job interviews

Nov. 6, 2025: 

These are the interviews I did in Jul. 2025.

The Cafe at a mall: This was on Kijiji.

Pros:

1. The hours are part time like 18- 24 hrs/ week.  

2. They are daytime hours and doesn't close too late.

3. There is 1 bus to get there.

4. The pay is $15/ hr.  After probation, there is $16/ hr.

The tips are divided each month.  There are 6 people who work here.

5. There is a free meal if you work a 6 hr shift.

If you work less than 6 hrs, you get 50% off your meal.

6. I can do the duties of making panini sandwiches, working the coffee machine, handling the cash at the till.

Cons: 

1. This is a mild con, that I may be working alone.  What if I need help?

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.  It was also good because when I got there, the manager did recognize me and asked if I had been there before.  I did when I was attending these Meetups that were held there.

Dec. 22, 2025 The Bakery and Cafe: I attended this interview on the same day as the above interview, but this is in the afternoon.  This was on Indeed.

Pros:

1. The hours are Tues. and Wed: 10am -6pm.

Fri. and Sat. 10am-9pm.

Sun. 10am -5pm.

2. The hours are mostly day time.  It takes 30 min. to close.

3. There are 2 buses to get there.

4. The pay is $15/ hr.  There are tips.

5. There is 50% off meal, and 1 specialty coffee per shift.  You can drink the regular drip coffee.

6. I can handle cash and serve customers.

Cons: 

1. This is a mild con.  I would have to learn to make specialty coffees and I don't really know how to work the espresso machine.

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.

Dec. 29, 2025 Accessories store #3: This is in a mall on the south side.  This was on the store website.

Pros:

1. The hours are part -time. 

2. They are daytime hours and doesn't close too late.

3. There is a bus and an LRT to get there.

4. The pay is $16/ hr.  

5. The duties are working the till, restocking, give piercings.

Cons: 

1. This is a mild con, that I may be working alone.  What if I need help?

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.

Jan. 26, 2025 Accessories store #3: This is in a mall on the west side.  This was on the store website.

Pros:

1. The hours are part time like 2 or 3 days.

2. The pay is $16. 75/ hr.

3. The duties are selling, and handling cash.  

It takes 30 min. to close.

Cons:

1.  This is a mild con, that I may be working alone.  What if I need help?

2. This was in the west end so it was kind of far away and hard to get to.

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.

Jan. 29, 2026 The Dental Office: I have attended a job interview here before years ago.  I don't know if it's the same dentist.  The office is in a house.  This was on Kijiji.

Pros:

1. The hours were 9am -5pm.  There are 1 evening shift like 4-8pm and 1 weekend.

2. This was full -time.

3. The pay was $17-22/hr.

4. The duties are book and schedule appointments.

You have to charge the customers, sterilization of the equipment, cleaning the rooms, etc.

Cons:

1. This duty seems hard: You have to send out insurance info and predetermines how much insurance will cover the dental work.

You have to check the coverage and tell the customers.

2. At the interview, I was told that the office was going to be moved to the southside.  I Google map the address and if I were to arrive by 9am, I would take 3 buses to get there and it would be an 1 hr.

My opinion: I wouldn't work there mainly because they're moving to somewhere far away. 

Jan. 31, 2026 The Grocery Store #3: There was a job fair.

Pros:

1. The hours are 9am-8pm.  This is not too late.

2. The hours are full -time.

3. The pay: they didn't tell me.  I assume it was $15/hr. 

4. There are health benefits after 4 months for full- time employees.

There is 50% off the food, and free coffee.

5. The duties are I would be working in produce, deli, and bakery.  I would work the till, and cleaning.

6. They are hiring 9 positions so there a lot of positions.

7. There are 2 buses to get there.

Cons: none.

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.

This was in Aug. 2025:

Feb. 14, 2026 The Bubble Tea place: This was on Indeed.

