Summer is right around the corner, and it is primetime for those looking for summer jobs and secondary income. Employers trying to recruit for summer jobs in Canada, usually start this process in April/May.

One thing that many summer jobs have in common is that employers will likely require a criminal background check as part of the hiring process. Criminal background checks are vital to ensuring public safety. They also play a role in loss prevention. Be prepared to provide your check to a potential employer.

When it comes to starting your hunt for summer jobs in Canada, the journey can be organized into three parts:

1.  What type of summer work you are going to look for?
2.  How will you find opportunities?
3.  How will you land the roles? This is where background checks come in.

When thinking about what type of summer work to look for, you can choose an industry or job type based on your experience, but it can also be very effective in targeting demand. Industries that consistently advertise for summer workers include:

  • Tourism and hospitality
  • Education and childcare – summer camps and other programs
  • Contractors – landscapers, pool cleaners, maintenance workers
  • Security
  • Retail

Once you know what industry you want to work in, your next step is to start looking for an opportunity. Here are some great places to start your search, many of which allow you to filter your search by industry and/or type of role.

1.  The Government of Canada: The job bank includes a summer jobs area, youth portal, the ability to search the job bank and set-up alerts to be made quickly aware of new opportunities. The Government of Canada also offers a platform Young Canadians Work. Finally, the Federal Student Work Experience Program helps students find employment opportunities in their study area.
2.  Jobs Boards: Job boards are a great way to find summer jobs in Canada, though everyone will be looking there, so it may be more competitive.
3.  Google and ChatGTP: Research the industries you want to work in and then current summer opportunities. This will help you find companies that have posted summer positions. Often, some good old-fashioned research is the best research.
4.  Social media: Join local groups on social platforms like Facebook. Research hashtags associated with an organization posting a position.
5.  Volunteer Organizations: If you want to give back and volunteer your time over the summer, platforms like VolunteerMatch, CharityVillage, and Volunteer Success are all good avenues to find opportunities in Canada.

Once you have identified an opportunity, your next step is to be prepared to land it. This will involve more than just completing an application or providing a resume. This is where things like background checks come in.

Organize things like:

  • Previous employment references (this could also be previous volunteer positions)
  • Courses, certificates, accolades
  • Personal references

Be prepared to provide:

1.  Identification
2.  A criminal background check: It is essential to validate with your prospective employer:

  • What type of criminal record check do you need? Depending on what sectors of the population you will be working with and in what context, you may need a    more enhanced criminal record check, so it is always a good idea to check what type the employer requires first.
  • Do you have to obtain it from a specific provider, or is a check from any third-party provider acceptable?

3.  Some positions may involve licensing, which may mean understanding who the regulator is and what additional requirements will exist regarding licensing. Security is an excellent example.
4.  If the position involves driving, you will require a driver’s license, and they will likely require your driver’s abstract.

That summer job is right there for the taking. With the tips in this week’s blog, you can now decide what the correct type of summer income is for you, how to find opportunities, and, most importantly, how to be prepared to act when available. For more information about obtaining your background checks, please visit www.tritoncanada.ca. Did you know Triton has a mobile app? You can get your background on-the-go and it is free to download https://www.tritoncanada.ca/criminal-record-check-canada