Working Holiday
All of these Working Holiday Internships and Placements are available in Metro Vancouver. To qualify for an internship, you must be currently enrolled at a college or university – in Canada or abroad. Or – you must qualify for a Young Workers Exchange Visa or Youth Mobility Visa (more info on those here).
To apply for an internship, please click here.
NB: There is a placement fee for each internship.
Supermarket Jobs
These include jobs as cashiers, deli clerks, produce clerks, and shelve stockers. The specific position depends on the student’s language level, physical state, and personality. These are very social jobs, students spend their entire days talking and socializing with co-workers.
These are also shift jobs, so hours of work can vary from week to week. The pay rate averages $9.00 per hour gross, and students work an average of 30 hours per week. All jobs are in Metro Vancouver, so no accommodation is provided.
Additional Requirements: None.
Restaurant Jobs
These include servers, bussers, prep cooks, and dishwashers. The specific position depends on the student’s language level, physical state, and personality. Longer term students have a much higher chance of being placed as a server. Students here for only a short term will almost certainly be placed as a busser – or if English is lacking – a dishwasher.
These are also shift jobs, so hours of work can vary from week to week. The pay rate averages $9.00 per hour gross and in some cases may include tips. Students work an average of 30 hours per week. All jobs are in Metro Vancouver, so no accommodation is provided.
Additional Requirements: None.
Retail Jobs
These jobs are restricted to the most linguistically advanced and outgoing students. Students will work at a variety of shops around Metro Vancouver – though not necessarily on Robson Street. Students must be able to function to the same standard as their Canadian co-workers, this means being able to approach customers, initiate conversations, and being proactive in managing tasks.
These are also shift jobs, so hours of work can vary from week to week. The pay rate averages $9.00 per hour gross, and students work an average of 30 hours per week. All jobs are in Metro Vancouver, so no accommodation is provided.
Additional Requirements: None.
Hospitality Jobs
Hospitality jobs are at hotels and resorts. These usually are housekeeping for short term students, and guest services for longer term students. Housekeeping jobs are done with a partner – students always work in teams of two.
Depending on the position, student hours may vary, though they remain the same from week to week. The pay rate averages $10.00 per hour gross, and students work an average of 35 hours per week. Jobs in Metro Vancouver do not include accommodation. Jobs outside of Metro all include subsidized accommodation. Accommodation is in a shared room, with access to bathroom, common room, and cooking facilities. The going rate for accommodation is $350 per month – though it is typically less in the Rockies.
Additional Requirements: None.
Labour Jobs
Labouring jobs are mostly in the film industry, though some are in grounds keeping and home renovation. In the film industry, the intern will work putting up tents at different location shoots around Metro Vancouver. In grounds keeping, they will work primarily at golf courses, weeding, planting, trimming vegetation. In Home renovations, they will put up drywall, and in all positions they will move heavy equipment from trucks – in most cases as part of a small team.
Jobs hours are fixed from week to week, and usually begin early in the day around 7am. The pay rate averages $12.00 per hour gross, and students work an average of 45 hours per week. All jobs are in Metro Vancouver, so no accommodation is provided.
Additional Requirements: Must be 5′ 10″ or over. Must be able bodied and in good physical condition.
