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Author: CareersInTrades.ca

  • Choosing A Trade

    Choosing A Trade

    With more than 200 trades across Canada to choose from, finding the right one can seem challenging. Here are some tips to help you identify what would be a perfect career choice for you.

    Consider a wide range of trades

    Do you like working in the garden, or fixing your car? Do you enjoy home maintenance projects or styling hair? Get familiar with the many trade choices first, and think about what work you like to accomplish.

    Narrow your choices down to 5 or fewer trades

    Keep it manageable by narrowing down your choices. Get as familiar as you can with the work, to see if you’d like it.

    Observe a trade or participate in a youth apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program

    Some school boards offer Observe a Trade days, which will give you the opportunity to see what’s involved in your favourite trades. For something more comprehensive, you can also participate in a pre-apprenticeship program, which gives you practical, on-the-job training with hours that are often transferable to your full apprenticeship.

    Talk to people who work in the trade

    See if you can get in touch with a journeyperson who works in the trade you’ve targeted, to see what advice they can give you. This is a great way to learn some tips from those who have already been there.

  • You Are Your Best Cheerleader

    You Are Your Best Cheerleader

    Being your own cheerleader is probably the most important thing you can do as you face new and repeated challenges. If you are entering secondary school for the first time, you are undoubtedly going to be faced with challenges and meet many new people. Due to diversity of opinions, and the fact that all people are different and see things differently, there is always risk of being hurt by others, or of questioning your own intentions or your own self-worth. If you are on your side, and you are your own cheerleader, you put yourself ahead of the game in terms of ensuring that you will not lose self-esteem because of other people’s misunderstandings. When you are well aware that what you are doing is the best that you can do, and you are happy within yourself about this, you are being your own cheerleader. When you know that you are taking actions and trying to do what is right for you, and you acknowledge this by demonstrating positive qualities like good self-esteem and confidence, you are being your own cheerleader.

    Although other people can tell you that you are doing a great job, no one can ever really replace you in terms of being the keystone to your confidence. If you rely on other people telling you that you are doing a good job, you may be fooling yourself as to your genuine happiness. Being your own cheerleader really means knowing yourself,  doing what is best for you and rewarding yourself for your positive thoughts, actions and behaviors. When you are on your own side, you are less reliant on other people to tell you of your worth.

    Everyone needs a social network and to feel loved and appreciated by their peers; this is necessary for good self-esteem. However, loving yourself is the most important thing. If you are always dependent on other people to tell you of your worth, you are not being your own cheerleader. By being dependent on yourself to know your worth and to know your own strengths and weaknesses, you are freeing yourself from the imprisoning perspective of others who do not know you as well as you know yourself.

    When you can pick yourself back up after you fall, you are demonstrating that you love and respect yourself and want what is best for you. When you are being your own cheerleader, you are being your best friend – and this is your key to success.

  • Aboriginal Students: Scholarships and Bursaries

    Aboriginal Students: Scholarships and Bursaries

    Bursaries and Scholarships
    The Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada is dedicated to helping Aboriginals reach the highest standard of excellence in finance and management. AFOA’s initiatives in the development of Awards and Scholarships are examples of that commitment.

    See link below for scholarships and bursaries.
    http://www.metisnation.org/programs/education–training/education/bursaries–scholarships

  • How to Choose Your Classes

    How to Choose Your Classes

    You’ve gone to university fairs, read the websites, explored your options, submitted your applications and have finally chosen your new university or college. That’s the hard part. Now you just have to choose your first year classes and you will be ready to go. For many this is the fun part, though you should give serious consideration to your course selection as it may shape the next few years of your post-secondary education. You don’t want to find yourself forced into summer school or an extra year of your undergrad just because you are missing those few extra prerequisites. Sometimes it is easy – you may know exactly what you want to do or have selected a program that has your classes laid out for you. Regardless, don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous.

    You want to cover your bases, that’s a given, but this is also your opportunity to explore alternative subjects, different ideas and new concepts. If you have an idea of what subject you want to pursue, maybe try some to help compliment that. Want to study English? Try taking a Sociology or Art History class as well. It’s always good to test the waters. First-year courses are often (though not always) designed to give students a taste of what could be in store for them if they decide to pursue that subject further. Or, if you are still set on studying English, then these classes may give you a unique perspective or could turn into an interesting minor that makes your degree distinct and stand out from the pack.

