Finding a job as a student in Canada can be challenging, but having the right certifications can give you a significant advantage. Whether you’re a Canadian or an international student, certifications like Smart Serve and Food Handler can open doors to various opportunities in the hospitality and food service industries. This blog will guide you through the essential certifications you need, how they can boost your employability, and the wide range of job roles available to certified candidates.
Smart Serve Certification
Smart Serve certification is a mandatory certification required for serving alcohol in Ontario, essential for jobs in bars, restaurants, and events. Having the certificate in-hand while applying for the jobs like bartenders, servers, hosts, and managers gives you an edge over other applicants and there is a higher chance of employer hiring you.
Increases job Opportunities
With Smart Serve, scope of getting hired in the hospitality and service is increased. Also, this leads individuals to go for big gigs as well, like event planning and management companies that organize events where alcohol is served, such as weddings, corporate events, and festivals.
Job opportunities
- Bartender
2. Server/Waitstaff
3. Host/Hostess
4. Event Staff
5. Banquet Server
6. Barista
7. Catering Staff
8. Restaurant Manager/Supervisor
9. Hotel Bar Staff
Food Handler Certification
Food handler certificate is one of the most common certifications that your employer must be looking for if you are someone who is looking for a job opportunity in the food industry. Let’s discuss the importance of the certification and the wide range of jobs that one can be looking for:
Compliance with Regulations
There are two main factors according to the Canadian laws, why someone working in the food industry should have this certificate, firstly, many provinces and municipalities require this certificate to ensure that staff of the restaurant or the cafe meets the food safety standards. Secondly, staff having the certificate makes them certified candidates who can delivery food with health regulations, resulting in low health related issues or maybe illness caused by food borne diseases.
Increased Job Opportunities
If we look at a bigger picture any place that serves any kind of food, the staff requires to have the certificate. Let’s talk about restaurants and cafes, from cooking the food to serving, the certificate is mandatory.
Now, if we talk about some uncommon jobs that you might not even think of those require this certificate, and you can simply elevate your job search:
- Deli Clerk: deli clerk is person who is responsible for preparing and serving meats products at several stores like grocery stores or meat stores, a person who should be aware of what is the customers demand and is certified of producing safe meats products
- Bakery Assistants: If you are someone who likes baking or is looking to start your part-time job or career in the field, it can start from a job position of bakery assistant, where the individual is required to bake and prepare the baked goods, that meets all the safety standards. Jobs like Tim Hortons, Circle K, other bakery stores can be good examples.
- Produce Clerk: You must have seen fresh vegetables displayed in the grocery stores like fresco, Walmart, metro and other store. Ensuring the fresh and safe to consume fruits and vegetables is handled and displayed by the produce clerk, all you need is a good knowledge of produce handling and good organization skills.
- Hotels and Resorts: Jobs at hotels and resorts are vast, it can be divided into two main positions for certified food handler, Firstly, banquet servers, hotels and resorts have banquets, that have numerous events like wedding, parties, meetings, and servers are responsible to serve food and beverages to the large number of guests with excellent customer service skills. Secondly, room service Attendants, if you have strong customer service skills and are attentive towards details, this job role can be fun for you, the staff is required to deliver food and beverages to the guest room, ensuring the accuracy of the order and being able manage time while doing multi-tasking.
- School Cafeteria worker: If you are a college student, you can go ahead and apply for job role for cafeteria worker campus, there are many benefits like on-campus employment benefits, also, If you are an international student, working on campus does not count as your sin work and I have seen on-campus employment is usually higher pay rate than the regular pay rate at other places. Further, if you are not an student in the particular college or school, you cans till go ahead and apply for cafeteria jobs.
- Daycare cook: Institutions like daycares, old age homes, shelter homes have a job opening for the cook, it can be a full time cook or for part-time cooks, or even kitchen help, the job description is to follow the dietary plans and prepare the meals according to guidelines and safety standards. Knowledge requirements can vary from the place you are working at like culinary skills, child nutritions, balanced diet and of course food safety practices.
- Healthcare Facilities: You can be working at Hospitals as food service worker, to get hired for the job role, the individuals job is to prepare and serve meals to patients, staff, and visitors in a hospital setting. Requirements for such job roles can be knowledge of dietary restrictions, ability to follow meal plans, and understanding of hygiene practices.
Moreover, one can be looking for a job at the nursing homes, where preparing and serving meals to residents of the nursing home can the duty, taking care of the senior nutrition plans and handling the food preparation safely.
Overall, it might seem to be a job only listing to restaurants and cafes, however, food handlers have a vast option to showcase their ability to handle the food safely and being able to work in different places.
3. WHMIS
In today’s competitive job market, having specialized certifications can set you apart from other candidates. One such certification is the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). This certification is mandatory for jobs involving hazardous materials and is essential across various industries.
Why WHMIS Certification is Important
WHMIS certification ensures that you understand safety protocols, proper handling procedures, and emergency responses related to hazardous materials. This knowledge is crucial for maintaining a safe work environment and protecting yourself and others from potential harm.
Industries That Require WHMIS Certification
WHMIS certification is valuable in many fields, including:
- Manufacturing: Ensures safe handling of chemicals and materials used in production.
- Healthcare: Necessary for safely managing medical substances and waste.
- Construction: Important for handling hazardous materials on construction sites.
Benefits of WHMIS Certification
- Enhanced Employability: Employers prioritize candidates with WHMIS certification, knowing they are well-prepared to manage hazardous materials responsibly.
- Safety Compliance: Being WHMIS certified means you comply with safety regulations, which is a significant advantage in any job involving hazardous materials.
- Career Advancement: With WHMIS certification, you can access a wider range of job opportunities and potentially higher positions in safety-conscious industries.
Obtaining certifications such as Smart Serve and Food Handler is a strategic step toward enhancing your employability in Canada. These certifications not only make you compliant with industry regulations but also equip you with valuable skills and knowledge, giving you an edge in the competitive job market. From serving in restaurants and cafes to working in healthcare facilities and educational institutions, these certifications pave the way for a variety of rewarding career paths. So, take the initiative to get certified and unlock a world of job opportunities waiting for you.