Pros:

1. The hours are Mon. -Wed. 10am -2pm.  12 hrs a week.  This could increase to 16-20 hrs a week.

2. The pay is $15/ hr.  There are tips so there could be an additional $2/ hr.

3. Free drink after shift.

4. The duties are making drinks and handling the till.

Cons:

1. I would be working by myself.  They will let me if I can do the job well enough by myself.

2. I would have to learn to know how to use the till and that can be hard.

3. I have to learn how to make the drinks, and do it fast enough.

4. This is a mild con: The place is going to close down by Dec. 2026.

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired, but I don't think I would be good at it.  There is a lot to learn, and then I would be by myself.

This was in Sept. 2025:

Feb. 15, 2026 Bowl and Smoothie restaurant: This was on Indeed.  This is a video interview.

Pros:

1. The hours are Fri -Sun.  They're day time like 10am -4pm.

2. The pay is $16/hr.  There are tips so that could add $3-4/ hr.

3. The duties are making the bowls, handling the till, and making orders for the delivery apps like Uber Eats.

Cons:

1. It was kind of far like 2 buses to get there, and then you have to walk 9 min.

My opinion: This was average.  I would probably try out the job.

The Bath Store: I applied on the website.  This is for the seasonal holiday job.  I applied one day, and the next day I got an invite to a group job interview.

I had attended a group job interview at this store and location for the same holiday job in 2019.

Pros:

1. I gave them my hours of availability which is a lot and open.

They said they're open from 6am-12am.  They can be stocking before the store is open to the customers.

2. The pay is more than $15/hr.

3. The discount is 40% off.  I do like the fragrance mists they sell.  I always try on and smell them.

4. I can do the job of selling.

Cons:

1. The location is far away like 2 buses and a bit over 1 hr to get there.

2. There is no guarantee hours like 0-25 hrs/ week.

There are 70 people who work there, and they're hiring 30 people.

3. The store closes at 9pm.  The closing duties may end by 10 or 11pm.

My opinion: I would work there if I got hired.

Champion Staffing Services: They were conducting interviews for OEB, another new restaurant, and a dessert cafe called Mr. Puffs in South Common.  

This was a prescreening video interview.

This was on Indeed.

Pros:

1. The hours are weekdays like 7am-9pm and weekends are 8am-8pm.

2. The pay is $15.50/hr.

3. The duties was like serving food.

Cons:

1. South Common is really far away.

Also they said if I work at the opening shift, I have to get there 1 hr before opening so at 6am, which is too hard to get there with the buses.

My opinion: If the place was close and easy to get to, I would work there.

My week:

Sun. Feb. 15, 2026:

Corinne B, Regina, Saskatchewan, would like to know:

Do you wear a seatbelt when riding in a taxi or ride-share vehicle?

Always

60.09% (2254)

I never use taxis or ride-share services

25.01% (938)

Sometimes

9.94% (373)

Never

4.96% (186)

My opinion: I always wear a seatbelt when I'm in a car.

Mon. Feb. 16, 2026:

Rhea N, Toledo, Ontario, would like to know:

Do you wash your vehicle in the winter?

No

46.05% (1807)

Yes

40.52% (1590)

I don’t own a vehicle

13.43% (527)

My opinion: No.  My parents have a car, but they don't wash it in the winter.

Sun. Feb. 15, 2026 Personality quiz:

There are 4 boxes of values like Blueprint, Action, Nurturing, and Knowledge and you arrange them from most important to least. 

https://bp.crackmycode.com/

"Independent toy shops ready to fill void from Toys “R” Us Canada closures"/ "Toys ‘R’ Us Canada set to get reprieve from creditors extended"

Feb. 4, 2026 "Independent toy shops ready to fill void from Toys “R” Us Canada closures": Today I found this article by Tara Deschamps on BNN Bloomberg:

TORONTO — Independent toy shops say they’re ready to fill the void Toys “R” Us Canada’s closures have created.

Bob Siemens says his Saskatchewan store Cowtown Kids Toys & Candy and other independent retailers are 

brimming with products 

and prepared to welcome even more customers.

Siemens says he takes no pleasure in seeing Toys “R” Us Canada face troubles 

but recognizes it’s also an opportunity for independents to flourish.

Ti-Anna Wang agrees. She says recent Toys “R” Us Canada closures are a chance for her Toronto shop Silly Goose Kids to attract new customers.