    You never know, you could surprise yourself and end up going a completely different route then you would ever have imagined. Just remember to think ahead. There is
    nothing worse than seeing that history class on the course list that so speaks to your own personal interests and would compliment your degree so well only to find out that
    you don’t have the necessary prerequisite. At the end of the day, it’s your degree and your choice. There are an infinite array of course, degree and specialization combinations out there that can reflect your individual interests and aspirations and you should make decisions that reflect that. Just remember to cover your bases and don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous – your post-secondary education can surprise you.

  • Get Your Volunteer Hours!

    Get Your Volunteer Hours!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Grants and Financial Support for the Trades

    Grants and Financial Support for the Trades

    There are several grants and other supports available from the federal government, although additional ones provided by the province/territory vary from one jurisdiction to the next. Federal supports are available to apprentices, journeypersons and employers.

    The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a taxable grant of $1,000 per year or level, up to a maximum amount of $2,000 per apprentice. It is available to registered apprentices once they have successfully completed their first and second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in one of the Red Seal trades.

    The Apprenticeship Completion Grant is a taxable grant of $2,000 for registered apprentices who complete their apprenticeship training and obtain their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.

    Apprentices are also eligible to apply for the Tradesperson’s Tool Deduction. The Tradesperson’s Tools Deduction provides employed tradespersons with an annual deduction of up to $500 to help cover the cost of new tools necessary to their trade.

    The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit is available for employers who hire apprentices. The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit available to employers, equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices in respect of employment after May 1, 2006. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year for each eligible apprentice.

  • What is a PhD?

    What is a PhD?

    When you meet people who are called “doctor,” you expect them to be able to help cure illnesses and fix broken bones. Sometimes, however, doctors can be researchers, fundraisers or consultants. These people are not medical doctors but instead have doctorates (PhDs) in a field such as literature, philosophy, chemistry or business.

    In many cases, a PhD or doctorate is the highest level of education that people can get. Students start by studying for three or four years to get a Bachelor’s degree. If they want to go on to further education, they take another year or two to get a Master’s degree. Usually, this degree involves writing a long paper called a thesis. Many people stop their studies at this point, but sometimes they continue on to get a doctorate or PhD.

    Basically, the two degrees are the same. Both of them require the student to take classes and to do research on a subject that they choose. When they finish their research they write a long essay called a dissertation. Usually, dissertations for PhD degrees tend to focus on theory but dissertations for doctorates tend to be more practical. A PhD dissertation, for example, might be about the theory of how languages are related to each other. A doctoral dissertation might be about how the theories of language relate to teaching English to speakers of other languages.

    When do people need to get a PhD or doctorate? It depends on where they are working and what they want to do with their careers. Because of the theoretical focus of most PhD programs, the connection with specific jobs is not always clear. However, many PhD graduates can find work in research or teaching. In many universities, professors are required to have PhDs or doctorates in order to get a job. A PhD is also very useful for researchers since it helps them develop the skills they need to do their work and to record and write about the results.

    Before you decide to get a PhD or a doctorate, you need to decide if the degree is right for you. Are you ready for years of studying after high school? For many people, getting Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees takes ten years or more. University courses can be expensive, and all of those years of study can leave people in debt. Job opportunities can also be limited, especially in university teaching positions. However, options are also open in many other fields. Graduates of PhD and doctoral programs work in government departments, business, finance, community development, education and technology.

     

  • La valeur du bénévolat

    Le mot bénévolat est presque devenu un mot vilain dans certains milieux, et il n’est pas difficile de comprendre pourquoi: lorsque  vous êtes à la recherche d’un emploi, travailler en tant que travailleur libre peut sembler contre-productif au début. En dépit de cela, les statistiques montrent qu’à chaque année près de 12 millions de Canadiens participent à des activités bénévoles—soit près de la moitié de la population. Regardons de plus près les avantages que vous pouvez retirer lorsque vous décidez de faire du bénévolat.

    D’abord et avant tout, le bénévolat est une excellente occasion pour apprendre à mieux se connaître et ce que vous aimez faire. Peu importe quels que soient vos intérêts, il est fort probable qu’il existe une opportunité de bénévolat qui vous intéressera. Est-ce que vous aimez les animaux? Faites du bénévolat au refuge pour animaux de votre région. Avez-vous une passion pour les arts? Faites du bénévolat à un festival de musique. Pensez-vous vouloir devenir médecin? Faites du bénévolat à un hôpital. Vous pourriez adorer ça et décider de poursuivre une carrière dans ce domaine, ou vous pourriez découvrir qu’un certain type d’emploi n’est tout simplement pas pour vous. Quoi qu’il en soit, vous allez acquérir de la conscience de soi et apprendre sur vous-même, ce qui est très précieux. Le bénévolat est l’outil idéal pour explorer vos intérêts et expérimenter avec différents domaines de travail.

