You got the job. Congratulations — that's genuinely hard to do as a newcomer.
Now comes the part that nobody prepares you for: the first 90 days at work in Canada are a cultural adjustment as much as a professional one. The unwritten rules are different. The communication style is different. What gets you promoted in LATAM can actually hurt you here.
This is the honest guide to your first three months.
Before your first day
Get your paperwork in order
Your employer will ask for:
- SIN (Social Insurance Number) — mandatory, you cannot be paid without it
- TD1 forms — federal and provincial tax forms that determine how much tax gets withheld from your paycheck. Fill them out on your first day
- Void cheque or direct deposit form — for payroll. If you don't have cheques, a direct deposit form from your bank works
- Proof of eligibility to work — your work permit or PR card
Set up direct deposit immediately
Canadian employers pay via direct deposit — usually every two weeks (bi-weekly) or twice a month (semi-monthly). Set up your bank account before day one so your first paycheck arrives without delays.
Research the company
Canadian interviewers ask very few questions about company background — they assume you've done your research. Know the company's main products or services, recent news, and who the key people are. This matters more here than in LATAM.
The Canadian workplace culture: what's different
Directness vs. indirectness
Canadians communicate very indirectly compared to Latin Americans. Feedback is softened, disagreements are expressed diplomatically, and criticism comes wrapped in compliments.
In LATAM: "This report has errors, fix section 3." In Canada: "This looks great overall! I was thinking maybe section 3 could be slightly adjusted — what do you think?"
Both are saying the same thing. If you don't read between the lines, you'll miss the feedback. If you communicate too directly, you'll be seen as aggressive or rude even when you're not.
Learn to say: "That's an interesting approach — I wonder if we could also consider..." instead of "That won't work because..."
Meetings are different
Canadian meetings are more structured and egalitarian. Everyone is expected to contribute, not just the most senior person. Speaking up in meetings is valued — not speaking up can be interpreted as disengagement.
However: don't interrupt. Wait for your turn. The hierarchy in Canadian meetings is less explicit than in LATAM, but interrupting is considered rude regardless.
Action items matter. At the end of a Canadian meeting, there's usually a summary of who will do what by when. Taking notes and following up on your action items is how you build a reputation for reliability.
Punctuality
Being on time in Canada is non-negotiable. "Flexible" time does not exist in a professional context here.
- 5 minutes early is on time
- On time is slightly late
- Being late without warning is a serious mark against you
If you're going to be late to a meeting (even 5 minutes), message your manager or the meeting organizer beforehand. This is standard Canadian professional behavior.
Work-life boundaries
Canadian workplaces generally respect after-hours time more than LATAM workplaces. Messaging someone at 9pm expecting a response is unusual here — unless the role explicitly involves being on-call.
This also means: when you're on vacation, you're on vacation. Don't check in constantly. Canadians find it unusual (and sometimes uncomfortable) when employees can't disconnect.
The first 30 days: listen more than you talk
Your instinct as someone who was good at their job in LATAM will be to demonstrate that competence immediately. Resist this.
In Canadian workplace culture, the first month is for observing and learning — not for proposing big changes or telling people what you would have done differently.
What to do in your first 30 days:
- Learn how things are done here, even if it's not how you would do them
- Ask questions that show you're thinking carefully, not questions that show you weren't listening
- Build relationships with your immediate team one-on-one before trying to influence the group
- Deliver your assigned work reliably and on time — this is how trust is built
What to avoid:
- "In my previous company we did it this way..." (sounds like criticism even when it's not)
- Proposing major changes before you understand why things are done the current way
- Skipping relationship-building because you're focused on output
Building relationships at work
Canadian workplaces are friendly but it takes longer to build genuine connections than in LATAM, where personal relationships develop quickly.
Small talk is mandatory. Before any meeting, there will be 2–3 minutes of small talk about the weekend, the weather, or a recent event. This is not wasted time — it's relationship maintenance. Participate genuinely.
Safe small talk topics: weather, weekend plans (vague), sports (hockey especially), local events, food.
Avoid on first months: politics, religion, salary (Canadians are more private about money than LATAM cultures), how much anything costs.
Coffee chats: In many Canadian offices, it's normal to invite a colleague for a coffee — in person or virtual — to get to know them with no specific agenda. This is how networks are built. Do it. It's not weird to say "Hey, would you have 20 minutes this week to grab a coffee? I'd love to learn more about your work."
Performance reviews and feedback culture
Canadian performance reviews typically happen every 6 or 12 months, with informal check-ins more frequently.
Unlike LATAM, where hierarchy is clearer, Canadian employees are often expected to advocate for themselves — to tell their manager what they've accomplished, what they want to learn, and where they want to go in the company.
Self-advocacy looks like:
- "I've been thinking about taking on more responsibility in X area — would that be possible?"
- "I noticed Y project coming up — I'd love to be involved if there's an opportunity."
- Documenting your achievements so you can articulate them at review time
Waiting to be noticed doesn't work as well in Canada as it might in some LATAM workplaces. You need to be visible about your contributions — professionally, not aggressively.
The language factor
If English isn't your first language, the first months will be exhausting in a way that's hard to explain to native speakers. You're working in your second language for 8+ hours a day, processing everything slightly slower, worrying about how you sound, and sometimes missing humor or nuance.
Practical tips:
- It's completely acceptable to say "Sorry, could you repeat that?" or "I want to make sure I understood correctly — did you mean...?"
- Write things down in meetings. Taking notes is seen as professional and helps you catch what you might have missed
- Don't be afraid to ask a colleague to explain an acronym or internal term — every company has jargon that even native English speakers take time to learn
- Your accent is fine. Canadians are used to working with people from all over the world
Taxes from your first paycheck
Your paycheck in Canada is not what you negotiated. Deductions include:
- Federal and provincial income tax (withheld automatically)
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) — 5.95% of your earnings up to a maximum
- EI (Employment Insurance) — 1.66% of your earnings up to a maximum
On a $60,000 salary in Ontario, your net take-home is roughly $45,000–47,000 CAD/year after deductions.
This surprises many newcomers. Factor it into your budget from day one.
The first 90 days at work in Canada are a calibration period. You're learning the culture, building relationships, and demonstrating reliability — not reinventing the company.
Show up. Be reliable. Be curious. Ask good questions. Those three months will determine your trajectory for the years that follow.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.