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  • Career Profile: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

    Career Profile: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

    You love the environment, and you want your future career to reflect that. If that’s the case and you enjoy all of the technical aspects that come into observing the health of the environment and its many changes, then you should look no further than becoming an environmental engineer. An environmental engineer is an expert in all things related to soil science, engineering, and biology. They also take part in interests of public health such as maintaining safe drinking water, environmental and climate changes and sustainability.

    A few of the duties they are responsible for on the job include compiling environmental investigation reports, analyzing scientific data to help inform decisions on local regulations, determine the success of local environmental protection projects, advising proper procedures on securing and cleaning up potential environmental hazards, determining the best course of action to regulate air, water, and land pollution, etc. Essentially, the environmental engineer works closely with corporate and government bodies to promote environmental sustainability.

    What are the perks of the job?

    The most immediate perk of the job is the decent salary of approximately $62,453 in Canada, according to PayScale. Entry-level positions can earn roughly $45,423 and the highest earners in the profession can earn about $87,780. The job has both indoor and outdoor work, making the working environments varied compared to other jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth is about as fast as the average job growth between 2016 and 2026 at an 8% increase.

    What are some of the setbacks?

    However, there are a few setbacks with this job, including the stressful nature of the work and how deadlines can put the pressure on you, especially when environmental work can be so sensitive and important. The work can also put you in hazardous positions, especially when dealing with hazardous spills or a dangerous environmental situation. There is also a considerable amount of education and training involved to be employed in the field, which requires at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Obtaining a license (by passing a professional engineering (PE) exam or a fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam) in the proper province will also greatly increase your chances of gaining employment.

    How can I grow with this career?

    A bachelor’s degree will prepare you to gain an entry-level position, which would have you dealing with minor local projects. With more experience and rising through the ranks of superior managers, you can begin taking on more difficult projects and earn a higher salary. Before taking on a managerial position of your own, you may need to acquire a Master’s Degree in a relevant environmental engineering field.

    That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

    There are many careers in the environmental and engineering industries that make a solid salary, such as chemical engineers (design large production processes involving chemicals), civil engineers (design and help construct local city infrastructure), hydrologists (study how water moves underground), natural sciences manager (managers that direct testing, quality control, and examine finished products of different natural science experiments), environmental engineering technicians (technicians that implement the plans created by environmental engineers), etc. These careers tend to have similar analytical skill requirements as well as an understanding of natural sciences and the environment.

    Reference:

    Truity. “Environmental Engineer”:

    https://www.truity.com/career-profile/environmental-engineer

    PayScale. “Environmental Engineer Salary”:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Environmental_Engineer/Salary

    Bureau of Labour Statistics. “Environmental Engineers”:

    https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm

    Learning Path.org. “Becoming an Environmental Engineer: Salary Info & Job Description”:

    http://learningpath.org/articles/Environmental_Engineer_Career_Info.html

    Bureau of Labour Statistics. “Environmental Engineers: SImilar Occupations”:

    https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm#tab-8

  • Biologist

    Biologist

    Do you have a passion for earth sciences, animals and zoology, and everything else related to natural science? Then a career as a biologist might be for you! Biologists can specialize in many different fields, including zoology (the study of wild animals and their habits) and botany (the study of plants). These biologists usually go out into the field and take samples for their research. Different biologists generally do radically different tasks, though most track animals that they specialize in to find out numbers, breeding habits, diet, etc. They can also be responsible for trapping animals to determine their migration patterns and the state of their health. Botanists would take plant samples and test for similar qualities, seeing if their populations are booming or scaling back. Here are a few other things you might not have known about biologists:

    What are the perks of the job?

    The first advantage of the career is that biologists make a median of about $57,888 in Canada annually, according to PayScale. Many entry-level biologists earn about $39,872 and can earn as much as $80,237. There are a few other perks, like the variety in jobs available once you earn a degree in biology. It can also be a pleasantly challenging career and would be very attractive to people with a passion for the natural sciences. There is a growth in demand for the job, with a 4% increase in job creation between 2014 and 2024 according to Study.com.

    What are some of the setbacks?

