Looking for a job in Québec without previous work experience? There are entry-level opportunities in areas such as food service, cleaning, retail, warehouses, customer service, hospitality and some labour positions. Many entry-level occupations provide on-the-job training rather than requiring extensive previous experience.
However, the requirements vary by employer, occupation, location and your legal right to work in Canada. For newcomers and foreign workers, immigration and work-permit requirements are particularly important.
Yes. Some Québec occupations are accessible to people with limited previous experience, particularly positions where employers provide short-term or on-the-job training.
For example, the Government of Canada's Job Bank describes food-service counter attendant, kitchen-helper and related positions as occupations that usually require short-term work experience and no formal education. Similar training arrangements exist for some cleaner and material-handler positions.
The following occupations can be relevant when searching for jobs that do not require extensive previous experience. Requirements vary by individual job posting.
Job Bank data indicates that several of these occupations can be entered with short-term training rather than extensive formal education. For example, its Québec profiles describe food-service support, cleaning and material-handling occupations as jobs where on-the-job training is commonly used.
Québec employers normally advertise wages on an hourly basis. The table below uses recent Job Bank wage information for Québec. The annual figures are simple illustrations based on 40 hours per week for 52 weeks and are not guaranteed salaries.
| Job | Approx. Median Hourly Wage | Approx. Annual Equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| Food Counter Attendant / Kitchen Helper | $16.60/hour | $34,528 |
| Cashier | $16.60/hour | $34,528 |
| Retail Salesperson | $17.00/hour | $35,360 |
| Food & Beverage Server | $20.00/hour | $41,600 |
| Light-Duty Cleaner | $20.47/hour | $42,578 |
| Material Handler | $22.00/hour | $45,760 |
*Annual equivalents are calculated at 40 hours per week × 52 weeks and are before taxes and other deductions. Job Bank wage figures represent labour-market data and should not be interpreted as guaranteed starting wages.
The current Québec minimum wage is $16.60 per hour as of May 1, 2026. Job Bank's recent Québec wage data lists median hourly wages of approximately $16.60 for food counter attendants, $17.00 for retail salespersons, $20.47 for light-duty cleaners, $22.00 for material handlers and $20.00 for food and beverage servers.
Newcomers to Québec may be able to find entry-level employment even when they do not have Canadian work experience. Employers may consider transferable skills, availability, language ability, reliability and willingness to learn.
The Québec government advises newcomers that they can begin their job search before arriving in Québec. It also recommends emphasizing the tasks performed and skills acquired abroad when preparing a Canadian-style CV.
Foreign nationals can work in Québec only when they have the appropriate legal authorization. Having no previous work experience does not automatically prevent someone from working, but immigration and work-permit requirements still apply.
For people coming to Québec from outside Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the worker must first obtain a job offer from a Québec employer. Depending on the situation, the employer and worker may need to complete procedures involving a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Canadian work permit.
Some foreign workers may qualify through other programs or LMIA-exempt situations, so the exact requirements depend on the person's immigration category and circumstances.
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French is an important part of the Québec labour market. The language requirement depends on the occupation, employer, workplace and position.
Some jobs may accept candidates with limited French, particularly in workplaces where another language is commonly used. However, French can significantly expand the number of jobs available to you, especially for customer-facing positions.
The Québec government also provides specialized French courses for immigrants in several employment fields, including sales and service, cooking and catering, administration, health and information technology.
You do not necessarily need years of experience before starting your job search. A practical approach is to search for entry-level positions, temporary work, part-time employment and jobs that specifically mention training.
Québec Emploi is the Québec government's free online employment website. It includes full-time, part-time, seasonal, student and internship opportunities and allows job seekers to filter positions by region and other criteria.
If you have little or no formal work experience, your CV can focus on skills, education, volunteering, internships, projects and other practical experience.
For newcomers, it can be useful to describe the actual tasks and competencies developed in previous jobs rather than relying only on job titles, because job titles can vary between countries.
Entry-level opportunities exist throughout Québec. The number and type of jobs vary between regions, so consider searching beyond one city if you have flexibility.
When searching, use both the job title and the location. For example, searches such as "entry-level jobs Montréal", "warehouse jobs Québec", "cleaning jobs Laval" or "retail jobs Sherbrooke" can produce different results.
Part-time and temporary positions can be useful starting points for people who have limited experience. They can help you develop workplace experience, references and knowledge of the Québec labour market.
Québec Emploi includes full-time, part-time and seasonal employment listings, so job seekers can search according to their availability and employment goals.
Hotels, restaurants, cafés and other food-service businesses can provide entry-level positions such as kitchen helper, dishwasher, food counter attendant, food-service worker and housekeeping staff.
Job Bank data indicates that several food-service support occupations generally use on-the-job training and do not require formal education. However, employers can still require specific language, availability or customer-service skills.
Cleaning and housekeeping can be another entry point for people with limited formal experience. Duties can include cleaning offices, hotels, public facilities, residential properties and other buildings.
Job Bank currently reports a Québec median wage of about $20.47 per hour for light-duty cleaners. The occupation commonly uses short-term or on-the-job training rather than requiring extensive formal education.
Warehouses, distribution centres and manufacturing businesses may hire material handlers to move, load, unload and organize products and materials.
Job Bank reports a Québec median wage of about $22.00 per hour for material handlers. Its occupation profile indicates that the job usually requires short-term work experience and no formal education, although individual employers can have additional requirements.
Retail stores can provide entry-level opportunities such as cashier, sales assistant and retail salesperson.
Job Bank reports a Québec median wage of approximately $17.00 per hour for retail salespersons and $16.60 per hour for cashiers. Customer communication is an important part of many retail positions, so French-language ability may be relevant depending on the employer and workplace.
Construction labour and helper positions can sometimes provide opportunities for people starting in the industry. The exact requirements depend on the occupation, employer, safety requirements and type of construction work.
Some construction occupations require specific training, certificates or experience, so applicants should always check the requirements in the individual job posting rather than assuming that every construction job is entry-level.
"Québec" refers to the entire province, while Montréal is one city and metropolitan area within the province. Entry-level job availability can differ substantially between Montréal, Québec City and other regions.
Yes. Some Québec occupations use on-the-job or short-term training and may be accessible to people with limited previous experience. Employers set their own requirements for each position.
Common entry-level areas include food service, cleaning, retail, cashier work, warehouse/material handling and some hospitality positions. The availability of these jobs changes over time and differs by region.
It depends on the job and employer. French is important in Québec workplaces, and customer-facing positions often have greater communication requirements. Improving your French can expand your employment options.
Canadian work experience is not automatically required for every job. However, foreign nationals must have the appropriate authorization to work in Canada. Depending on the immigration program, additional Québec and Canadian requirements may apply.
It depends on the work-permit category. Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, a person coming to Québec to work temporarily must first obtain a job offer from a Québec employer. Other immigration and work-permit programs can have different rules.
The general minimum wage in Québec is $16.60 per hour as of May 1, 2026. A different minimum rate applies to employees who receive tips.
It depends on the occupation. Recent Job Bank data shows Québec median wages around $16.60 per hour for food-service counter attendants, $17.00 for retail salespersons, $20.47 for light-duty cleaners and $22.00 for material handlers.
Useful resources include Québec Emploi, Job Bank, employer websites, recruitment agencies, job fairs and direct applications to businesses.