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Frequently Asked Questions

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If you cannot find your answer here please do not hesitate to contact us or give us a call on 03 9329 3866.

Visas & Eligibility

The Work Canada Job Fair Program

Preparing for the interview

Life in Canada

Am I eligible?
Work Canada Job Fair jobs are for the North American winter ski season, which start in November or December and last for around 5 months. To be eligible you need to be able to leave Australia in November or December and employers usually only hire applicants who can commit to 5 months of work.

You also need to be eligible for the Australia Working Holiday Program (AUWHP) to Canada. To be eligible you must satisfy in full the criteria listed below:

When should I apply for a visa?
When you apply for the Work Canada Job Fair program we provide you with all the information you need to start the visa process and also assist you with submitting your visa. So as soon as you apply it is the right time to get the ball rolling! There is no disadvantage in sorting it out early as you have 12 months from the date of visa approval to activate your visa for a full 12 months in Canada.

Please note that before you can apply for your visa you will need to obtain an Australia Federal Police (AFP) check. The official AFP processing time is 15 working days from the day they receive your request. If you are required to get a Fingerprint Check then these can take up to 30 days. We advise that you at least apply for your criminal record as soon as you apply to our program, even if you are not ready to submit your visa. If you are considering going to Canada but won’t be able to apply with us until close to the job fair then it might be a good idea to get your criminal record in advance so you won’t have a big delay before you can apply for the visa close to your departure.

Once you have submitted your visa normal processing time is 8 weeks until approval. If you have any criminal, medical or background issues the processing time can be considerably longer – contact us with details of your situation for advice.

Can I interview with your employers if I don’t have a visa yet?
As long as you are eligible for a working holiday visa to Canada and are either in the process of getting your visa or plan to apply right after your interview then that is fine. The employers do like to know you already have the visa sorted though and because of the time involved in applying for the visa we recommend you apply well before the job fair.


Do I need to be able to ski or snowboard to go on Work Canada Job Fair?
No! In fact this could be a great opportunity for you to learn during your time off. Some jobs will require you have to have a certain ski ability such as the roles of Lift Operators or Instructors but the majority don’t require any ski/boarding skills.

Do I need work experience to get a job?
The employers that we work with come to Australia because of the hard work and enthusiasm that we bring to their resorts. Attitude is everything and personality is worth just as much as direct experience in these roles. In saying that, it is valuable to have a CV that demonstrates that you have transferable skills from past employment that will help at the resort. There is no need to have actually worked at a ski resort before though.

If you have not had any jobs before then you will probably find it difficult to be placed at the job fair. We recommend that you find employment in Australia (part-time if studying is fine) to improve your skill set and help show off your employability!

Can I apply if I’m at university?
If this is your last year at university then it is a perfect time to plan a working adventure overseas! However if you are planning on returning to study you must be willing to work the entire 5 month ski season in Canada. This may mean you’ll miss part of Semester 1 and will need to wait until Semester 2 to return to study.

If I go on the program, what do I get?
With Work Canada Job Fair you get a job interview with two Canadian employers. They will advise on the day whether they are offering you a job. We guarantee a job offer or you get your program fee back.

PLUS All the benefits of Work Canada program

Not only do you get a job sorted before you go but you also get all of the benefits of being on our fully supported Work Canada program. This means you get expert advice on visas, insurance and planning prior to departure, and you have access to SWAP’s (our Canadian partner organisation) resources when you get there.


Before you leave we provide:

When you arrive you receive:

When should I apply?
As soon as you are able! We assign interviews based on when people sign up to our program, which means first applicants get first choice over who they interview with. So the earlier you apply the more likely that you’ll get your preferred employer interviews and times!

Do I have to buy insurance through IEP?
No, however we do offer a comprehensive insurance policy that covers both winter sports and working holidays. It is a visa requirement that you must purchase insurance for the entire duration of your stay when you enter Canada, so make it a one-stop-shop with IEP and let us book your travel insurance for working, living and skiing in Canada.

How do I find out more information?
IEP regularly hold information evenings in major cities around the country. You can find times and dates of these here.

If you have a few more detailed questions then just give us a call on 03 9329 3866 or email [email protected].

How do I apply?
Once you are ready to apply just jump onto the online application. We will give you a call once your application is complete to have a quick 10 minute interview with you to get an idea of your plans and answer your initial questions. From there we will email you your first information pack and the planning begins!

When & where are the interviews held?
Interviews are held in a Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne in August 2016). You will need to be available to interview during the set job fair days. Don’t worry though we will ask for your time preference and let you know the interview times in advance so that you can get time off work or book flights!

Can I choose the employer and position I want to interview for?
Before the interviews you will be asked to choose your top employers. We will do our best to schedule you in for interviews with your top two employers and you are guaranteed at least two interviews. When scheduling participants in for interviews we do it in the order that people applied, so there is definitely an advantage to getting in early! Apply early to ensure you have the best chance of getting your preferred times and employers.

You may specify positions you are interested in at the interview however you are applying for employment at the resort rather than for a particular position. If you are flexible and open to accepting an offer for the job the employer feels you are best suited for then you will improve your employability a hundred fold!

Can I interview with my friend/partner?
In the past we have had many couples and friends travel together on the Job Fair program. However we cannot absolutely guarantee that you will be placed at the same resort as all interviews are individual and the employers will be looking at hiring you based on your own merits. We will make sure that you are all scheduled in with the same employers – just let us know you are travelling with someone else. Our advice from there is to be extra flexible with the types of jobs you are willing to accept and remember you will have at least two chances to get a match!

