Summer Jobs in Canada

Summer Jobs Overview

Summer jobs aren’t just for the school holidays, they also teach teenagers and university students important life skills that set them up for their future in the world of work. A job during the summer can teach you budgeting, leadership, and teamwork skills, as well as give you an insight into work culture.

During your search, you’ll also develop job skills such as writing a resume and cover letter, and interviewing. Once you land a position, you’ll have opportunities for networking and gain valuable references for your future job applications.

While there are summer opportunities that require a certain level of experience or training, many if not most, require little to no experience. Therefore, these roles are the perfect way to get your foot in the door of an industry you’d like to explore or land a job quickly when you need cash.

There is a wide variety of jobs available in the summertime but the most common are service jobs and may include:

• hotel jobs
• fitness jobs
• nanny jobs

Training and Skills for Summer Positions

With summer jobs being temporary, employers are usually looking for core soft skills as well as any specific hard skills you have that fit the job at hand. For example, you might be a qualified lifeguard or experienced barista. Some of the most common skills that will help you include:

• communication
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• flexibility
• strong work ethic

If the job you’re after is to support your school studies, then you’ll also want to show that you have gained or are working toward relevant qualifications.

Create a Resume for Summer Gigs

Just because the job will only last a few months doesn’t mean you should take the application process any less seriously. Whatever position you’re going for, you’ll need a winning resume. Be sure to extract the key terms of the job ad and highlight your associated experience. If you don’t have many or any previous paid roles, include volunteer work and involvement in sports teams or school clubs as well.

Don’t forget to include a cover letter if one is required. This document is your opportunity to elaborate on the skills that appear in your resume and tell the hiring manager why you’d love to spend your summer with their company. Need inspiration? Monster has plenty of resume tips and cover letter examples to help you get started.

Interviewing for Summer Jobs

For temporary roles in customer service and hospitality, it’s likely that you’ll at least be called for a brief phone interview to discuss your skills and availability, if not an in-person meeting with your potential employer. For jobs that require more experience or a certain level of qualification, like summer clerk at a law firm, or lifeguard at a community leisure center, you may be invited to attend an in-depth interview. Check out our tips and advice for interview preparation and common questions and answers.

How Much Does a Summer Job Pay?

There are a wide variety of roles for the sunnier months, and how much you are paid will depend on your responsibilities and where you live. Working in customer service or hospitality, it’s likely that you’ll be paid by the hour. For example, a cashier in Québec makes on average $28.5 per hour, and a bartender in Ontario expects to bring in around $29.53 per hour. For more information about summer wages, check out the Monster Salary Tool.

Dive Into a Summer Job With Help from Monster

Start exploring an array of summer jobs right here on Monster. Need help building your skills in the world of work? Get started by signing up for a free Monster profile, and you can upload resumes, save jobs you’re interested in, and receive custom inbox alerts for what’s new. Whether you’re new to job hunting or you’ve got a few experiences under your belt already, Monster makes it easier to find and apply to jobs you’ll love.