Work & Career
Dossier17 guidesFinding a job, Quebec-style résumé, French interviews.
For the whole province
These guides apply everywhere in Quebec, across the whole province — no matter your city.
Prepare for and land a job
From credential recognition to the interview — the sequence of a successful job search.
Recognizing Your Foreign Diplomas in Quebec
Comparative evaluation, professional orders, and steps to validate your qualifications.
Without recognition, you risk underemployment. Recognition validates your real qualification level . The MIFI comparative evaluation compares your foreign diploma to Quebec diplomas. Many employers and professional orders require it. About 50 professions are regulated in Quebec: Doctors , nurses , dentists , pharmacists Engineers , architects , surveyors Accountants (CPA) , lawyers , notaries T...
May 15, 2026
Finding a Job in Quebec
The resources and strategies for finding your first Quebec job.
To work legally in Quebec, you must first have your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Without this number, no employer can hire you. If you don't have it yet, see our . The Quebec résumé is different from those in other countries: Short : 1 to 2 pages maximum No photo , no age , no marital status , no nationality Includes only: name, contact info, education, professional experience , skills Tailor...
June 18, 2026
Writing a Quebec-Style Résumé
Format, structure, and cultural codes of the Quebec résumé.
The basic format: 1 page for young professionals, 2 pages maximum for experienced profiles Sober font : Calibri, Arial, size 10 or 11 No bright colors , no backgrounds, no decorative frames Do NOT include: No photo No date of birth or age No marital status No nationality No religion or origin This is protected by Quebec's Charter of Rights. Recommended structure, in this order: 1. Name + contac...
June 18, 2026
Succeeding at a Job Interview in Quebec
Preparation, cultural codes, and classic questions of the Quebec interview.
Before the interview, read: The company website (« About » page) Recent news (Google News) The LinkedIn profile of the company and your future manager Note 2 or 3 points that genuinely interest you about them. Simple rule: one notch above the company's usual style. Standard office: dress pants + shirt or blouse Banking, law, management: suit and tie or tailored suit Creative or tech: outfit tha...
June 18, 2026
Professional Networking in Quebec: LinkedIn, Events and the Hidden Job Market
A large share of Quebec jobs are found through networks, not posted ads. Here's how to build yours — LinkedIn, informational interviews, events and mentorship.
Many newcomers send out dozens of résumés with no reply and conclude the market is closed. The real explanation is often different: in Quebec, a large share of positions are filled through networks and referrals — often before they're even posted. This is the hidden job market. An employer who receives a candidacy referred by a trusted person looks at it differently. Networking doesn't mean kno...
June 27, 2026
Working in Quebec Without Speaking French
Sectors, cities, and strategies for working in English in Quebec.
French is the official language of work in Quebec. Bill 96 strengthened its use. But English language jobs exist, especially in Montreal. Some sectors regularly hire in English in Montreal and its western suburbs: Information technology (IT / tech) — startups, services firms, international product teams. Aerospace (Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney, CAE) — global English language supply chain. Video ...
May 15, 2026
Off-Campus Work for International Students
When and how many hours an international student can work off-campus in Quebec — weekly limit, breaks, SIN, and risks to the permit.
A study permit authorizes you to study first. The right to work off campus is not automatic — it appears as a condition printed on the permit itself. Your permit may carry a remark that authorizes off campus work, or one that forbids it. Until you have read those conditions , you do not know whether you have the right to work. To work off campus, several conditions must be met at the same time ...
May 22, 2026
Self-Employed in Quebec: Registering, Invoicing and Paying Your Taxes
Working for yourself or starting a small business? Here's when to register, the GST/QST threshold, and how to handle your self-employed taxes.
You're self employed if you offer your services on your own account , with no employer relationship: consulting, trades, creative work, delivery, digital platforms, a small service business. The difference from an employee is real: no one withholds tax or contributions from your income, you partly set how you work , and you carry the risk and the expenses. That freedom comes with responsibiliti...
June 27, 2026
Your rights and your pay
Understanding your paystub and the protections that cover you as an employee.
Quebec Labour Standards: Your Basic Rights as an Employee
Minimum wage, hours, overtime, vacation, leaves and end of employment — what the law guarantees almost every employee in Quebec.
In Quebec, the Act respecting labour standards sets the minimum conditions almost every employer must respect: wages, hours, vacation, leaves, end of employment. It's a floor : your employer can offer more, never less. Most employees are covered — full time, part time, paid hourly, on commission or by output. The body that enforces these rules is the CNESST. Key point: you cannot waive a labour...
June 27, 2026
Understanding Your Pay Stub in Quebec
Decoding your pay stub: gross, net, federal and provincial deductions.
Two key terms: Gross salary: before deductions Net salary: what lands in your account The gap: about 25 to 35 % in Quebec. Federal deductions: Federal income tax (varies with income) EI: 1.66 % CPP : in Quebec, replaced by the QPP (see below) Provincial deductions specific to Quebec: Provincial income tax (higher than elsewhere in Canada) QPP: 6.4 % QPIP: 0.5 % 60,000 $ gross ≈ 3,800 $/month ne...
June 18, 2026
Employment Insurance (EI) in Quebec
Conditions, amounts, and steps to receive EI benefits.
Employment Insurance (EI) is a federal program funded by withholdings on your paycheck. Paid for: job loss with no fault , illness , caregiver , and more. Main conditions: Insurable hours : between 420 and 700 in the last 52 weeks (varies by region) Have lost your job with no fault (layoff, end of contract...) Be ready and able to work Actively looking for a job The benefits : 55 % of your aver...