What happens if I’m not offered a job?
In this circumstance you will be offered a full program fee refund. This situation is rare though fortunately! Please note that if you are offered a job but choose not to take it then you will not receive a refund.

Are a CV and references required?
Yes you will be required to provide an up to date CV, contact details of at least 2 references and 2 written references. The CV will need to be organised before the interview so that the employers can review your application.

What should I expect from the interview?
Canadian employment interviews are similar to interviews you may have had in Australia. You should be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your skills, experience and also your strengths and weaknesses. The interviews are formal and you should act professionally throughout. While ski resorts may be more casual workplaces than your average office you will still need to make an effort to dress nicely and show your best manners!

Do I need to bring anything to the interview?
An extra copy or two of your CV and references are good to bring just in case! We will let you know if there are any extra requirements for your chosen employers closer to the interview.

Do I have to come to Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney if I live elsewhere in Australia?
The employers are here to interview you in person so it will be necessary to come up to Auckland to meet them. We try to make it as easy as possible by you by providing optional travel options for those of you who don’t have anyone to pick you up/stay with here.

Will I have the opportunity to meet other people on the program before we arrive at the resort?
Yes definitely! We will have closed Facebook groups for each mountain resort where you can meet your fellow co-workers, ask questions and more.

Group flights are also on offer through STA Travel Working Holidays. On the group flights you’ll be travelling with a bunch of other participants who are starting work at a similar time to you. In conjunction with the group arrival dates we also transport packages run by Moose Travel. This is a great opportunity to ride with the rest of the IEP group to your resort over a few days doing a bit of a tour and having a bit of a party on the way!

What happens when I first get to Canada?
As part of the IEP Job Fair program you get two free nights at a central Vancouver (or Toronto) hostel conveniently located close to your SWAP support office. Once you have made it out of the airport with your bags you’ll use the transfer voucher we give you to get into the city and check into the hostel. Your first stop the next morning will be to SWAP for your orientation! In your orientation you’ll learn all that you need to know to have a successful working holiday and get help applying for your Canadian SIN (tax) number and bank account. After orientation the next step is up to you! You’ll probably find yourself sightseeing in Vancouver, jumping on the Moose Kickstart tour, making your way to your resort or sitting in the SWAP office asking lots of questions and using their internet to update Facebook and make all your friends jealous?

How long will I be working at my resort and how many hours will I work?
This is negotiated between you and the employer however the usual minimum term is 5 months, or the duration of the ski season. These positions are seasonal so, to some degree, your hours depend on the snow. The majority of our positions are full time (30-40 hours) seasonal roles. Your hours will be made clear to you when you are offered a job so it won’t be a surprise. You will probably find that if the snow isn’t falling then work will be slow and you can expect to work less hours. On the flipside, during busy times and on holidays there may be the opportunity for overtime! We recommend having some back up savings for emergencies and to put aside some wages from the super busy weeks to tide you over if you have some slow weeks.

Are there any special uniform/grooming requirements on the job?
Once you accept your job you’ll be informed of any special uniform requirements by your employer. In general it is a good idea to make sure you can bring black shoes, pants and a white shirt for indoor positions as a base for the uniform. For outdoor positions you would usually be provided with the outer layers you need to survive in the snow but it is a very good idea to bring plenty of warm layers to wear underneath.

Each resort is a little bit different but they all expect tidy and wholesome grooming. You may need to cut off dreads or dye your hair a normal colour if you have a more alternative style. Piercings may or may not be suitable for their policies depending on how visible they are. At the interview they will let you know if there are any special requirements that you need to know about.

How will I get to work?
This depends on your resort and accommodation situation. Common ways of getting to work are catching public transport or walking/catching a staff shuttle from staff accommodation. You should not need to buy a car while you are over there as many of the resort staff will be temporarily living in the area like you and there is infrastructure in place for staff without personal transport.

Where will I live?
Many of the resorts we work with offer accommodation for staff. This type of accommodation is usually close to the workplace with shared apartments or houses. The price for this is generally cheaper than renting privately and it will be deducted from your wages automatically. The price of the accommodation depends on the location and other factors like whether or not you share your bedroom.

Another popular option is to band together with other staff, or IEP members to rent a house for the season. Your employer will give you information about where to start in finding local properties. There is also no reason why you can’t find a room in an already established flat with other staff or even locals!

Will I get any benefits around the resort?
All of our employers offer benefits to their employees above and beyond your wage. The benefits differ from employer to employer but all offer a free or discounted season ski pass. It is also common to get discounts on lessons, gear and rentals and food around the resort. Some even offer free snacks or hot drinks while you are on your shift! Social events and staff parties are part of the resort experience and you will probably find your mountain has agreements with other nearby mountains so that you can ski there for free as well!

What happens after the winter season ends?
With IEP you get support for the full 2 years of your visa so there is no reason to finish your working holiday just yet! Our Canadian partner organisation SWAP has summer offices in Vancouver and Toronto. If you are thinking of heading to a different part of Canada to work out the summer then consider hitting the SWAP office on your way. They have job resources and listings that will help you to find work. They are only a phone call or email away if you can’t make it to an office.

There may be opportunities for summer work at your resort if you prove yourself to be a fantastic worker and express your interest in staying on. It is common in Canada for the ski mountains to turn into summer activity playgrounds once the snow melts so if there are opportunities available it can be a fun job for outdoorsy types.