If you have never worked in Canada, you may have heard that the Canadian workplace may be a little different than other countries' workplaces. Workplace culture plays a significant role in determining employers’ expectations and understanding these expectations is essential to your success at work.
You will likely be working with people from a variety of backgrounds. It is important that you are able to work effectively with all different types of people and that you embrace the opportunity to learn from others.
You may find that in many Canadian organizations, communication is often indirect. For example, if your manager wants you to work overtime they will not order you directly to do so, but would ask politely if you would be able to find time to finish the project today. Pay attention to both verbal cues and body language / facial expressions to avoid misunderstanding.
It is common for a manager or supervisor to ask for feedback from an entry-level employee. In recent years, workplaces have been shifting towards a focus on teamwork rather than hierarchy. In many classes at Centennial College, your instructors regularly seek feedback from students and teamwork is a big part of the work you do.
This will vary, but for the most part, companies in Canada tend to be less formal than other countries. For example, the dress code may be more relaxed and you may be welcome to call the company president by his or her first name. The best approach is to watch what everyone else is doing and follow their lead.
In most jobs, your manager will tell you what they expect from you right from the start. For example, a sales person may be given a target for the month. They may be open to how you sell, but you will be held accountable if you are not meeting expectations.
In today’s business environment where everything moves so quickly, managers value employees who are willing to step up and do what needs to be done. If you see a problem, instead of rushing to tell your manager, use your judgment and try to determine if it is something that you can solve on your own. Also, once you are comfortable with your work priorities and time management, think about if there are any projects or resources that you can work on to benefit your team and add to your accomplishments.
No one wants to be around negative people and being positive plays a major role in both hiring process and job performance. Instead of complaining, find solutions to offer, focusing on what could be done to improve the situation.
Watch a Video on Unspoken Rules and Body Language
What are Employers’ Expectations?
When you are new at a job, your manager knows that you will make mistakes. Nobody is expecting you to get everything right on the first day. However, there are some basic expectations that your manager will have of you.
- Show up every day on time.
- Have a professional appearance.
- Treat everyone you encounter with respect.
- Be focused while you are at work; avoid being distracted by personal business.
- Complete your assigned tasks within the specified time.
- Demonstrate support for the company’s overall goals.
- Be committed to providing excellent customer service.
- Demonstrate a positive attitude and enthusiasm.
- Respect the authority of your manager.
- You are not expected to keep quiet if there is a problem.
- You are not expected to know everything about all aspects of your job.
Many employees start out behaving well, but begin to break the rules as they get comfortable. Don’t fall into that trap. Your inability to meet these basic expectations can cost you your job. Think about what points mentioned above are your strengths and where you could improve.
What are my rights at work?
In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act (ESA) is the minimum standards that your employer must follow, including minimum wage, hours of work, overtime, job-protected leaves, vacation time and pay, public holidays, termination notice and pay, and temp agency worker rights. You do not have to be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident or have a work permit to be covered by the ESA. You are still covered by the ESA if you are on probation or in a part-time or temporary role.
The Worker’s Action Centre, an advocacy organization dedicated to improving worker’s rights, have simple fact sheets on your rights at work, and are available in multiple languages. Some of the notable ones include:
- The Basics: Employment Standards in Ontario
- Minimum Wage Fact Sheet
- What are my rights if I am injured or get sick from work?
- Temp Agency Workers
- Working for Cash
- Checklist for Workers
Download these and other fact sheets.
Learn More
Career Success Guide
A free e-course on career planning is available to you on eCentennial. Module 4 covers these topics in depth.
International Student Connect
A comprehensive resource for international students in Canada, access webinar recordings on these topics here.
Worker’s Action Centre
Access easy-to-understand fact sheets on your rights at work and more here.
How can Career Services help?
Career Services is a team of employment advisors, a career counsellor and peer career coaches. We support students and graduates in developing confidence and tools for career success, from first semester to graduation.
Through Experience Centennial, our job and resource portal, we offer:
- Drop-ins and appointments to support you with any stage of your job search and career planning, including resume / cover letter review, LinkedIn review, job search planning, interview preparation and practice, and more.
- Downloadable tip sheets, resume and cover letter templates and samples for your program.
- Access to job postings and exclusive online tools to help with career planning, interview practice and networking.
Learn more about Career Services.
Can I receive job search support from Career Services after I graduate?
Yes, you can continue to use Experience Centennial to access job postings and resources, book appointments with an Employment Advisor, and attend all events even after you graduate. In fact, we encourage and highly recommend it!
Accessing Experience Centennial
1. Go to Experience Centennial
2. Click on Students/Alumni.
3. Sign in using your myCentennial user name and password.
Connect with Career Services
416.289.5233 | careerservices@centennialcollege.ca
@LaunchYourCareer (Instagram) | @ExperienceCentennial (Twitter)