So I have been asked this question a few times now, about the tipping culture in Canada, and so thought it would make a good article.
Note, this is in reference to Calgary- but is similar, as far as I know, across the country (but let me know if you have had a different experience of this)
So the ‘servers’ (waiters and waitress’s) get paid minimum wage and so they ’rely’ quite heavily on their tip to top up their salary . In bars and restaurants, all food/beverage prices that are posted don’t include ‘service’ (unlike UK where it is embedded) so… its hard to get used to having to pay it at first. Also it is apparently ‘discretionary’ but is usually between 10 and 20% but 15% is typically the ’usual’. It is usually fairly easy to work out though, because the GST (VAT equivalent) , for Alberta is 5% (again is added- not already included)- so usually just x the GST by 3 and do that as a tip.
Note- though, that in some restaurants or bars, if it is a group of 6 or more- they often say it is minimum 15% or sometimes 18% and that it is added automatically to the bill- MOST will tell you about it when they give you the bill- but not all!!
In Taxi’s I am not sure what the ‘expected’ is- i usually round it up to the next 0 or 5 depending on the length of journey, time etc.
At petrol pumps, some of them have full service pumps, where the guys will fill the car, wash front screen/check washer fluid etc- but note tip is NOT required here….
For bell boys etc, if they help with luggage, I usually do $1 /piece. For other services, eg spa/beauty/hair etc I believe it is discretionary but I now use a salon with a no tipping policy, so I don’t feel quite so ‘uncomfortable’!! Note I did do some research to get a ‘Canadian’s view’ regarding Canadian tipping policies, and this is from a Bar, in the South, called the Windsor Rose (which by the way, allows children in during the day on a Sunday- and offers a good brunch menu at the weekends too) … what it should be- and this was the response-
Tips don’t end at providing wages for just your server… the kitchen staff preparing your meals, the bartender pouring your drinks, the host greeting you at the door and expediters running your food orders all receive a portion of the gratuity you leave behind. Costs towards broken dishes and lost cutlery are also covered with gratuities. Some guests are unaware that by not leaving a gratuity, your server is actually paying to serve you at the end of the day. This is because the allocated portion to his or her colleagues is due no matter how much is left by the costumer. Tipping in Canada is calculated at 15 – 20% of the total bill. Auto-gratuities only occur on large parties to ensure the server will not suffer a large loss after service.So as you can see, it is actually a bit more in depth than we would first think- and while it is still deemed to be discretionary, by realising the reasoning for it, and being aware that is is not included in the price of the food- hopefully can make it a little easier and less awkward, when its time to ‘pay’!
The tipping culture in Canada
Great Tips when applying for jobs in Canada
If you are looking to apply for jobs in Canada, you need to be aware that they don’t use ‘CV”s here, it is a ‘Resume’ ( can be pronounced res-zoo-may or res-you -may) and note there are a few differences, in that Resumes tend not to have quite as much detail- see below for a great article by an English recruitment manager, living and working in Calgary :
Tips on Writing a Resume:
There are a lot of different ways to write a resume and plenty of tips on the internet on what to include or avoid in the document. What you must remember is the purpose of the resume is to give you a start towards getting the interview you want. It is a personal marketing tool that you will use to summarize and highlight your skills and experience. Once you are at the interview that is your opportunity to elaborate on your background.
When moving to Calgary, the first thing I would suggest is to speak to somebody that is working in the industry sector you are aiming for before to get their advice specific information to include. Secondly, think about what type of job you are applying for. If it is a permanent position you should think that the employer will want to see how your career has developed to show your potential. If it is a temporary or contract role then it may be better to highlight skills you have and your adaptability.
What to include in your resume:
Ensure that you put your full name and contact details including your telephone numbers and email address at the top of the first page. Soon after that, you will need to state what the position is that you want to apply for and your career objectives. Then highlight a couple of achievements that relate closely to the job you are applying for.
When writing about your employment history it is very important to put the information in reverse chronological order so your most recent job is at the top. Follow this rule when you are writing about education, training and courses you have attended that are relevant to the industry sector you are in.
In regards to describing the job duties, it does not want to read like a full job description. It should be factual and show off your main responsibilities in the position.
Try and convert English terminology into the Canadian equivalent – for example, change pound values to dollar values. To find out more about this, speak to people in your industry to find out other language differences. (or send us a message at Britsincalgary.com and we can try and help/offer suggestions…. )
What not to include in your resume:
Your resume is a positive reflection of your abilities and experience so do not put on there anything that could be seen in a negative light. For example poor grades you have received. If you have had a bad experience with a past employer, I would recommend including the information on the resume and highlight the positive aspects of the position. Do not leave employment gaps as this will raise questions by the potential employer.
You do not at this stage have to include a list of references, do not put a photograph on the resume unless it is applicable to the industry sector you are in (modeling or acting) and there is no need to list hobbies and interests on the resume either.
In Canada, there is also no requirement to add your date of birth, marital status or gender.
In terms of the format of the resume, try to stick to one font and an easy to read layout. Also, any spelling mistakes on the resume will immediately put off an employer so make sure you use the spell checker!
Remember, you have around 20 – 40 seconds to impress the person reviewing your resume due to the volume of these they see everyday so first impressions count. Your resume should be about 2 pages long; however it is most important to make sure that the first page has current and relevant information on it. If the recruiter or employer doesn’t like what they see on the first page, they are never going to look any further.
If you are looking for further help and guidance on this, please contact Hays Specialist Recruitment on 403 269 4297.
Ellisa Nuttall
Manager - Calgary
Recruiting experts in Construction
HAYS Recruiting experts worldwide
The Bradie Building
Suite 660 – 630-6th Avenue SW
Hays is the proud sponsor of the Job Board at Buildex 2012 – Meet us at the Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands on March 20th – 21st 2012
Thank you Ellisa for sharing this useful information about Resumes- one of many things its helps to be aware of, when applying for jobs in Canada.
How to prove your credit rating when you are new to Canada
Here are the directions- from a great mortage broker , about how to pull your ‘credit bureau’ from the UK, as this is a great way to prove your credit rating when you are new to Canada.
How to pull credit bureau from – UNITED KINGDOM
The UK Equifax will not allow for Canadian Equifax to pull credit bureau directly from the UK database so the UK client has to do it himself by:
Go to: www.Equifax.CO.UK – get the one you have to pay for (the free one would have to be mailed directly to an address in UK) and the one you pay for is emailed to you directly and instantly. It costs approx. 15-16 GBP and you must have current UK credit card to pay for it.
Note that Equifax may ask questions such as dates when credit cards have been issued or when mortgage in UK was obtained in order to confirm identity. To avoid delays in obtaining your credit report, please review this information before calling.
If having trouble please call the consumer bureau in Ireland at:
11-353-53-916-7400
(They can also mail the credit bureau from this end but if doing it this way, it can take up to months to receive.)
- Gabrielle Thome
For more information please call:
Gabrielle Thome, Benefit Mortgage Brokers Corp. ph; (403) 453-0275 or Gabrielle.Thome@Benefitmb.ca or visit www.Benefitmb.ca
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