The Most Popular Part-time Jobs for International Students in Canada

International students in Canada often seek part-time employment to support themselves financially while pursuing their studies. Balancing work and studies as an international student may be challenging, but finding a part-time job in Canada can be a rewarding experience. With various sectors offering flexible opportunities, students can gain valuable work experience and integrate more fully into Canadian life. Each of these sectors provides unique benefits and learning experiences that can complement your academic goals.

Thinking about working part-time as an international student in Canada? Then, explore our compilation guide into the most popular part-time jobs in the Great White North for international Students.

What Are the Top 5 Part-time Job Sectors for International Students in Canada?

For international students in Canada, part-time jobs offer a crucial means of financial support and professional development. The top five sectors providing these opportunities include retail, hospitality and food service, customer service, campus administrative support, and tutoring.

Retail

The retail sector is popular for international students due to its many part-time positions. From clothing stores and grocery chains to electronics retailers, students can find a variety of roles. Retail jobs offer opportunities to interact with customers, develop communication skills, and learn about product knowledge. According to the Retail Council of Canada, retail jobs often provide career advancement and professional networking opportunities.

Hospitality and Food Service

The hospitality and food service industry provides various part-time employment options. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, and event catering companies hire students as servers, bartenders, hosts, kitchen staff, and housekeeping. These jobs offer flexible shifts and enhance interpersonal skills through regular customer interactions. The Restaurants Canada highlights that these roles are essential in building teamwork and communication abilities.

Customer Service

Customer service roles are in high demand in Canada, making them suitable for international students. Call centers, retail stores, and tech support companies often recruit students to handle customer inquiries, provide assistance, and resolve issues. These jobs help students develop excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Companies like Rogers and Bell frequently seek part-time customer service representatives, reflecting the sector's high demand.

Campus Administrative Support

Universities and colleges often offer part-time administrative support positions to their international students. These roles may involve assisting with office duties, answering phones, and supporting faculty and staff. Working in a campus administrative role can provide valuable experience and insights into the university's operations.

Tutoring and Teaching

International students with strong academic skills can find rewarding part-time work in tutoring and teaching. Tutoring students in various subjects or teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) are common opportunities. These roles allow students to share knowledge, develop teaching skills, and gain experience working with children or adults. Many universities and online platforms provide avenues for students to offer tutoring services, reflecting the high demand for academic support.

What Are the Most Popular Part-time Jobs for International Students in Each Major Sector?

Here's a breakdown of the most popular part-time jobs in each significant sector for international students in Canada, with National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes and annual average salaries from Canada’s Job Bank.

Retail

The most popular part-time jobs for international students in Canada’s Retail Sector are outlined below.

Hospitality and Food Service

Below are the most popular part-time jobs for international students in Canada’s Hospitality and Food Service Industry.

Customer Service

Here are the most popular part-time jobs for international students in Canada’s Customer Service sector.

Campus Administrative Support

Below are the most popular part-time jobs in Canada’s Campus Administrative Support.

Tutoring and Teaching

Here are the most popular part-time jobs in Canada’s Tutoring and Teaching for international students.

How Can I Work a Part-time Job as an International Student in Canada?

If you meet the following requirements, you can work part-time as an international student in Canada on and off campus or as a cooperative student or intern.

On-Campus

You can work as an international student in Canada if your Canadian study permit lists a condition that says you can work on- or off-campus. You can work on your school campus without a Canadian work permit if you:

• Are a full-time post-secondary student at a designated learning student (DLI),
• Have a valid study permit or maintained status in Canada,
• Have printed conditions on your initial Canadian study permit allowing you to work on campus, and
• Have a social insurance number (SIN).

If you were a full-time student in every semester of your program but studied part-time in your last semester to finish your required coursework, you can still work unlimited hours on campus.

Are There International Students Who Cannot Work on-Campus

You must stop working on-campus:

• On the day you stopped studying full-time unless you’re in your final semester,
• When your study permit expires,
• If you’re on an authorized leave from your studies, and
• If you’re switching schools and aren’t currently studying.

You can return to work only once you’re back to studying and meet all the work requirements on campus.

Where Can you Part-time On Campus

Working on campus as an international student in Canada enables you to work at the buildings on your DLIs campus. If your school has more than one campus, you may only work at the campus where you’re studying in most cases. You can work at other locations if you’re working as a teaching or research assistant and your work is strictly related to a research grant.

Who Can You Work for Part-time On Campus

An on-campus employer can your DLI a faculty member, student organization, private business, private contractor that provides on-campus services, or yourself if you run a business on-campus or a private business. Please note you can work as many hours as you want if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for working on campus.

Off Campus

You can work off campus without a Canadian work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

• You’re a full-time student at a DLI,
• You’re enrolled in either a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program (Quebec only),
• Your study program is at least six months long and leads to a diploma, certificate or degree,
• You’ve started studying, and
• You have a SIN.

If you are a part-time international student, you can work off-campus if you meet the requirements above, except the full-time student requirement. You can also qualify to work off-campus if you’re studying part-time because you’re in the last semester of your study program.

Who May Not Work Off Campus

You can’t work off campus without a work permit if the following applies to you:

• Your Canadian study permit says you aren’t authorized to work off-campus while you study.
• You’re enrolled solely in English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) courses,
• You’re only taking general interest courses,
• You’re only taking courses required to be accepted into a full-time program, and
• Your situation changes, and you no longer meet all the requirements to work off-campus.

If these situations are applicable to you, and you want to work while studying in Canada, you must apply for a Canadian work permit to work off campus as an international student in Canada.

However, if your study situation has now changed, you may be able to change the conditions of your Canadian study permit. You can apply to change the conditions of your Canadian study permit if:

• You’ve changed your study program to one that may allow you to work off campus and,
• Your study permits states clearly, “This permit does not permit the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada.” or,
• Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have a condition on your study permit clearly stating you may no longer apply.

As a Co-op Student or Intern

Some study programs include work experience in as part of their official curriculum. You can apply for a co-op or intern work permit if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You have a valid Canadian study permit,
• You must work to complete your study program in Canada,
• You have a letter from your school confirming all students in your program must complete work placements to get their degree, and
• Your co-op placement or internship totals 50% or less of your study program.

Who Can Work Part-time as an International Co-op Student or Intern

You aren’t eligible for a co-op work permit if you’re taking one of the following:

• English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL),
• General interest courses, or
• Courses to prepare for another study program.

If you’re not eligible for a co-op Canadian work permit but want to work in Canada, apply for a Canadian work permit.

Now that you better understanding of what part-time jobs are most popular among international students in Canada, you can take the first steps on your path to studying in Canada with the assistance of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

FAQs

What Should International Students Consider When Applying for Part-time Jobs?

As an international student in Canada, you should ensure their work permits and student visas allow for part-time employment under current regulations. They should also consider job flexibility to balance work with their academic commitments and look for positions that provide opportunities to develop skills relevant to their career goals.

Are There Any Specific Challenges International Students May Face When Looking for Part-time Jobs?

You may face challenges as an international student with limited work experience in Canada, affecting your job prospects. Language barriers and differences in workplace culture can also pose difficulties, potentially impacting their confidence and job performance.

What Are Some Tips for International Students When Applying for Part-time Jobs?

International students should start by networking with peers and attending job fairs to uncover opportunities and get referrals. Customizing your Canadian resume and cover letters to reflect Canadian job market expectations can make a significant difference.