Toys “R” Us Canada filed for creditor protection Tuesday, 

after shuttering 53 of its stores in the last two years.

It is now warning its remaining 22 stores may also shutdown as the company tries to restructure and cope with its mounting debt.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2026.

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2026/02/04/independent-toy-shops-ready-to-fill-void-from-toys-r-us-canada-closures/

Feb. 13, 2026 "Toys ‘R’ Us Canada set to get reprieve from creditors extended": Today I found this article by Tara Deschamps on BNN Bloomberg:

TORONTO — While Toys “R” Us Canada eyes more store closures, it will be able to keep at bay the hundreds of companies it owes money to for a little longer.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Jane Dietrich said in a virtual court hearing Friday that she will soon approve an order extending the beleaguered company’s creditor protection until May.

Creditor protection temporarily shields an insolvent company from having to pay those it owes money to 

while it figures out its next steps.

When the company filed for 10 days of creditor protection at the start of the month, it said it owes at least $120 million to its vendors and “substantial” amounts to landlords.

Court documents show creditors include toy industry royalty like 

Lego, 

Hasbro, 

Mattel, 

Spin Master Corp. 

and Squishmallows-maker Jazwares, 

as well as prominent landlords 

Cadillac Fairview, 

Oxford Properties, 

Ivanhoé Cambridge 

and RioCan Holdings.

The Canadian Press previously reported many of Toys “R” Us Canada’s creditors sued the company over unpaid bills in the lead up to the retailer requesting creditor protection at the start of the month. Those claims have not been tested in court but Toys “R” Us Canada has said in filings that it is subject to litigation for breach of contract or breach of lease linked to stores it closed due to “operating challenges.”

The retailer has said 

inflation, 

rising labour costs, 

supply chain disruptions 

and a shift toward e-commerce 

were part of the reason it closed 53 stores in the past two years.

Twenty-two stores remain, but Toys “R” Us Canada has warned it may shrink its footprint even further as prepares to eventually seek a buyer for the business.

Lawyers for the company asked judge Dietrich to authorize the retailer to conduct more liquidation sales at some stores it may later decide to close.

The lawyers did not provide a list of locations on the chopping block but said they wanted to be able to give 12 weeks to landlords and close more sites, if lease negotiations failed.

Dietrich was concerned that issuing such approval would give the retailer permission to liquidate all 22 remaining stores but later appeared prepared to give Toys “R” Us Canada authorization shortly, if certain stipulations were added.

The key change requires Toys “R” Us Canada to get permission from Alvarez & Marsal — a court-appointed third-party guiding the company through creditor protection — to liquidate further stores.

In filings the retailer made ahead of the hearing, it revealed it wanted to shutter its location at Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, Ont., by March 31 after it reached a lease termination agreement with the landlord.

It also wants to close another store at the Niagara Pen Centre in St. Catharines, Ont., and said affiliates of Toys “R” Us Canada owner Putman Investments were marketing for sale 11 of the 13 properties they lease to the retailer.

The documents also offered a window into the state of Toys “R” Us Canada’s workforce.

They showed the company had about 562 employees 

— 452 at stores 

and 110 in its corporate division 

— when the company filed for creditor protection. 

Some 180 staff had been terminated over the last year but remained on salary continuance.

After initial creditor protection was received, Toys “R” Us Canada 

laid off another 52 employees, 

bringing its head count to about 510.

Putman Investments, an Ancaster, Ont.-based business which is also behind 

HMV, 

Sunrise Records, 

Ricki’s, 

Cleo 

and Northern Reflections, 

bought Toys “R” Us Canada in 2021 from Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

Fairfax paid $300 million to rescue the company and Babies “R” Us Canada in 2018, 

when it filed for creditor protection after the separately-run American arm of Toys “R” Us sought bankruptcy protection.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2025.

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2026/02/13/toys-r-us-canada-set-to-get-reprieve-from-creditors-extended/

My opinion: There are 2 Toys "R" Us in Edmonton.

