How to get your first job in Canada with no experience
First job basics

How to get your first job in Canada with no experience

September 25, 2026

You get a first job in Canada with no experience by applying where employers expect to train you: grocery stores, fast food and coffee counters, retail, recreation centres, day camps and seasonal attractions. Have a Social Insurance Number ready, build a one page resume from school, volunteering and sports, apply to ten to fifteen places in the same week, and treat availability and attitude as your main selling points. Here is the full process.

Step 1: Know what you are allowed to do at your age

Every province sets its own rules. Alberta allows work at 13 with parental consent in retail and food service, Quebec sets 14, Ontario allows stores and restaurant serving areas at 14 but kitchens and factories at 15, British Columbia sets 16 with light work at 14 and 15, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan require a short online readiness course first. Our minimum working age by province guide has a full table with official sources.

Step 2: Get your Social Insurance Number

You cannot be put on payroll without a SIN, and employers must ask for it within three days of your start date. Anyone 12 or older can apply on their own, online or at a Service Canada office, and there is no fee. Bring your birth certificate or citizenship certificate plus a second piece of ID. The SIN for teenagers guide walks through it.

Step 3: Figure out where first jobs actually are

First jobs cluster in employer types that hire in volume, train on the job and have high turnover.

  • Grocery and pharmacy: cashier, bagger, stocker, cart collector.
  • Quick service food and coffee: counter, drive through, dish pit, prep.
  • Mall and big box retail: sales associate, fitting room, stock room. Hiring waves hit in October and again in April.
  • Municipal recreation: lifeguard, swim instructor, day camp leader, rink attendant.
  • Seasonal and tourism: amusement parks, golf courses, farms and orchards, festivals, ski hills, garden centres. Hire in spring for summer and in fall for winter.
  • Neighbourhood services: car washes, tutoring centres, dog walking, snow removal, landscaping crews.

The Campus Atlas maps high schools, colleges and universities across Canada to the live youth jobs posted near them, so you can see what is open within a bus ride of your school rather than guessing.

Step 4: Build a resume from what you already have

No work history is normal at 15 or 16. Managers want to see that you show up, follow instructions and can deal with people, and that evidence exists in your life already.

  • School: grade level, courses relevant to the job (food safety, business, French), attendance awards, honour roll.
  • Volunteering: school events, community clean ups, religious or cultural organizations, hospital or seniors' home visits.
  • Sports and clubs: team sports show reliability and teamwork; student council and clubs show organization.
  • Informal work: babysitting, lawn mowing, helping at a family business, selling at a market stall. These count if you describe what you did.
  • Certifications: first aid, Smart Serve or ProServe once you are old enough, food handler certificate, Bronze Cross, the WHMIS course many schools offer.

Keep it to one page with a clear name, phone number, email and the hours you are available. The free Resume Builder on YouthBoard is built for exactly this situation and produces a PDF you can print or upload.

Step 5: Apply the way each employer actually hires

Chains hire through online portals and job boards. Small businesses hire in person. Match your approach to the employer.

Online applications

Fill out every field, including the availability grid, and be generous with your hours. A student who can work Friday nights and weekends beats one who can only do Tuesday afternoons.

Walking in

Go on a weekday between 2 pm and 4 pm, after lunch and before the dinner rush, dressed as you would for the job. Ask for the manager, say you are looking for part time work, hand over your resume and ask when would be a good time to follow up.

Volume

Apply to ten to fifteen places in one week rather than one place and waiting. Response rates for first time applicants are low everywhere, so numbers matter.

Step 6: Understand what employers are really screening for

Entry level hiring runs on a simple logic: a manager can teach the till, the fryer and the stock room in a week, but cannot teach reliability.

  • Availability that matches their busy times, especially evenings, weekends and holidays.
  • Signs you will show up: a steady activity you have stuck with, a reference who will confirm it.
  • Basic communication: eye contact, a clear voice, a polite greeting, and a phone number that gets answered.
  • Willingness to do the unglamorous parts, like cleaning washrooms and collecting carts in the snow.
  • Legal eligibility: correct age for the role, a SIN, and for some jobs a parent's consent form or a readiness certificate.

Show those five things and you are competitive against applicants with a year of experience. Our first job interview questions for teens article shows how to say it out loud.

Step 7: Follow up and keep going

If you have not heard back in five to seven days, follow up once: a short email or call for online applications, or a return visit at the same quiet time for walk ins.

Keep a list of where you applied and who you spoke to. A manager who said no in March often says yes in June when students graduate and shifts open up.

Browse live youth jobs on YouthBoard (free, wages shown on every listing).

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest first job to get in Canada with no experience?

Grocery store, fast food and coffee counter jobs are the easiest to land because those employers hire in volume, train on the job and expect no experience. Municipal day camps and seasonal attractions are also open to first time workers if you apply in spring. Evening and weekend availability usually decides it.

How do I write a resume for my first job with no experience?

Lead with contact details and availability, then list your school, volunteering, sports, clubs, babysitting or family business help, and certifications such as first aid or a food handler course. Describe what you did in each. Keep it to one page, and use the free YouthBoard Resume Builder for a clean PDF.

Do I need a SIN to get my first job in Canada?

Yes. Your employer must ask for your Social Insurance Number within three days of your start, and payroll cannot run without it. Anyone 12 or older can apply on their own, online or at Service Canada, with a birth certificate or citizenship certificate and a second piece of ID. It is free.

How many jobs should I apply to for a first job?

Aim for ten to fifteen applications in your first week, mixing online applications to chains with in person visits to local shops and restaurants. Response rates for first time applicants are low, so volume beats perfection. Follow up once after five to seven days and reapply in the next hiring season if needed.

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is general information for young job seekers, not legal, financial or employment advice. Minimum wages, minimum working ages, hours limits and program rules change, often on April 1 or October 1, and they differ by province and territory. Always confirm the current rules with your provincial or territorial government, the employment standards office, or the relevant federal department before relying on them. YouthBoard makes every effort to keep articles accurate, but they may contain errors or be out of date, and we accept no liability for any loss or decision made based on this content. If you spot something wrong, tell us and we will fix it.