    On the other hand, being a biologist in the field can be stressful and isolating since you often work in environments that are far away from people. Spending hours in a lab can also have you working on your own for long periods of time. As well, there can be some health risk if you happen to become a biologist who specializes in diseases and works with virus samples often. Obtaining the educational requirements to becoming a biologist can also be very challenging depending on the job title you are striving for. Most jobs require an undergraduate degree in a relevant biological field, such as organic chemistry, zoology, plant ecology, marine biology, etc. Other, more advanced fields require a Ph.D. in a relevant field. Even after all of the educational requirements are met and the training is complete, a good biologist is expected to read up on all of the latest trends in their field to make sure that they never fall behind.

    How can I grow with this career?

    There are a few different ways to grow in this industry, largely by becoming the research head of certain projects, branching out into other specializations or by taking the lead on university research. Some biologists go on to teach biology courses in colleges or high schools. The job market is varied and there are many different opportunities in different locations.

    That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

    Because the field of biology has many specializations, there are any interconnecting jobs where the required skills are very similar, though require additional education to perfect the field. A background in biology is also a first major step into entering the medical field for the aspiring doctor or veterinarian. A job in teaching is also a possibility once the biology graduate completes a course in teacher’s college.

    Reference:

    Study.com. “Field Biologist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements”:

    https://study.com/articles/Field_Biologist_Job_Description_Duties_and_Requirements.html

    PayScale. “Biologist Salary”:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Biologist/Salary

    Bizfluent. “The Pros and Cons for Careers in Biology”:

    https://bizfluent.com/info-8314979-pros-cons-careers-biology.html

  • The Real Heroes That Must Have Your Attention

    The Real Heroes That Must Have Your Attention

    Movies based on comic book heroes are colossal cash machines for film studio moguls and producers. This year alone, much-awaited releases from Disney Studios “The Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” made a combined total of close to $6 billion US at the box office.

    However, while the heroes in these movies are entertaining and inspiring, there are real-life heroes that are just as deserving of your attention. Despite their lack of super powers, these people have made our lives better, and we can’t imagine living in a world without their contribution. Let us take a quick look at who they are:

    Albert Einstein

    Perhaps the most recognizable name on this list is Albert Einstein as no one can deny he is a household name. With his trademark untamed hair and wild mustache, the poster with him sticking his tongue out has adorned many bedrooms of aspiring scientists, doctors, engineers, and mathematicians. As a child, Albert already was ahead of everyone else in his age group, and it was only natural that as a teenager, he was already writing post-graduate-level papers.

    Albert is best known for his paper on the theory of relativity in 1905, one of the most popular scientific theories of the 20th century, which gave birth to the famous equation E=mc2, which implied that matter and energy were of equal quantity and that a single particle of matter can be transformed into a huge quantity of energy. To this day, we have him to credit for understanding the motions of planets and the history and expansion of the universe, as well as the physics of black holes.

    Marie Curie

    When it comes to trailblazing female scientists, one of the first names – if not the first – that comes to mind is Marie Curie. Not only did Marie face hurdles in her aspirations due to her gender, she also had to battle her family’s poverty and the political turmoil during the time in her native Warsaw, Poland. By the time Marie finished regular schooling, her family couldn’t afford to send her and her three sisters abroad to pursue higher education. During this time, women were not allowed to enroll at their local university.

    Despite these difficulties, Marie found a way and headed to Paris, France, where her illustrious career in science started. Together with her husband, Pierre, the two examined minerals and went on to discover polonium and later on radium. The couple went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on radioactivity in 1903. Marie lost his husband a few years later, but she persevered and went on to receive a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. To this day, she remains the only person to win Nobel prizes in two different fields.

    Steve Jobs

    Hands down, Steve Jobs, is one of the few modern-day heroes that truly matters – and not just because he gave us the greatest modern-day invention there is: the iPhone. Steve had far more to offer than the revolutionary device that everyone covets at Christmastime. For one, behind the scenes, Steve managed to successfully deal with tribulations in his personal life to be one of the most successful inventors, designers, and entrepreneurs of all time.

    Steve was a fresh college dropout when he founded Apple in his parents’ garage with Steve Wozniak in 1976. It grew to a $2 billion company later on, but due to personal reasons, he had to leave in 1985. He rejoined in 1995, where the rest, as they say, is history. In 2005, he gave a commencement speech in Stanford University that still inspires people – young and old alike –  up to this day. In his address, he talked openly about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis for the first time and shared, “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

    Elon Musk

    Elon Musk may be more famous now for his social media antics than his contributions to science and technology, but he is one who is deserving of a place in this list and would be in many years to come. Like with everyone else in this list, Elon showed signs of his brilliance at a young age—selling a game called “Blastar” to a computer magazine for $500 when he was only 12 years old.

    By 28 years old, he founded X.com which later became the Paypal as we all know now. Before even reaching 30, he was already a multimillionaire, as he founded two other companies, SpaceX and Tesla Motors. In 2012, Elon hogged the headlines for launching its Falcon 9 rocket into space with an unmanned capsule. Meanwhile, for Tesla Motors, he aims to focus on producing mass-market electric cars that are within everyone’s reach.

    Those are just a few real-life heroes we can aspire to be. Do you have a favourite one in mind?

    SOURCES:

    https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/theory-of-relativity

    https://www.newscientist.com/round-up/instant-expert-general-relativity/

    https://www.biography.com/news/marie-curie-biography-facts

    https://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805

  • Scholarship Applications

    Scholarship Applications

    Searching for scholarships can be a rather tedious exercise, much like job applications – there are often a lot of requirements that seem to be listed that are barriers. However, this is not necessarily the case. While some scholarships are intended to help specific groups achieve their goals, others are looking for applicants *regardless* of the application guidelines. This is why many people, particularly those who help job seekers find jobs right out of university, college and high school – don’t think about the restrictions or who they’re looking for.  Apply anyway.

    In some cases, the organization providing the scholarship is simply looking for the best candidate to who they think are the best deserving of the scholarship money. You got good grades to back up your eligibility. You participated in a lot of school activities, school groups or team sports. You demonstrated a high standard of character. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be all of the above. You might not have to excel in every single category. Again, you might as well try and apply anyway!

    With school being rather expensive – especially depending on which school you wish to attend – every little bit of financial aid greatly helps, particularly when the student loan comes due after you graduate, and the banks start asking for their money back. Even if you get one scholarship that may not be as much as others, it can be a great load off your shoulders in the future, since student loans can be particularly pricey with the building of interest.

    Research helps a lot too – what do you know about the organization offering the scholarship grant? Would they be a good organization to apply to? Would they be interested in your future – whether you’re interested in nursing, history, or architecture? Would they be interested in your hobbies and dreams of owning a fashion line? Would they be interested to see you invest back into the community in which you are from? These are all good reasons why you can write an amazing application letter detailing why you feel that you deserve this scholarship and how you would best use the grant towards your future and your education.

    Many organizations will ask you to give them an idea about what your plans are regarding courses and potential career options.  This gives you a good opportunity to show them how much you’re looking forward to your next level of education.

    Look on many different websites, to see if a prominent company in your chosen career is offering a scholarship. Sometimes they are not as well-known, meaning that there will be less competition. This is not always the case, but sometimes less advertising can help you promote yourself towards possibly gaining a scholarship grant. If you do well, perhaps that grant would be a great foot in the door for an entry-level job in that company. That’s why you should apply wherever you can – the possibilities are endless. Try anyways. You never know until you hear back one way or another.

    Go for it. Apply to every scholarship you think you can, and believe in yourself and your future. A scholarship may be waiting for you.

  • Career Profile: HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REMOVAL WORKER

    Career Profile: HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REMOVAL WORKER

    In school, you have likely heard all about WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) from your high school science class or while training for your first part-time job. It is an important part of any career that involves chemicals (which many jobs do since cleaning products and solutions tend to have many different chemicals in them), but it is especially important to the hazardous material removal worker. If you find chemistry interesting and believe that safety procedures surrounding toxic materials are important, then perhaps you should consider a career as a hazardous material removal worker.

    A HAZMAT (Hazardous Material) removal worker is tasked with observing safety procedures around the workplace, (especially as they relate to chemicals on the worksite), test cleaning procedures and determine the most effective way of cleaning certain chemical solutions, clean and neutralize chemical spills on the work site, set up a caution area around a spill or hazardous material removal area which usually involves scaffolding and caution signs, washing contaminated equipment used in the waste removal procedure, record cleaning activities on the site as well as transporting hazardous materials as safely as possible.

    What are the perks of the job?

    This career has a few benefits, starting from the median salary. In Canada, the average annual salary for the hazardous material removal worker stood around $50,770 (according to job board site Neuvoo), which is well above the national median salary of $32,970, reported by the same source. According to the career info site Payscale, there are other job titles within the hazardous material removal that make even more, like an operations manager (median salary being $62,279), operations manager ($63,000), and project manager ($82, 424). These jobs that have improved salaries show the room to grow within the industry. This career can also be very attractive to people who are passionate about caring for the environment and who have a strong sense of leadership and can rally a team together. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job growth in North America is 17% between 2016 and 2026 – a growth that is much faster than average.

    What are some of the setbacks?

    The biggest set back to this job is that it can be dangerous to work with hazardous materials all day, which is why a lot of protective gear is required. When safety protocols are observed, then the risk goes down significantly, though some workers have reported illnesses after years of working in industrial environments. The education level and training is also much more strenuous than the average job, requiring a bachelor’s degree and at least 40 hours of on-site training in accordance to the Occupational Health and Safety Health Administration (OSHA). An apprenticeship program is also required for most jobs in this industry.

    How can I grow with this career?

    There are a few different job titles associated with this industry, like asbestos removal, project managers related to hazardous materials removal, hazardous materials supervisors, operations managers, waste disposal removal (median salary of $42,840), waste management services ($40,610), and construction ($30,950).

    That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

    Aside from the amount of jobs and careers that are available in the hazardous materials removal industry, the knowledge in chemistry and workplace safety procedures required in these careers can prime the HAZMAT worker for other careers. Any career involving environmental sustainability and cleaning (with a bit more schooling in the relevant field), construction trades, firefighters (in that they use chemical products like fire extinguishers to remove fire-based hazards and often come into contact with chemicals), insulation workers, etc.

    Reference:

    College Grad. “Hazardous Materials Removal Workers”:

    https://collegegrad.com/careers/hazardous-materials-removal-workers

    College of Trades. “Construction Sector: Hazardous Materials Worker”

    http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/wp-content/uploads/TFS_Hazardous_Material_Worker_Oct2015.pdf

    Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Hazardous Materials Removal Workers”:

    https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Construction-and-Extraction/Hazardous-materials-removal-workers.htm

    PayScale. “Average Salary for Industry: Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal”:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Hazardous_Waste_Treatment_and_Disposal/Salary

    Nuevoo. “Hazardous Waste salary in Canada”

    https://neuvoo.ca/salary/hazardous-waste/

  • September 2018 Scholarships: Apply Now!

    September 2018 Scholarships: Apply Now!

    Aboriginal Clean Energy Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $3,000

    Awards Available: 2

    Award Deadline: September 15, 2018

    Address: http://www.bluearthrenewables.com/community-investment/aboriginal-clean-energy-scholarship/

     

    Dr. and Mrs. Sam Shaw Bachelor of Technology Entrance Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $1,400

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: September 15, 2018

    Address: http://www.nait.ca/78678.htm

     

    FormSwift Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $1,000

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: September 15, 2018

    Address: https://formswift.com/startup-scholarship

     

    Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $500

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: September 30, 201

    Address: http://www.odenzascholarships.com/awards/9/application_odenza_marketing_group_scholarship.php

     

    Writers of the Future Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $5,000

    Awards Available: 13

    Award Deadline: September 30, 2018

    Address: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

     

    William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award

    Amount: $5,000

    Provided by: Hydro One

    Deadline: October 01, 2018

    Donor Hydro One Networks Inc.

    Renewable: No

    Number Available: 2

    Type of Award: Scholarship

    Automatic Consideration: No

    Address: https://www.hydroone.com/careers/one-awards

     

    Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Award

    Amount: $10,000

    Provided by: Hydro One

    Deadline: October 01, 2018

    Donor Hydro One Networks Inc.

    Renewable: No

    Number Available: 20

    Type of Award: Scholarship

    Automatic Consideration: No

    Address: http://indspire.ca/for-students/bursaries-scholarships/

     

    Hydro One Women in Engineering Award

    Amount: $5,000

    Provided by: Hydro One

    Deadline: October 01, 2018

    Donor Hydro One Networks Inc.

