ISS is available virtually and in-person Mondays-Fridays during business hours.
At this stage, the main goal is to prepare for the socio-cultural differences between campus, society, community, and workplace. There are a lot of resources that can help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of Quebec's and Canada's society outside of academia.
Additionally, many units offer alumni services for a certain period of time after graduation, and some offer lifetime access.
For example, McGill Alumni who graduate with either a Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. are eligible for free lifetime access to the “myFuture” job search and career tools suite.
Alumni also have free access to all CaPS services for one year after paying their final semester Student Services fees in their tuition.
(Please note: to view and register for career fairs, information sessions and workshops offered through CaPS, login to myFuture and click on the events tab.)
- Workplace Regulations
- Spouses and Families
- Adapting to Quebec as a Worker
- External Resources
- Professional French
- Essential Documents
- Info to Give Employers
Knowing Your Rights
Workplace Regulations:
The resources below will help you understand the legal frameworks of Canada's and Quebec's job markets to better protect yourself in the workplace.
List of resources
- Government of Canada; Workplace Standards: Information about federal and provincial labour laws, workplace standards, federal health and safety standards, and labour relations programs.
- Légie Québec: Act Respecting Labour Standards:
This law says what is legally acceptable with regards to salaries, the length of the workweek, holidays, termination, etc.
An employer can go beyond the protections given under the Act and offer better working conditions but may not offer less. Employers must respect the standards set out in the Act. Statements in work contracts that give an employee less than what is in the Act are not valid.
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An Overview of labour laws: How many hours are there in the work week? What is the minimum hourly wage? Answers to these questions will help you find out more about the legal world of labour.
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The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) enforces the province’s Act Respecting Labour Standards. It provides specific information about labour laws in Québec.
Salary Negotiation & Salary Search Websites:
Salary negotiations are important – both when you’re first offered a job and during performance reviews.
Negotiating your salary can also be uncomfortable, but it is important as your salary and benefits package must meet your personal and industry standards.
- CaPS resources: How to negotiate your salary
Information for Spouses and Families
Childcare
- Daycare: Find out the types of daycares, how to register, childcare tax credits and benefits.
- Schooling: Find information about schooling in Quebec.
Open Work Permit for Spouses and Family Members
- Under certain circumstances, a spouse or family member of someone working temporarily in Canada (ex. holding a PGWP or any work permit) may be eligible for an open work permit. Find out eligibility and how to apply.
Adapting to Quebec as a Worker
Workplaces in Quebec may have a very different culture than your home country. Read I Choose Montreal's brief overview to better understand the basics of the Quebec work culture and see more resources below:
List of resources
- Montreal, A New Beginning offers practical information about administrative procedures, housing, employment, health services, etc. in Montreal.
- Design a Bright Future for Yourself in Quebec: an overview of Quebec society and its values.
- Les valeurs au travail au Québec (in French only)
- Salon d l’immigration et de l'intégration: Free conference at Palais des Congrès focusing on job search assistance, settlement, employment and recruitment, education and training, entrepreneurship, opportunities outside Montreal, culture, and recreational activities.
In addition, MIFI (Ministry of Immigration, Frenchisation and Inclusion) has workshops and info sessions for newcomers to Quebec. These workshops familiarize you with the job market and the job search process.
Most MIFI services become available once you obtain your Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
List of workshops from MIFI
- First steps to settling in Information Session: The Premières démarches d’installation session is intended for immigrants. It lasts three hours and is presented in French throughout Québec.
The information session takes you through the steps for settling in Québec upon your arrival. - Objectif Integration session: This session is intended for newcomers to Québec who master French and have obtained, or are in the process of obtaining permanent residency. The total duration of the session is 24 hours and is given during the day in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, Québec City and Gatineau. The session is also given on evenings and weekends by certain partner organizations in Montréal.
- Accompagnement Québec a free and personalized service offered to immigrants.
- Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities (PRIIME): If you are an immigrant or from visible minorities, this program aims to help you gain your first work experience in North America in your field of training or professional experience.
- Online integration service: This online program will help you discover the Quebec work environment at your own pace, familiarize yourself with the first steps towards getting settled, explore Québec’s regions, and learn about the common values of Québec society.
External Resources
CV and cover letter advising & other workshops
These off-campus resources will help you seek employment, including drop-in and by-appointment CV and cover letter advising, career counselling, mock interviews, workshops, and more.
List of resources
- Carrefour jeunesse-emploi (CJE) guides young adults ages 16-35 in their social and economic integration. CJE also helps young adult professionals find jobs, return to school, or develop projects.
- YES Montreal provides extensive province-wide job search services for youth and young adults (ages 16–35) including one-on-one career counselling, workshops, and webinars.
- PROMIS is an organization offering personalized consultation services and group information sessions to newcomers to help them integrate into their new community. Their Employment Assistance Services (EAS) provide employment search support to immigrants in the Montréal area
- See a complete list of all Local Employment Centers and organizations that specialize in employability.
Employment Assistance Services
If you're looking for some help in boosting your chances of career success, the Employment Assistance Services measure provides you with opportunities to:
- attend information sessions on the labour market
- get career advice and counselling
- take part in job-search activities and job-placement assistance activities
An employment assistance officer from a Local Employment Centre (CLE) or Emploi-Québec partners will help you review your career goals and choose the activities and services most appropriate for you. The activities include job-search clubs, job-hunting strategies, internships and job shadowing. The activities are generally short-term, lasting under 180 hours.
Improving Your French Skills at Work:
Learning French effectively requires long-term dedication. Using French at work might be a different experience than using French in the classroom. Here are some resources that can help you further improve your professional French:
Free resources with a CSQ (provided by the government of Quebec):
Other resources
- Certain carrefour jeunesse-emploi (for example, CJE-NDG)
- YES Montreal: French For Job Seekers - $75. This intensive, four-week course is specifically designed for learners with basic knowledge of the French language. Emphasis is placed on improving conversational skills in a business context while focusing on grammar and vocabulary. Participants also have an opportunity to work on their cover letters and to participate in mock interviews.
- McGill School of Continuing Studies: Part-time, intensive, or professional courses.
Completing Essential Documents After Graduation
Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), RAMQ Health Insurance & Permanent Residency
Please see STEP 3 (under the tab "Essential Documents") for information and resources to help you obtain a work permit, RAMQ health insurance, and permanent residency.
How to file income tax
Filing your taxes is part of your responsibilities as a taxpayer. Doing your taxes means you have to fill out a package of forms you can download from Revenue Quebec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Processing these forms helps you figure out if you owe tax or if you require a refund.
Regardless of your income, you must do your taxes to receive the benefits and credits you may be entitled to. These may include the GST/HST tax credit, the Canada child benefit and the working income tax benefit.
If you missed the workshop series: Financial Skills for the Real World by SKILLSETS, don't worry, there are other resources that are available to you after graduation:
List of resources
- Community Volunteer Income Tax Program: Under certain conditions, you may be able to get help at a free tax preparation clinic near you. Community organizations across Canada host tax preparation clinics where volunteers complete tax returns for eligible individuals.
- Promis has workshops and resources for supporting immigrants and refugees.
- Revenu Quebec
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Information for Employers
Can I work while I am waiting to receive my post-graduation work permit?
The simple answer is yes.
You can find more detailed information regarding this question and maintained status.
If employers express any doubt, you can share the following brochure with them to ease their mind:
