Working Holiday Visa - advice on finding a basic job

[timjon1]

I've recently created a thread regarding ways to find a technical job in Canada relating to the diploma I just gained in electro-technology. But at the moment I just need to land a basic job in Canada and ideally the kind of job they promote at the working holiday agencies here in New Zealand which are usually at the Canadian Ski fields. A job like this would defintely suit me initially since I get to experience the Canadian Rockies (something I really want to do). I intend to extend my working holiday visa status and eventually become a perminant resident and land a more technical job.

I unfortunately missed the job fair program for this year and now I sit here with a 2-year working holiday visa and no job lined up (currently unemployed but have cash from just selling my car). I'd love to work at one of the places they (iep.co.nz) promote ie. Grouse Mountain, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Panorama Mountain Village, Asessippi Ski Area and get a basic job cleaning, lift operator or whatever. But visiting their respective websites always seems to revert me back to the working holiday agencies of which I already missed the boat for this year. I dont want to wait till the next job fair as I'm in a position to leave right now, all I have to do is book my plane ticket, ill be going by myself.

What options do I have to land a seasonal job at one of these ski field/mountain resort locations? should I just fire off a tonne of emails to them and request an interview since I cant leave almost immideately? Advice/help all appreciated. Thankyou.

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by timjon1

I've recently created a thread regarding ways to find a technical job in Canada relating to the diploma I just gained in electro-technology. But at the moment I just need to land a basic job in Canada and ideally the kind of job they promote at the working holiday agencies here in New Zealand which are usually at the Canadian Ski fields. A job like this would defintely suit me initially since I get to experience the Canadian Rockies (something I really want to do). I intend to extend my working holiday visa status and eventually become a perminant resident and land a more technical job.

I unfortunately missed the job fair program for this year and now I sit here with a 2-year working holiday visa and no job lined up (currently unemployed but have cash from just selling my car). I'd love to work at one of the places they (iep.co.nz) promote ie. Grouse Mountain, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Panorama Mountain Village, Asessippi Ski Area and get a basic job cleaning, lift operator or whatever. But visiting their respective websites always seems to revert me back to the working holiday agencies of which I already missed the boat for this year. I dont want to wait till the next job fair as I'm in a position to leave right now, all I have to do is book my plane ticket, ill be going by myself.
What options do I have to land a seasonal job at one of these ski field/mountain resort locations? should I just fire off a tonne of emails to them and request an interview since I cant leave almost immideately? Advice/help all appreciated. Thankyou.

I'm afraid i must tell you that you are not allowed to work in Canada without having a job. You must have pre-arranged employment or an occupation on THE LIST of 38 Canada deems to be of high importance. From what I read you do not qualify on either account.

[timjon1]

so your telling me if I turn up to Canada with a Working Holiday Visa without having pre-arranged a job before I leave then I am not allowed to work?! I have never heard of this, where are you getting your information from?

There is no mention on my letter of introduction that I need a job lined up before I come over..

I repeat, this is a "working holiday visa" I suspect your getting your visa terms and conditions mixed up.

[Weebie]

Originally Posted by Auld Yin

I'm afraid i must tell you that you are not allowed to work in Canada without having a job. You must have pre-arranged employment or an occupation on THE LIST of 38 Canada deems to be of high importance. From what I read you do not qualify on either account.

Wrong.

Australian and New Zealand citizens are granted 100% access to Canada up until the age of 30. Its basically a matter of renewing the WHV for a set fee about $170

Canada are trying to get a slice of the young educated Aussies and Kiwis to choose Canada over England.

[timjon1]

Thanks for the clarification Weebie, my heart skipped a beat when I read that.. After all the time and money I've put into this to be denied at this stage would be extremely unfortunate

[Weebie]

You will find problems getting work though in that field. Canadians are going to find the concept of you wanting to move to Canada abit abnormal. If you can prove to an organisation that you are want to stay in the country you will be right. The economy is bad and when things pick up they will probably be happy to get you onboard. Do your ski field work and if you want to stay try to find any position in an engineering firm doing anything and you'll get your foot in the door so to speak.

Good Luck!

[Jakespikey]

Hello, I'm an Australian and I'm going to Canada on Working Holiday Program in August 2010. I'm not sure about New Zealand but in Australia I can apply for a membership to IEP which is a non for profit organisation which will help you get a job in Canada, they run fairs but also provide you with help in Canada itself. I imagine New Zealand would have their own version of IEP which probably uses SWAP (the group IEP has agreements with that will help you once your in Canada, I think BRUNAC which is the English group puts it's members through SWAP as well.

I think you are too late for snow based jobs this year (you never know you might land one) and also accommodation is pretty hard to get a hold of usually but the Olympics are making it almost impossible from what I've heard from my friends already over there.

I find IEP is great and they have helped me with all the questions I've needed to ask.

Hope that helps.
Good luck!

[timjon1]

Originally Posted by Jakespikey

Hello, I'm an Australian and I'm going to Canada on Working Holiday Program in August 2010. I'm not sure about New Zealand but in Australia I can apply for a membership to IEP which is a non for profit organisation which will help you get a job in Canada, they run fairs but also provide you with help in Canada itself. I imagine New Zealand would have their own version of IEP which probably uses SWAP (the group IEP has agreements with that will help you once your in Canada, I think BRUNAC which is the English group puts it's members through SWAP as well.

I find IEP is great and they have helped me with all the questions I've needed to ask.

Hope that helps.
Good luck!

Thanks Jakespikey, yes I am aware of IEP and there is one in New Zealand too. I actually have an Australian passport and got the 24 month working holiday visa that Australians get instead of the 12month working holiday visa that New Zealanders get. I missed the job fair that was held in August and contemplated doing the "work Canada" program that they offer since it does use "swap" services to find a job. I looked into it more and found you cant use "swap" without having signed up with one of their partner organizations (IEP-NZ in this case) which I think is BS.

I probably wont be using IEP since I only really need them for finding a job, the rest like finding a place to stay, insurance, bank account etc I can sort out myself. On a positive note, I may have found myself a job in Whistler and will know in a day or two. Don't get me wrong I think those job fairs are a brilliant idea, but as I've found out there not completely necessary for finding a working holiday job.

[Jakespikey]

Originally Posted by timjon1

I probably wont be using IEP since I only really need them for finding a job, the rest like finding a place to stay, insurance, bank account etc I can sort out myself. On a positive note, I may have found myself a job in Whistler and will know in a day or two. Don't get me wrong I think those job fairs are a brilliant idea, but as I've found out there not completely necessary for finding a working holiday job.

Yeah the main reason I'm going with IEP is for the job help, I can sort other things out but for the peace of mind I thought it best I go with them. I've had friends go and not use them and land a job as well. Anyway good luck with the Whistler job

[timjon1]

Originally Posted by Jakespikey

Yeah the main reason I'm going with IEP is for the job help, I can sort other things out but for the peace of mind I thought it best I go with them. I've had friends go and not use them and land a job as well. Anyway good luck with the Whistler job

Thanks for that, I will start to look harder for accommodation as I foresee some headaches there.