May 15, 2026
Your Rights as a Temporary Foreign Worker
The rights, protections, and recourse of a temporary worker in Quebec — whatever your permit type.
Many temporary foreign workers believe a closed permit puts them at the mercy of their employer. That is false. Whatever your permit type, and even if you've been in Quebec for less than 3 months, you have exactly the same labour rights as any employee in the province: minimum wage, pay for every hour worked, statutory holidays, vacation, and a safe workplace. This guide explains those rights ,...
May 22, 2026
Guides specific to your city
248 guides across 8 regions — pick yours:
Understanding the Quebec job market
Finding and keeping a job in Quebec takes more than translating your résumé. The labour market has its own culture, codes and vocabulary — and several sectors face a real labour shortage, which works in your favour. But that advantage only materializes if you adapt your approach to local expectations. This section follows the full chain: getting your qualifications recognized, writing a Quebec-style résumé, succeeding at the interview, decoding your first paystub and knowing your rights.
Credential recognition — the first step, often overlooked. A degree earned abroad is not automatically understood by a Quebec employer. Two cases arise. If your occupation is regulated (nurse, engineer, accountant, teacher, and about forty others), you must obtain a licence from the corresponding professional order before practising — a process that can be lengthy. If your occupation is not regulated, no licence is required, but the Comparative Evaluation of Studies Done Outside Quebec, issued by the Immigration ministry, helps employers situate your degree against the local system. Start this process early: it shapes everything else.
The Quebec résumé — short and factual. Forget the three-page résumé with a photo and date of birth. Here, the résumé is one to two pages, no photo, no date of birth, no family status — that information should in fact be left out, as it exposes the employer to discrimination concerns. What counts: quantified achievements ("increased sales by 20%" rather than "responsible for sales"). The cover letter is short and to the point: why you, for this specific role.
The hidden job market. A large share of positions are never advertised publicly — they're filled through networks. That doesn't work in your favour when you arrive without contacts. The counter: build a local network from the start. A complete LinkedIn profile in French, coffee chats, your sector's events, employment-help organizations for newcomers — each of these opens doors no online application opens on its own.
The interview — honesty over selling. The Quebec interview is generally less formal than elsewhere: informal "tu" comes quickly, the tone is cordial. You'll be asked about the team, the culture, how you work. Prepare your own questions — asking them shows interest. And resist the urge to oversell: exaggerating your skills backfires during the probation period.
Once hired: pay and your rights. Your first paystub often comes as a surprise. From the gross salary are deducted federal tax, Quebec tax, and three contributions — the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), Employment Insurance (EI) and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). For a typical income, expect 25% to 32% in deductions. Above all: your rights as an employee are protected by the CNESST, regardless of your immigration status — minimum wage, paid vacation, overtime, health and safety. No one may pay you "under the table" or below minimum wage because you're new.
French and the safety net. You can find a job in Quebec without speaking French, especially in Montreal and in sectors such as technology. But French considerably widens your options and is increasingly expected — French classes are free, start them early. Finally, if you lose your job, Employment Insurance can pay temporary benefits when you've accumulated enough insurable hours: file the claim without delay.
Common mistakes to avoid
Sending a résumé not adapted to Quebec
Photo, date of birth, three pages: an "international" résumé gets set aside here. The Quebec résumé is one to two pages, no photo or personal details, with quantified achievements.
Assuming your degree is automatically recognized
For a regulated occupation, a professional-order licence is required. For others, the Comparative Evaluation helps employers understand your degree. Nothing is automatic — start the process early.
Applying only to posted job ads
A large share of jobs are filled through networks, never publicly posted. Building a local network — LinkedIn, events, employment-help organizations — opens doors no online application opens on its own.
Accepting work below your rights
Minimum wage, paid vacation and health-and-safety are guaranteed by the CNESST for all employees, whatever their immigration status. A job paid "under the table" or below minimum wage is not legal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my foreign degree recognized in Quebec?▾
Not automatically. If your occupation is regulated (nurse, engineer, accountant, teacher, and others), you must obtain a licence from the relevant professional order. Otherwise, the Comparative Evaluation of Studies Done Outside Quebec, issued by the Immigration ministry, helps employers situate your degree. Start the process early.
Can I work in Quebec without speaking French?▾
Yes, it's possible, especially in Montreal and in sectors such as technology. But French considerably widens your options and is increasingly expected by employers. French classes are free — start them early, alongside your job search.
How does the Quebec résumé work?▾
One to two pages, no photo, no date of birth, no family status. It features quantified achievements rather than job descriptions. The cover letter is short and explains why you fit the specific role. A three-page résumé with a photo gets set aside.
What will I see on my first paystub?▾
From your gross salary are deducted federal tax, Quebec tax, and three contributions: the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), Employment Insurance (EI) and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). For a typical income, deductions usually total between 25% and 32% of gross pay.
What should I do if I lose my job?▾
You may be entitled to Employment Insurance, which pays temporary benefits if you've accumulated enough insurable hours. File the claim without delay. If you believe you were treated unlawfully, the CNESST oversees labour standards and a complaint can be filed with it.
Other topics
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First Steps in Quebec
Your first steps after arrival — housing, SIN, banking, phone.
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Paperwork Simplified
Documents, official cards, government formalities.
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Daily Life
Transport, local services, health, everyday life.
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Local Resources
Communities, welcome services, neighborhood resources.
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