    Renewable: No

    Number Available: 10

    Type of Award: Scholarship

    Automatic Consideration: No

    Address: https://www.hydroone.com/careers/one-awards

     

    $5,500 Pinecone Research Sweepstakes

    Amount: $5,500

    Provided by: Nielsen

    Deadline: September 30, 2018

    Renewable: No

    Number Available: 1

    Type of Award: Contest

    Automatic Consideration: No

    Address: https://www.pineconeresearch.ca/SignupCA/Signup_Form.aspx

     

    $60 Student Offer from RBC

    Amount: $60

    Provided by: RBC Royal Bank

    Deadline: October 01, 2018

    Renewable: No

    Type of Award : Contest

    Automatic Consideration:  No

    Address: http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/students/multi/summer-m-or.html?utm_source=scholarshipscanada&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=acct_rbc%20perks

  • Making Movie Magic: A Career Profile of Motion Picture Grips and Set-Up Workers

    Making Movie Magic: A Career Profile of Motion Picture Grips and Set-Up Workers

    Trips to the movie theatre are journeys to another world. We get lost in stories of romance and adventure that can make us laugh and cry. The magic of film only happens because of a team effort. Actors, directors, and screenwriters all play critical roles. But there are many more people involved in this magic act. Behind the scenes, there are individuals working hard to prepare the scenes written in the screenplay and performed on by the actors. These people are the grips and set-up workers who make it all possible.

    Grips and set-up workers are the ones who build, maintain, and work on equipment and cameras used by filmmakers. They have a long and arduous to-do list of various tasks, such as having to assist electricians with the lighting on the set or handling carpentry needs for tables and other furniture. Grips and set-up workers carry out their jobs by working with the Director, Camera Operator, and Director of Photography. They get to experience the euphoria of bringing art to life and stories to the big screen. It is the perfect job for someone who loves working in a team and with their hands. However, the career also necessitates a great deal of physical strength and a willingness to work long 16-hour days. It is not for everyone, but it is extremely rewarding.

    Support occupations in film and scenic constructors make a median hourly wage of $22.15 in Canada. This can range from $14 all the way up to $32. Although there is not a heavy demand for these workers, the pay can often be on the higher end of that range as they are often union jobs. There is also no formal education necessary to pursue this career path. Most individuals are expected to have completed secondary school and can learn what is needed on the job under the guidance of senior workers. Completing college courses in broadcasting or theatre arts can help give you an advantage over your competition in finding your first jobs in this industry.

    The industry can be extremely competitive, but you can start by gaining all the hands-on experience you can find. This may be volunteer work or as part of a college program. Looking ahead, many people who pursue this path are able to find opportunities to climb the career ladder into other positions. You can move into a supervisor role or into a more specialized trade. By working on different films and sets, you can meet many people and grow your network. This will help you find even more jobs and climb your way up the career ladder.

    Working as a motion picture grip or set-up worker is not a laid-back career choice. You will need to be ready for long hours, immense physical work, and an irregular schedule. But this is all part of the hard work that occurs behind the scenes to bring us the magic we experience in the theatre. If you are passionate about film and feel this is the career path for you, start by learning all you can about what happens behind the camera. Practice carpentry and other skills used on sets, and volunteer wherever you can for film and theatre productions. With a lot of hard work and a positive attitude, you can be a part of the magic that is the movies.

    Sources:

    Creative Skillset. “Grip.” http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3789_grip

    Job Bank. “Scenic Constructor.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/5623/22437

  • The Importance of Budgeting Your Financial Aid

    The Importance of Budgeting Your Financial Aid

    Many students use financial aid, such as StudentAid BC or OSAP, to help pay for all or part of their education at trade school, college, or university.  While it can seem great to get a lump sum of money at the beginning of the school year or semester, it is important that you know where that money needs to go.

    Creating a budget is essential, so that you know how to spend your financial aid to be sure that all your expenses are covered, and you won’t run short of money before the end of the year, or at a crucial moment.

    Know Your Expenses Ahead of Time

    Before you can create your budget, you will need to know all the expenses you’ll have to pay for. This is an important step, and chances are you will have collected a lot of this information when you prepared your student loan applications.

