A fruit picker is someone or a tool that collects fruits from trees. It might seem like picking fruit in Canada is an easy job. But, it’s more than just that. People from other countries can earn money and learn about life in Canada by doing this job.
In Canada, fruit pickers work on one of almost 8,000 fruit farms. They pick, clean, sort, and pack fruits and vegetables to be sent out. This is usually a job for certain times of the year, when the fruit is ready to be picked.
The job lasts as long as it takes to pick all the fruits. So, it’s a good job for people who don’t want to stay in Canada for a long time, or for people who want to work and travel around the country.
It might be hard to know how to get a job as a fruit picker in Canada. But, we have a guide that can help. It has steps you can follow to find these jobs in Canada. This guide will give you helpful information to get the most from this fun job opportunity.
1. Search Canada Jobs Sites
In one of our articles, we listed the best websites to search for Canadian jobs. Before you look at going to Canada, it’s usually best to ensure you have a job waiting for you when you arrive.
If you want to find fruit picker jobs in Canada, a good way is to use job websites. It’s best to look at websites for specific areas, because some areas grow a lot of fruit and might not have many people applying for jobs.
Some of the best places in Canada for picking fruit are Quebec, British Columbia (BC), and Ontario. A lot of people like British Columbia. But Quebec is a bit different in how they hire people from other countries. So, when you’re looking for fruit-picking jobs in Canada, try using some of the top job websites.
- The Canadian job bank
- Indeed.ca
- BC Cherry Association
- BC Fruit Grower Association
- Jealous Fruits Recruitment
- Carcajou Fruit
Another positive of applying online is that you know precisely the requirements for your job. A huge positive of fruit picker jobs in Canada is that the conditions are generally relatively small.
Each job has different criteria but generally speaking, fruit-picking jobs don’t require specific educational qualifications, a language-ability qualification, or even work experience in some instances.
These differ depending on the job, and it’s worth investigating each posting before applying to ensure you fulfill all of the necessary criteria.
2. Get Canadian Visa
It’s important to know that you can’t do a fruit-picking job from far away. You need to be in Canada to do it. So, you need to get ready your visa to work as a fruit picker in Canada.
If you want to work as a fruit picker, you need to know how to move to Canada.
The way you move to Canada can be different based on where you’re from. It’s very important to look at all the ways you can go to Canada. This will help you find the best way for you.
Temporary Foreign Worker Permit
You can’t pick fruit in Canada all year, so you’ll probably need to get a Temporary Foreign Worker Permit (TFWP) to work there. This is how the TFWP works:
The TFWP only lets you work for a specific job with a specific boss for a certain amount of time.
So, if the TFWP is the best for you, you need to get a job offer from a boss who has done a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Usually, jobs that say they’ll help you with your visa have already done this and don’t need to do it again to hire you.
If you want a work permit with the TFWP, you should apply to the Agriculture Worker Stream. To do this, you need to apply for a job with a boss who has shown that their job is on the Canadian national commodity list, which most fruits grown in Canada are.
Also, the job you’re doing has to be on-farm primary agriculture. This means the job you’re applying for must have a Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) code of either: 0821, 0822, 8252, 8255, 8431, 8432, or 8611. Fruit pickers are usually under code 8611.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
That said, if you’re from one of the following nations, you will likely have to apply for your worker’s permit under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP):
- Mexico
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Montserrat
- St. Kitts-Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
The SAWP allows Canadian Employers to hire agricultural workers from these countries for up to 8 months during peak farming seasons. In addition, applying under the SAWP can often fast-track your visa application.
Canada Working Holiday Visa
There are other visa programs you can use to work as a fruit picker, not just the one we talked about. The one you can use depends on what country you’re from.
If you’re from certain countries, you might be able to get a Canada Working Holiday Visa through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
| Eligible Countries in the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program | ||
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Austria | Belgium |
| Chile | Costa Rica | Croatia |
| Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia |
| France | Germany | Greece |
| Hong Kong | Ireland | Italy |
| Japan | Korea, Rep. | Latvia |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Mexico |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway |
| Poland | Portugal | San Marino |
| Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | Taiwan |
| Ukraine | United Kingdom | |
The Canada Working Holiday Visa is different from the Temporary Foreign Worker Permit (TFWP). With the Canada Working Holiday Visa, you get an open work permit. This means you can change jobs and move around Canada as much as you want. You can do this until your visa ends. Usually, this visa lasts from 12 to 24 months. So, you can work different jobs and see different parts of Canada for one to two years.
If you’re not sure if you can get the TFWP, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), or the Canada Working Holiday Visa, there’s help available. You can talk to a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. These are people who know a lot about moving to Canada.
They can help you find the best program for you. They can help you figure out which program you’re most likely to get into. And they can help you make sure you have the best chance of getting your visa or permit. This is important because the visa or permit is what lets you work in Canada. So, if you’re confused or need help, don’t worry. The Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant is there to help you.
3. Construct a Canada-friendly CV
Before you apply for a job picking fruit in Canada, you need to get all the papers that Canadian bosses usually ask for. If you don’t have these papers, it might be harder to get the fruit picking job you want.
