Student FAQ
It is great that you are interested in Languages at Work! Our role is to help you with your resume and to connect you with employers in PEI. In general the employers want to hire our students because they receive a subsidy to hire Explore students as well as the fact that the students are bilingual!
Who can participate in Languages at Work?
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, between the age of 16-30, intending to return to school in the fall and a current (2017) recipient of an Explore bursary for the Spring program. You must also be available to work in PEI after your Explore Program course session and interested in working in English.
What is the salary?
You will work approximately 35 hours per week and you will receive PEI's minimum wage ($11.00), plus one dollar. Moreover, a salary indexation for labour mobility ($1.35/hour) will be added to your salary to help you pay for your accommodation and your travel expenses.
How are employers and employees matched?
The selection of candidates will be based on their resumes, the interview process they will go through and the specific needs of employers.
Where are the jobs?
Typically the jobs are in Charlottetown because they are accessible by public transport but other places, like Cavendish, are also a possibility if the student has access to transportation.
What types of jobs are available?
The work that you could do depends on your interests and your previous work experience. Previous students have worked in day camps, daycares, restaurants and bars in Charlottetown, but we will try to find jobs that are related to your interests. Job opportunities are different every year and we will have a list of employers participating in the program when you arrive in May.
Where do I stay during my placement?
We will help you find an apartment on the Island. Last year the students sublet apartments in Charlottetown at an affordable rate. You can look on www.kijiji.ca to get an idea of the cost.
Who pays for transportation?
The participant is responsible for his transportation costs to and from the Explore program as well as to and from their place of employment. However, if a participant decides, throughout the Explore program, to take part in the Languages at Work program, we will refund the fees for changing the date of your return trip (with proof of payment)
Am I guaranteed a job?
We cannot guarantee you a job. The employer has the final decision. Ultimately, the number of placements depends on the number of employers recruited and the number of Explore bursary recipients who wish to benefit from the program.
If your question has not been answered above please feel free to contact languagesatwork@upei.ca.