    Make a list of everything you need to pay for school, including tuition fees, student fees, rent payments or residence fees, textbooks and course materials.  Once you have that, list other non-school (but still essential) costs you will have to cover, such as car payments and gas, transit passes, groceries, cable/phone/Internet service, medical expenses not covered by your insurance, and any other unavoidable living expenses.

    Don’t forget to include a list of your estimated entertainment costs, or decide on your allotment of entertainment money to use for things like going out with friends or treating yourself to clothes or gadgets.

    Know Your Total Financial Aid

    Once you know what all your expenses will be, the next step is to list out all the financial resources you have that you can use for school.  This includes your student financial aid, but also any grants, bursaries, and scholarships you’ve received, as well as your personal savings, summer or part time job earnings, and any money your family is able to contribute.

    Even though some of these numbers might be estimates (for example, if you’re not sure exactly what family can contribute or how much you will be able to save from a summer job), make your best guess as to what the final totals will be, so that you will at least have a fairly close final total.

    Build Your Budget and Payment Schedule

    Once you know how much money you will need versus how much you have available, it’s time to create your budget for the semester or school year.  This includes knowing the dates that all your payments are due, and whether they will be paid automatically from your bank account, or if you need to make the payment yourself online, over the phone, or in person.  It can be a good idea to write your important payment dates on a calendar, or set reminders in your phone, so be sure that you don’t miss any payments.

    Some expenses, usually tuition and residence fees, can occasionally be paid directly by the student financial aid program, rather than requiring you to manually make the payment.  However, this isn’t always the case, so be sure to check with your school and get all the necessary information on payment methods.

    Once you know your payment schedule and weekly or monthly budget totals, determine the order in which you need to make payments, according to priority as well as the date.  For example, school expenses, living expenses etc. are fixed and non-negotiable, so you should ensure these will be paid first.

    If you find, after working through the budget, that you will fall short in terms of money, then you will have to make some adjustments to cut costs in the variable or optional costs, such as getting Netflix instead of cable, lowering the amount of smartphone data on your plan, or cutting back on your allotted entertainment funds.

    As long as you plan ahead, set your budget, and stick to it, your financial aid will cover all your expenses, making for one less thing to worry about as your progress through your education!

    Sources:

    https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/budget-student-life.html

    https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/finances/estimate-your-resources

    https://www.niagaracollege.ca/fees-finances/prepare-an-expense-budget/

    https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/education/provincial-offices.html

  • How to Follow Your Heart and Not the Crowd

    How to Follow Your Heart and Not the Crowd

    Be your own boss. Never follow the crowd. These are both good pieces of advice that you will hear from many people. And yet, many people do not follow that advice. If it is so common, and sounds like the right thing to do, then why do not so many people not do it? A lot of that is because of fear, comfort, and uncertainty.

    Fear is a tricky emotion. It can help us stay out of very dangerous situations and know when to be careful. But fear can also keep us from doing things that we truly want to do. Many people stay at jobs they hate, live in places they do not want to live, and do things every day that they do not want to do out of fear. They are afraid of what might happen if they make a change or if they disappoint certain people, like their parents or friends.

    To get past this fear, you need to be able to see yourself as a leader and know how to learn from your mistakes. When you are in a bad situation or do something wrong, it is important not to look down on yourself. Instead, focus on what you can learn from what happened and how it can help you grow. Leaders and bosses are never perfect, but they are always learning.

    Being comfortable sounds like a good thing. We want to sit in comfortable chairs and lie down in comfy beds. But when we are too comfortable in a chair or bed, we do not want to get up. That can be the same problem when following the crowd. People stay in jobs they do not really want or live a life they do not want to live because even though it is not what they want, it is at least comfortable. Being comfortable can mean getting stuck.

    It is important to focus on the present. You need to think of whether you are really happy with what is happening in your life right this moment. Start getting out of your comfort zone with small decisions in your life. Look for little things where you have trouble trusting yourself. For example, you might always let your friends decide where to go for food. Take charge by being the one to say where you will eat. These small decisions, if done regularly, will help you realize what you really want and that you can make big things happen for yourself.

