is not the best first job you can get. However, since they are easy to obtain, survival jobs can be helpful to earn money to pay the bills. But, once you get a survival job, do not give up on your job search. Ryan offers this final advice:
“As a newcomer looking for your first role in Canada, remember that the sooner you make it look like you have ‘Canadian experience’ (i.e. through career-relevant credentials, memberships of local professional associations, building your network, taking more junior roles that will lead to your dream job), the sooner you’ll be considered equal to Canadian educated and experienced job candidates. This will allow you to get your foot in the career door faster! And once you’re in, your career will build momentum to be back on track!
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
WRITTEN BY
Corinna Frattini
Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada
Corinna Frattini is the Senior Editor and Content Director for Prepare for Canada. She contributes articles to help newcomers achieve their goals in key areas related to living, working, and settling in Canada. With an extensive background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
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