"Keep your hands off that RRSP, your future self will thank you"/ "Clock is ticking on RRSP deadline. Here’s what you need to know"

Jan. 9, 2026 "Keep your hands off that RRSP, your future self will thank you": Today I found this article by Dale Jackson on BNN Bloomberg:

Early data from Visa Canada suggests a 4.4 per cent increase in spending this holiday season over last year.

Estimates from other spending monitors point to averages between $943 and $2,000, depending on whether travel is included.

As those bills roll in many will turn to their registered retirement savings plans (RRSP) for relief.

A recent BMO survey found 38 per cent of Canadians dip into their RRSPs early for one reason or another.

If holiday debt has you eyeing your RRSP savings it’s important to know 

that early withdrawals could have staggering tax consequences, 

and there might be better ways to raise cash.

Tax consequences for RRSP withdrawals

If you are currently working full time, 

an RRSP withdrawal is probably the worst idea from a tax perspective. 

They are designed to allow contributions to grow tax-free in the investments of your choice until they are withdrawn in retirement 

- ideally at a lower marginal tax rate.

In addition to tax free growth, plan holders can benefit by contributing in years when their income is taxed at a higher marginal rate. 

If your highest marginal rate is 40 per cent, for example, 

you avoid paying a 40 per cent tax on your contribution the year it is made. 

If it is withdrawn at a 20 per cent marginal rate in retirement, 

you get big tax savings.

Early withdrawals not only deny the ability for that money to grow in investments over the years, 

but they will be taxed at a higher rate if your income is the same as it was when the contribution was made. 

That’s because the amount that is withdrawn 

is added to that year’s income. 

In other words, a contribution that resulted in a 40 per cent tax savings 

could be taxed at over 40 per cent.

It gets worse. 

Any RRSP withdrawal made by a plan holder under 65 years old 

is subject to an immediate withholding tax as high as 30 per cent. 

The maximum withholding tax applies to withdrawals over $15,000. 

It’s smaller for lower amounts and residents of Quebec.

If an early RRSP withdrawal pushes your marginal tax rate over thirty per cent, 

you will owe more than the 30 per cent withholding tax 

when tax time comes around in the spring.

One more thing; once you make an early RRSP withdrawal, 

you lose that allowable contribution room if you are looking for a tax shelter in future, higher income, years.

When it makes sense to withdraw from an RRSP early

If you suffer a loss of income 

and your marginal tax rate is lower as a result, 

you must still pay the withholding tax on early RRSP withdrawals.

However, the final tax bill will be much lower 

because it will be taxed according to that year’s income 

regardless of your age. 

It just might be the lifeline you need to pay off your holiday debt.

You can also avoid any tax if the funds are used to 

purchase a first home 

or go back to school (provided the funds are returned within a certain period of time).

Tax-free cash from a TFSA

A tax free savings account (TFSA) withdrawal is probably a better idea if you want quick cash to pay down debt. 

They are designed for short term savings.

TFSA contributions can not be deducted from your income like RRSPs but 

withdrawals, and any returns they generate are never taxed. 

There are contribution limits, so be sure to keep track.

Like an RRSP, 

you can hold a wide range of investments in a TFSA 

but if you expect to make early withdrawals a

void investments that require longer term commitments.

Borrowing to pay down high-interest debt

If you choose to postpone your credit card debt and pay the minimum amount required,

interest on the balance can be as high as 30 per cent.

Even borrowing from consumer lines of credit can generate double-digit interest rates.

Borrowing to pay holiday bills can be extremely costly 

and lead to a lifetime of regret.

If you own a home, however, 

one short-term solution could involve paying down high interest debt 

with a low interest home equity line of credit (HELOC). 

HELOCs normally have the lowest rates 

because they are secured against the equity in your home.

HELOC interest rates are normally tied to the bank’s prime lending rate; currently 4.5 per cent.

A typical home equity rate is prime plus one per cent but still adds up as the balance compounds over time.

There are online debt calculators available that can help put the true cost of borrowing in perspective.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/opinion/2026/01/09/holiday-bills-piling-up-think-twice-before-you-dip-into-your-rrsp-dale-jackson/

Jan. 30, 2026 "Clock is ticking on RRSP deadline. Here’s what you need to know": Today I found this article by Dale Jackson on BNN Bloomberg:

It’s that time of year again; RRSP season.