    Uncertainty can be the toughest thing to face for many people. Even if we are brave and trust ourselves, we never know for sure what will happen if we quit a job, change the way we live, or move to a whole new city. There are no guarantees that things will get better. When we do not know what the outcome will be, we can be too afraid to take any steps. When we follow the crowd and play it safe, we may not be happy, but at least we know what tomorrow will look like.

    Focus instead on embracing the unknown. There might be a lot of risks, but there are a lot of advantages to making changes. Focus on that and use that positive thinking to keep moving forward. When we get caught up in the unknown, our brains will come up with all the ways things can go wrong and keep us from making the changes we need. Do not waste time thinking about what could happen. Make things happen instead.

    When people end up following the crowd, it is not because they really want to or because they really chose to do it. They are giving in to fear, comfort, and uncertainty. When you are aware of these three problems and take the time and energy to stand up to them, you can be your own boss. “Follow your heart” sounds simple but is never easy. Start putting in the work and effort now, and your future self will thank you.

    Sources:

    Ishak, Raven. “9 Ways to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself & Trust Your Own Decisions.” Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/articles/163531-9-ways-to-stop-second-guessing-yourself-trust-your-own-decisions

    Meyer, Sean. “Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Follow the Crowd.” Be Yourself. https://byrslf.co/heres-what-happens-when-you-don-t-follow-the-crowd-de4bbf669279

  • Career Profile: Transmission Technician

    Career Profile: Transmission Technician

    Some people love to take things apart and put them together to see how they work. They enjoy fixing cars, trucks, and other vehicles. If that describes you, the job of transmission technician might be right for you.

    Vehicles like cars and trucks have complicated systems that run on a machine called the transmission. Without a transmission, the engine would not work and the car would not start. Mechanics who repair transmissions have a very important task. When something goes wrong with the transmission, technicians have to find out what the problem is and try to fix it.

    Learning to repair transmissions takes education and experience. Mechanics in this field should have good computer and math skills, and they might need to be able to communicate well with customers. Being able to raise vehicles on jacks or hoists is necessary to get access to the transmission.

    Most transmission technicians, or mechanics, learn their work through a combination of experience and education. A high school diploma is normally a requirement, and some provinces also have certification for transmission mechanics. Taking classes at a trade school is a good idea, but most people in this career also go through an apprenticeship and get on-the-job training. Big cities have more opportunities for people in this field than small towns, but every place that has a garage for vehicle repairs could use the services of a transmission technician.

    Wages for transmission technicians depend on the location of the job, but they generally range from about $39,500 to $74,400 per year, or about $19.50 to $$36.80 per hour. Working only as a transmission technician is an important but very specific job, and some people might find it hard to get enough work unless they are able to do other kinds of repairs. Still, some big cities have shops that specialize only in transmission repair.

    If you decide to get into this field, you will need to develop your knowledge of vehicle repair but also work on other skills. Being able to take a transmission apart, fix the problem, and put it back together is essential. You also need to know generally how the other parts of a vehicle work so that you know how the transmission affects them. Being able to lift heavy equipment is helpful, and being able to work under a car without feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable is essential. A certain amount of physical strength is good, although people can get help from coworkers or use machines to do some of the heavy lifting.

    One requirement for all mechanics, including transmission technicians is the ability to deal with dirt and grease. Mechanics in this field might spend some time every day in an office, making appointments or writing up bills, but most of the work is with the vehicles. Because cars and trucks use oil to keep the different parts moving, working with them for even a short time can get the hands and even the face very dirty. Also, the temperatures in the garages where technicians work might not be very comfortable.

    Working as a transmission technician or mechanic is not always an easy or comfortable job, but it can be good for people who love problem-solving and working with their hands. If you like the idea, why not explore that possibility?

    Bibliography:

    Career Planner. “Transmission Mechanic.” https://dot-job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/TRANSMISSION-MECHANIC.cfm.

    Ontario College of Trades. “Transmission Technician.” http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/wp-content/uploads/TFS_Transmission_Technician_Oct2015.pdf

    Payscale.com. “Transmission Mechanic: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Transmission_Mechanic/Hourly_Rate

    Study.com. “Transmission Repair Technician Job Information.” https://study.com/articles/Transmission_Repair_Technician_Job_Description_and_Information_for_Those_Interested_in_Repairing_Transmissions.html.