Seasonal and holiday jobs

Seasonal jobs are a great way to get your first work experience. Employers need extra help at busy times, and they often hire people with no experience. A few weeks of work gives you money, a reference, and something real to put on your resume. Sometimes it turns into a longer job.

We checked the facts in this guide on October 12, 2026. Rules change, so follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

When employers hire

The winter holidays. Stores, warehouses, and parcel companies are usually busiest in November and December. Hiring often starts in the fall, so apply early. Busy times continue with Boxing Day sales and returns in January.

Summer. Day camps, recreation centres, garden centres, ice cream shops, and tourist businesses need extra help in summer. Students often apply in the spring.

Other busy times. Back-to-school shopping in late August, and inventory counts in some stores, can also bring short-term work.

Exact timing is different for every company. If you see a "now hiring" sign or a seasonal posting, apply soon.

Common seasonal jobs

Store associate or cashier. Helping customers, running the till, and keeping shelves full. See Retail store associate jobs and Cashier jobs.
Stock or overnight crew. Unloading deliveries and filling shelves, often at night. See Overnight and night shift jobs.
Warehouse picker, packer, or parcel sorter. Filling and sorting online orders. See Warehouse and stocking jobs.
Delivery helper or driver. See Delivery driver jobs.

Canada Summer Jobs

The federal Canada Summer Jobs program funds summer jobs for young people. To take part, you must be 15 to 30 years old when the job starts, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone given refugee protection in Canada, and have a valid Social Insurance Number. International students can't take part. In 2026, jobs could start as early as April 20 and had to end by August 29. You can find these jobs in the youth section of Job Bank (canada.ca). Check the program page in the spring for next year's dates.

Before you accept: read the offer

Seasonal jobs may be called temporary, term, casual, or on-call. Before you say yes, make sure you know:

The start date and the planned end date
Your hourly wage
How many hours a week to expect
Who your employer is: the store itself, or an agency

If an agency hires you:

BC: Employment agencies can't charge you to help you find a job. They must be licensed, and the province has a search tool to check (BC employment agencies).
Ontario: Since July 1, 2024, temporary help agencies must hold a licence. An agency can't charge you a fee to become its employee, to be assigned work, or for help with your resume or interview. It also can't stop you from taking a job directly with the client company (Ontario temporary help agencies).

Your rights as a temporary worker

A short job is still a real job. Minimum wage, overtime, and break rules apply. Read our rights guides for BC and Ontario.

Vacation pay.

BC: Vacation pay is at least 4% of your wages. If you work for an employer for 5 calendar days or less, you don't get it. Any vacation pay you are owed must be paid on your last paycheque (BC annual vacation).
Ontario: You earn vacation pay of at least 4% as soon as you start earning wages. When your job ends, unpaid vacation pay must be paid within seven days, or by what would have been your next pay day, if that is later (Ontario vacation).

Sick days in BC. After 90 days with your employer, you can take up to 5 paid sick days a year. This includes part-time, temporary, and casual workers (BC paid sick leave). Many seasonal jobs end before 90 days, so check your dates.

Holidays. Seasonal jobs often include statutory or public holidays, such as Christmas Day. Read Statutory holidays in BC and Ontario to learn who gets holiday pay.

When the season ends

Notice or termination pay. In both provinces, these rules start only after you have worked for an employer for 3 months. Jobs with a set end date have special rules:

BC: Notice or pay is not required if you were hired for a definite term with set start and end dates, or for specific work to be finished in 12 months or less. But if you keep working 3 or more months past the planned end date, your employer must give notice or pay (BC quitting or getting fired).
Ontario: If you were hired for a specific length of time or task, you are generally not entitled to notice or termination pay. That changes if the job ends early, if it ends more than 12 months after you started, or if you keep working 3 months or more after the term or task ends (Ontario termination).

Record of Employment. When your job ends and your earnings stop, your employer must issue a Record of Employment (ROE). If you have a My Service Canada Account, you can view and print your electronic ROEs there (ROE guide).

Employment Insurance (EI). EI regular benefits are for people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and are available for and able to work. Service Canada says to apply as soon as you stop working, even before you get your ROE. If you wait more than 4 weeks after your last day, you may lose benefits (EI regular benefits). Check the page to see whether you qualify.

Turning a seasonal job into a longer one

There is no guarantee, but these steps help:

Say it early. Tell your manager in your first weeks that you would like to stay after the season.
Be the person they can count on. Show up on time, every shift, especially on the busiest days.
Learn more than one task. Workers who can run a till, stock shelves, and help at the service desk are easier to keep.
Ask for feedback. "Is there anything I can do better?" shows you care.
Stay available in January. Some seasonal workers leave right after the holidays. If you can stay, say so.
Leave on good terms. If the job ends, thank your manager and ask if you can use them as a reference. Read References when you have no work experience.

Next steps

Retail jobs in Metro Vancouver and the GTA
Warehouse jobs in Metro Vancouver and the GTA
Apply faster: How to apply for jobs online
Get ready: Your first job interview