Canadians have until March 2 to put down their snow shovels 

and make a contribution to their registered retirement savings plans (RRSP) 

if they want to lower their 2025 income tax bill.

According to the latest tally from Statistics Canada, tax filers contribute an estimated $55 billion to their RRSPs annually with a median contribution at roughly $4,000.

RRSPs have been the favorite tax-saving investment vehicle for average Canadians for nearly 70 years; 

allowing investments to grow tax-free over time, to a day when the tax sting is less.

RRSP basics

RRSP accounts can be set up through just about any financial institution.

Contributions can be deducted from taxable income in any calendar year going forward. 

Whether you meet this year’s deadline or not, 

your contribution can be deducted from 2026 income or future income.

Those contributions can be invested in just about anything; 

stocks, 

bonds, 

mutual funds,

 exchange traded funds (ETFs), 

some options - whatever. 

You can even keep them in cash.

The investments can compound 

and grow tax-free 

for decades 

until they are withdrawn. 

At that point they are fully taxed - ideally at a low marginal tax rate in retirement.

The RRSP contribution limit this year is 18 per cent of reported earned income in 2024 to a maximum of $33,810.

Unused space can be carried forward to future years. 

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) keeps track and 

lists remaining contribution space on each year’s tax statement for individuals.

Getting the biggest bang for your RRSP buck

Canadians love their RRSPs because contributions made before the deadline almost always result in a lower tax bill in the spring. 

In cases where an employer makes payroll deductions throughout the year it usually results in a refund.

The size of the refund depends on the contribution amount 

and how much taxable income you generate the year it is claimed, 

which determines your marginal tax rate.

Here’s a simplified example: 

If you live in Ontario and earn less than $55,000, 

your combined federal and provincial tax rate is about 15 per cent. 

That means an RRSP contribution of $10,000 would lower your tax bill by 15 per cent, 

or $1,500.

If you live in Ontario and earn over $250,000, your combined tax rate could top 50 per cent.

A $10,000 RRSP contribution at that marginal rate would generate a 50 per cent tax reduction 

or $5,000.

If it seems like RRSPs favour the rich, you’re right. 

Tax savings for lower income Canadians are much smaller 

than those with higher incomes. 

One strategy that could help level the playing field is 

to make contributions when you can, 

but only claim them in high income years.

RRSP drawbacks

That means if you contribute to your RRSP at the lowest marginal rate, 

the best you can hope for is to withdraw savings at the lowest marginal tax rate in retirement. 

In that case, the only real advantage to an RRSP is tax-free growth over time.

If you contribute a lot 

and invest well, 

and your RRSP savings grow above expectations, 

that’s a good thing but it could put you at a higher marginal rate 

than your original contribution 

when it comes time to make withdrawals.

When you reach 71 years, Ottawa will impose minimum RRSP withdrawals, 

which could also result in Old Age Security (OAS) claw backs if they reach a certain threshold.

If you make an early withdrawal while you are still working, 

the amount you remove from the plan will be taxed 

at whatever rate you are paying that year.

If you are already taxed at a high marginal rate, 

the amount you withdraw could push you into an even higher tax bracket.

Early withdrawals could make sense if your income has been serious reduced 

but you will lose that allowable contribution space forever.

Ottawa also allows tax free withdrawals for 

continuing education

 or to buy a first home, 

as long as the money is returned to your RRSP within a certain period of time.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/opinion/2026/01/30/clock-is-ticking-on-rrsp-deadline-heres-what-you-need-to-know-dale-jackson/

My opinion: This part stood out to me the most:

Here’s a simplified example: 

If you live in Ontario and earn less than $55,000, 

your combined federal and provincial tax rate is about 15 per cent. 

That means an RRSP contribution of $10,000 would lower your tax bill by 15 per cent, 

or $1,500.

If you live in Ontario and earn over $250,000, your combined tax rate could top 50 per cent.

A $10,000 RRSP contribution at that marginal rate would generate a 50 per cent tax reduction 

or $5,000.

If it seems like RRSPs favour the rich, you’re right.