Canadian workplace culture: A guide for international students
Whether you plan to work in Canada while you’re attending classes, after you graduate, or both, at some point you’ll need to know what to expect from Canadian workplace culture! Just like the cultural differences you’ve likely noticed in other areas of life while abroad, there might be cultural differences between professional expectations in Canada and your home country.
But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with a guide on Canadian workplace culture – from basic expectations and communications to management styles.
The basics
It won’t be surprising to hear that the foundation of Canadian professional culture is respect. So whether you’re interviewing or showing up for day one of your new job, be sure to speak to colleagues and superiors in a respectful, friendly tone. Speak to them as you would a professor or another person who you admire.
When meeting new colleagues, a handshake is often expected. But that should be the only form of physical contact required in your workplace. Canadians also value punctuality – so make sure to be on time to the office every day and/or to your meetings. Make this your new mantra: if you’re not five minutes early, you’re late!
While dress code varies in different industries, being overdressed is never a bad thing. Most Canadian workplaces expect their employees to show up in clean, modest, business casual attire. Some types of businesses, like creative agencies or startups, may be okay with more casual or artistic attire. But make sure you know for sure what’s appropriate and allowed before you start pushing any fashion boundaries at work!
In Canada, like in many other Western countries, you’ll generally be paid biweekly – which means every two weeks. During your onboarding, you’ll likely need to provide a voided check and bank account details to ensure your new employer can pay you via direct deposit (your salary or wages go directly into your bank account every payment cycle). Because of this, it’s a good idea to open a Canadian bank account before you start work. Our partner TD Bank Canada* offers checking and savings accounts designed for international students.
Communications
Your Canadian colleagues will likely value politeness and directness in their communications with you. Canada’s culture in general is highly courteous, so be sure to express your thanks whenever you can and be kind to your colleagues by asking thoughtful questions. Remember, to be kind and polite you don’t need to cross personal boundaries. Asking people about their weekend plans (or similar types of questions) is a great way to politely show curiosity without asking for too much detail about their personal lives.
Canadians also tend to be very direct communicators. They will tell you in straightforward terms what you’re doing well and what still needs improvement. This is a good approach for you to take in your work communications, too. Ask direct questions and state your perspective in clear terms. But remember, directness shouldn’t come at the expense of politeness.
Collaboration is another key value of many Canadian workplaces. This means that the expectation is to work together to solve problems and to seek input from other teams when needed. Just like in a school group project, you’ll need to work with different types of people and know how to communicate with all of them to be successful!
Management styles
Management style refers to how a company is managed and supported by its leadership team. In Canada, most employers (though not all) tend to favor flat or collaborative organizational management. This means rather than working in a hierarchical structure with a clear chain of command, you’ll likely be collaborating often with company leaders and speaking directly with them. While they’re still your superiors and you report to them, this structure encourages staff at all levels to share ideas, brainstorm and work together to achieve common organizational goals.
This means you’ll need to show up to work ready to collaborate, share your ideas, and take initiative over projects. Of course, your Canadian co-workers will be more than happy to support you along the way with their characteristic politeness.
Be curious and pay attention to onboarding materials
Keep in mind that company culture is highly unique and varies from company to company in Canada. You can still prepare! The tips in this article will help you succeed no matter what job you land. During your company’s onboarding, they’ll share more details with you about their specific culture and expectations, so our final tip is to pay attention during your first few days so you don’t miss anything important!
*MPOWER has referral agreements with TD Bank and may earn referral fees from this relationship.