When you apply online, bosses often ask for a resume or CV. This is a paper that tells them about your past and shows how much experience you have in the job.
If you want to make a good impression, it’s important to make your CV easy to read and understand. A good way to do this is to make your resume look like the ones people usually use in Canada.
There are five easy rules to remember when making a good CV for a job in Canada. These rules are:
i. Be Truthful
Don’t embellish your details, particularly if they’re easy to disprove. If a potential employer decides to run a background check on you and your details don’t match up, you will automatically be refused the job.
It’s always better to be as honest as possible concerning work, experience, education level and skill base.
As fruit-picker jobs generally don’t require specific qualifications or experience, there is no fear of having too few achievements. Misrepresenting yourself, however, can lead to your visa application being rejected by the Canadian immigration office and banned for the next five years.
ii. Have Clear Contact Details
Ensure your potential employers know exactly how to contact you by ensuring you have a clear contact details section, that your contact details are valid and up to date and that they’re appropriate for applying for a job.
While working as a fruit picker isn’t the most formal of employment, any employer will prefer a candidate who presents themselves in as professional a manner as possible.
iii. Choose a Clear Layout
How you lay out your CV hugely influences how your information is consumed. Make sure your data is laid out clearly and as easily read as possible—an example of a perfect layout for a Canadian CV.
Once your CV is complete, it’s time to move on to the next major step.
4. Apply For Fruit Picker Job
After you finish your CV and learn about possible bosses, you need to think about the program that will help you go to Canada.
It could be a working holiday visa, seasonal agricultural worker program, or another good program. It’s very important to have the right way to go to Canada for a good fruit-picking job.
Once you get your fruit-picking job, you need to send in your application. You need to read the job posting carefully and include all the papers they ask for. Make sure to fill out all the forms correctly and send them in on time.
To have a better chance of success, it’s good to apply for many fruit-picking jobs at the same time. This can give you more chances to get a job, because different farms or bosses might pick workers in different ways. Remember, even if one farm says no, another might say yes. So, applying to more places can help.
When you apply is also important. It’s good to send in your applications a long time before the fruit is ready to be picked. This gives you enough time to get your visa or permit after you get a job offer. If you start early, you can deal with any problems or delays better, which can make it easier to start working in Canada.
After you send in your applications, you’ll usually hear back from possible bosses in a week or two. Depending on what the boss wants, you might need to do an interview or a test to see if you’re good for the job.
If you’re ready and show your skills and excitement during these tests, you can have a better chance of getting a fruit-picking job in Canada.
A Comprehensive Guide for Canada Job Seekers
Getting a job picking fruit in Canada can be a great chance for people from other countries. They can see what life is like in a new country and make money at the same time.
Canada has a lot of fruit farms and needs workers at certain times of the year. So, there are a lot of jobs for people who like farming and growing plants. In this article, we will give you a simple guide on how to get a job picking fruit in Canada.
1. Research and Understand the Job Market:
Before delving into the application process, it is essential to conduct thorough research on the Canadian fruit-picking job market. Familiarize yourself with the provinces that have a high demand for fruit pickers, such as Quebec, British Columbia (BC), and Ontario.
Understanding the specific requirements and employment opportunities in these regions will enable you to focus your job search effectively.
2. Determine the Appropriate Visa or Work Program:
As an international job seeker, it is crucial to determine the most suitable visa or work program that will allow you to legally work as a fruit picker in Canada.
Explore options such as working holiday visas, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), or other relevant programs designed for temporary agricultural workers. Familiarize yourself with the eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines associated with each program.
3. Tailor Your Resume for Fruit-Picking Jobs:
Make a resume that focuses on your skills and past jobs that have to do with farming or growing plants. Talk about any past jobs picking fruit or working on a farm, what you know about picking crops, how fit you are, and how good you are at working fast.
Change your resume to show that you’re good for a fruit picking job. This makes it easy for bosses to see if you’re good for the job.
4. Use Job Sites and Agricultural Associations:
Use good job websites that focus on farming and plant-growing jobs in Canada. These websites can help you find farm owners and job finders who are looking for fruit pickers.
Look at websites that focus on areas in Canada known for growing fruit. These websites often have fewer people applying, so you have a better chance of getting noticed by bosses.
Also, think about talking to farming groups and local farmer groups. They can help you meet people and find jobs.
5. Apply Early and Broaden Your Job Search:
Apply for fruit picking jobs a long time before the fruit is ready to be picked. This can give you a better chance of getting a job. There are usually more jobs at certain times, and if you apply early, you can have a better chance of getting one.
It’s also good to apply for many jobs at the same time. This can give you more chances to get a job. Even if one farm says no, another farm might have a job for you.
6. Prepare for Interviews and Assessments:
After you apply and the boss likes your application, they might ask you for an interview or a test. They want to see if you’re good for the job. You can get ready by looking up usual interview questions and thinking about your answers.
Learn about how to pick fruit, how to stay safe, and other farming practices. If you show excitement, the ability to adjust, and a good work attitude during the interview, you’ll have a better chance of getting a job picking fruit in Canada.
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