Bit of a long shot but I've had my working holiday visa approved and now have the task of trying to find a job before I get out to Canada (late summer but will go earlier if there's a job available). Hoping there's somebody here who could give me some advice for places to look - bike shops, resorts etc. Online agencies and job sites - which are good?
Anyone here from BC and know of any openings? Would I be better off going on Pinkbike or somewhere similar?
I would like to try a "career" job in media (video post-production or 3d graphics/modelling) but have a feeling it's gonna be hard to get that on a year-long visa, hence looking at bike shops etc.
I worked in the Westbeach shop on West and 4th Avenue in Kitsilano, Vancouver.
Loved it!
Before that I was working for Mount Norquay resort in Banff as a lift monkey, that was great too.
Take plenty of money with you as you'll need it to supplement your minimum wage earnings.
I have family in Kitsilano, nice part of town.
email these guys, based in Vancouver [url= http://www.ccnbikes.com/ ]http://www.ccnbikes.com/[/url] up and coming company there and run by Brits.
Just out of interest, how long did it take them to get back to you RE your visa application? I only ask as I too have applied and was told that I should hear back in six weeks which is coming up this Tuesday but I was wondering whether they actually got back to you within the specified time period?
I plan on working my way around the country rather than staying in one place, although I've got friends in Vancouver so I'll ask whether they know of any jobs going that fit your remit.
I applied pretty much as soon as the IEC opened at the end of January, and got the confirmation this weekend.
I did a similar thing two years ago, best thing I ever did. You'll have a great time. Vancouver is an amazing city, If you have a background in bike shop work have a look at John henry cycles or Cove on the North Shore. Don't just limit yourself to the big city though, pretty much anywhere west of Calgary is worth checking out. Fernie is amazing if you like the small mountain town vibe. Nelson is really cool aswell. Whistler was cool, awesome riding, but seemed very fake, not sure Id want to live there...
I spent most of my time in Banff, Alberta which is probably the most beautiful place on earth (crazy party town too!). There's lots of jobs up the ski hills but they pay **** all and the winters are brutal! You won't be able to get a job until you get out there, it really is a matter of blasting every shop, bar and resteraunt with your CV. If you can get bar work you'll be on to a winner, its customary to tip atleast a dollar on every drink. A few of my friends were taking home $200 a night in tips.
I'd strongly recomend taking some kind of tour of the west before deciding where to stay. The Moose Network offers really fun, laid back trips for people (generally) under 30. The busses only cary about 12 and the driver / guides are all in their 20s. The best thing is if you want to get to know a place a bit better, you can get off the bus and jump back on whenever the next bus comes through.
Wow, so it took over eight weeks to process then 😯 . Can you remember how long it said they would take to get back to your in the first email that they sent to you when they received your application? If yours said six weeks too then I'll leave it be for a couple of weeks rather than ringing them to chase it.
Not sure the exact processing time to be honest - I was orignally gonna do it through BUNAC who told me it could be 1-2 months before it gets processed, which seems about right for me.
bloodyshins that Moose Network thing sounds great, seems like a good way to meet people to drink with! Bar work sounds like a good money maker, unfortunately I don't have any experience in that. Don't have bikeshop experience either - all I've got is almost a year's self employed since uni (web design and video production) and a summer job at Tesco 🙁
What do you do about getting contacted for jobs etc - buy a cheap payg phone when you get there, rely on emails or what?
I'm out in Vancouver at the minute on a Bunac working visa, one month to go, then I'm off to the states for a month then home! As far as jobs anywhere in canada are concerned, the first place to look would be on craigslist as a majority of employers out here advertise through there. If you have the visa already my advise would be to start applying for positions now as some companies (if your lucky) will take two months or so to even get back to you. And I agree, bring plenty of money with you, Good luck!
Hi Tom.
The Moose Network thing was great. Its full of people in the exact same situation as you. I met two of the people that I spent the year with on the bus. Also the youth hostels are a great way to meet people, you just need to make a bit of an effort to chat, just remember every one there is in the same boat.They also usually offer organised bar crawls etc. Its a bit like the first week of uni. You'll have no probs meeting drinking buddies, believe me.
I initially was using my UK contract phone for employers to call me on. Big mistake... My bill was £400 because every call recieved is charged to you as an international call. Just buy a pay and go phone out there. The one bad thing I found out about Canada is they don't have the same industry regulators as us so certain services such as cell phones and banking are stupidly expensive. A basic pay and go cell will cost you about $100. Calls are about 25c / minute and you pay the same to recieve as you do to call. Also the banks charge you a monthly fee for the privilage of making interest on your money, and then they charge you a dollar every time you use a cash machine.
Other than that little niggle, I firmly believe it is the best country on earth! You're going to have an amazing time, I'm jealous just thinking about it.
Oh and as the others have said, take as much money and as many credit cards as you can lay your hands on, it aint a cheap place and you'll want to experience it to the full. You also can't book anything without a credit card (debit cards are only used for over the counter stuff there) although I think some places accept visa debit.
I applied for some ski lift jobs online the other day and got a call today.. turns out they're through some agency-type thing (theworkingholidayclub.com). Are these places best avoided? It seems like a great service you get, UK-based interviews, first night of accomodation free which serves as an introduction to who you're going to be working with etc (sounds a bit like freshers week) and that sort of thing.. but it's about $400 which seems a LOT. Are these things generally a rip off? $400 would either cover the moose network costs, or go toward a used bike out there!
A few of the younger kids I knew that worked up the ski hill went through a similar agency. I guess it is a positive if you know you are going out there to do a ski season but I would recomend you go on a moose tour and keep an open mind. I had no intention of staying in Banff, I'd planned to go back to Vancouver and find work, but I fell in love with the Rockies when I was there.
Most ski hills have a recruitment fare so it may be worth finding out when these are and saving yourself some dosh. Basically anyone that shows up gets a job (although this was pre resecesion). Also the hostels in most towns that rely on a seasonal workforce like Banff, revelstoke etc have job seeker packages where you get a discounted rate and a job hunting pack.
If you do end up working up a ski hill, I would reccomend living in town, not on the mountain. A lot of them have pretty strict rules and its common to have to share a room when you live in staff accomodation. Not ideal when there is a town full of pissed up girls on their holidays!(if your single, you'll have a grat time. Canadian girls rock!)
Oh and look out for bike and ski swaps in the local paper of wherever you end up. Its a common thing in canada for the local ski or MTB club to hold a big sale before the season starts, so members can get rid of their last seasons gear. I got a sweet Kona that saw me through the summer there from the North Shore bike swap in vancouver as well as all my snowboard gear for the winter in Banff.
When you get to vancouver, book in at the same sun on granville st. http://samesun.com/
I stayed at the HI hostel but people I met along the way said the same sun was much more social and friendly.
I would recomend the Mustang tour that moose offer
http://www.moosenetwork.com/content.php?id=4
This is the one we did, the two nights in the wilferness hostels at rampart creek and Mt edith cavel were unreal. Real back country feel to them, no electric and water from a pristine creek. Not to mention playing beer pong with jaegermeister and getting truly smashed.
Any more questions mate, just ask...