Mobile youth workers are young people from abroad. Eager to learn, they come to British Columbia to gain some valuable life/work experiences, have fun and enjoy all the natural beauty our province has to offer. But who are they?
Typically between the ages of 18 and 30-something, mobile youth workers are foreign nationals working on temporary work permits. The permits are obtained through various programs negotiated between the Canadian government and other countries around the world, and you do not require a Labour Market Opinion to hire them.
For employers looking to hire these international workers, there are a few options available to assist in the search: 1) not-for-profit/government placement agencies; 2) for-profit work abroad organizations and schools that offer work placements; and 3) direct recruiting via the Internet.
While employers can turn to for-profit organizations to recruit overseas, it takes time to research each organization before doing business with them. On the other hand, established not-for-profit organizations such as Student Workers Abroad Program (SWAP) offer employers the ability to hire workers from around the world through their network of established, credible partners. Employers can contact go2 for a list of not-for-profit organizations and government placement agencies that offer assistance in recruiting international mobile youth.
Recognize a candidate’s motivation
Mobile young workers can have different reasons for choosing to temporarily work abroad, depending on their culture. Their reasons for looking for employment can be as diverse as their backgrounds. In general, a split can be made between those from Eastern cultures (e.g. Japan and Korea) and their counterparts in the West (e.g. U.K., Australia and France):
Eastern Mobile Youth
International workers from these countries are usually driven by professional motivations. They often choose to participate in English-language programs in tandem with any available employment. In addition to improving their language skills, their primary goal is to strengthen their resumes for employment in their home country.
Western Mobile Youth
Typically, young people from these countries are less interested in improving their resumes. A lot of them are taking a ‘gap year’, either between high school and post-secondary courses, or between university and starting their career. Their main motivations are often to gain life experiences.
Karen Bauckham, recruiting manager for Whistler Blackcomb Mountain, focused on job seekers from Africa for the first time this year, after having recruited from Australia and the United Kingdom for a number of years.
“People from Australia and the UK mainly come to ski and for the fun aspect of it, while mobile youth from Africa and countries in Asia and Eastern Europe come more to gain experience and to add to their resumes,” added Karen.
Celebrate their diversity as a strength
With their range of motivations and skills, international workers can aid a business in different ways. If your business attracts customers from overseas, keep in mind these young workers often have multiple language skills that can be a real advantage to making your guests feel at home. Many tourism operators and resorts have already tapped into this market and found it to be an effective way to fill seasonal jobs as well as develop new businesses.
Melody McLorie, human resources director for the Wickaninnish Inn, agrees. “In recent years, to build on our team from Australia we have been placing a focus on recruiting foreign workers from Germany,” she says. “They are career-driven and looking for professional development. Some even fall in love with Tofino and try to help us promote the company to people from their home country.”
As ambassadors of your business, your mobile workforce offers a direct link to new customers and the potential to connect with new, quality international job seekers on an on-going basis.
To learn more about different work permit options for international young workers, please view this chart. If you have questions about hiring foreign workers, please contact Peter Larose go2’s Director, Industry Workforce Development, at plarose@go2hr.ca
