When you have a seasonal job, the black hole is the time between the end of Employment Insurance benefits and the beginning of your seasonal job. How do you get through this period? Some advice.
Improve yourself
Emploi-Québec has put measures in place to help seasonal workers through this potentially difficult period. Under certain conditions vocational training programs can be followed that provide a participation allowance equivalent to the Employment Insurance benefit. Possible training includes Introduction to Computer Science, Customer Service, Introduction to Restaurant Cuisine, Second Language Learning (French and Spanish), Accounting and Public Communication. Perhaps this is the opportunity to add a string to your bow?
Learn about the various financial assistance available
In August 2018, the federal government announced financial assistance for seasonal workers in outlying areas: five additional weeks of Employment Insurance benefits. This measure is for workers in certain regions of the eastern part of the country, and the Yukon. In Quebec, those of Quebec’s Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Centre-du-Québec, Chicoutimi-Jonquière and Nord-Ouest regions can take advantage of it. Depending on which fields seasonal workers work in, there is additional federal assistance available, such as in the agriculture sector.
Resources for seasonal workers are also offered at the municipal level, such as in local employment centres.
Taking advantage
It is often not possible to leave the country while receiving Employment Insurance benefits. When the benefits end and before returning to the seasonal job, this is the ideal time to take a well-deserved holiday. This type of job, since it is compressed into a few months, often includes schedules of many continuous hours, very few days off and a barrage of activity. Recharging your batteries before plunging back into the work season lets you be more efficient at work.
Accepting contracts
If energy and skills permit while receiving benefits there is a limited number of hours during which there is a possibility for earning extra income. So seasonal workers can accept small assignments or contracts as self-employed workers while waiting to find full time for their regular work. This can also provide a financial cushion, precisely for the “black hole” period.