    Non seulement le bénévolat peut vous offrir la chance de vous adonner à vos loisirs et de découvrir votre passion, ça paraît très bien sur un CV aussi. Que vous passiez une année à le faire ou seulement une fin de semaine, avoir de l’expérience en tant que bénévole indique aux employeurs que vous êtes le genre de personne qui a divers intérêts, prend de l’initiative et qui n’a pas peur d’essayer de nouvelles choses. Compte tenu du nombre de CV la plupart des employeurs passent à travers, c’est toujours utile d’avoir quelque chose qui vous différencie des autres.

    Un autre domaine dans lequel le bénévolat peut être d’une valeur inestimable est dans le monde du réseautage. Si vous avez des difficultés à trouver un emploi dans un domaine particulier, le bénévolat est une bonne façon de percer dans une industrie et de faire connaître son nom. Les connaissances que vous allez faire à travers le bénévolat pourraient vous servir de références à l’avenir, ou ils pourraient être en mesure de partager des secrets du marché avec vous ou même de vous avertir sur des possibilités d’emploi qui ne sont pas nécessairement accessibles au public. La plupart des organisations sont très reconnaissants pour le travail que font les bénévoles et elles sont plus disposées de vous aider si elles le peuvent. Alors m’ayez pas peur de demander de l’aide.

    La dernière raison pourquoi vous devriez essayer le bénévolat est la plus simple: ça fait du bien de redonner à la communauté. Les bénévoles sont l’âme d’un grand nombre d’organismes de charité; sans eux, le bon travail que font ces organismes ne serait jamais possible. Gardez en tête que le bénévolat est une expérience plus riche quand il s’agit de quelque chose que vous trouvez personnellement significative. Heureusement, étant donné la myriade de possibilités de faire du bénévolat qui existent, en trouver une qui correspond à votre passion (et qui convient à votre horaire) ne devrait pas être trop difficile.

    Cet article a touché à quelques-uns des principaux avantages du bénévolat, mais ne vous contentez pas de nous croire sur parole. Passez à l’action et découvrez la valeur du bénévolat pour vous-même!

  • The Value of Volunteering

    The Value of Volunteering

    Volunteering has almost become a dirty word in some circles, and it’s not hard to see why: when you’re looking for a job, giving away your labour for free can seem counter-productive at first. In spite of this, statistics show that some 12 million Canadians take part in volunteer activities each year—that’s nearly half the population . Let’s take a closer look at what you gain when you decide to volunteer.

    First and foremost, volunteering is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and what you enjoy doing. No matter where your interests lie, chances are there is a volunteer opportunity out there for you. Do you love animals? Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Are you passionate about the arts? Volunteer at a music festival. Think you might want to become a doctor? Volunteer at a hospital. You might love it and decide you want to pursue a career in that field—or you might discover that a particular job just isn’t for you.  Either way, you’re gaining valuable self-learning and awareness. Volunteering is the ultimate tool for exploring your interests and experimenting with different kinds of work.

    Not only can volunteering give you a chance to indulge your hobbies and find your passion, it looks great on a resume. Whether you spend a year doing it or just a weekend, volunteer experience can signal to employers that you’re the kind of person who has varied interests, takes initiative and isn’t afraid to try new thing. Given the number of resumes most employers go through, it never hurts to have something that sets you apart from the crowd.

    Another area where volunteering can be invaluable is networking. If you’re having a hard time finding work in a particular field, volunteering is a great way to break into the industry and get your name known. The contacts you meet through volunteering could serve you as references in the future, or they might be able to let you in on trade secrets or even job opportunities that aren’t available to the general public. Most organizations are extremely grateful for the work volunteers do and are more than willing to help you out if they can, so don’t be afraid to ask.

    The final reason to try out volunteering is the simplest: it feels good to give back. Volunteers are the lifeblood of many charitable organizations; without them, the good work these places do would never be possible. Keep in mind that volunteering is best experienced when it’s something that you find personally meaningful. Luckily, given the wealth of volunteer opportunities out there, finding one that matches your passion (and fits your schedule) shouldn’t be too difficult.

    This article has covered a few of the main benefits of volunteering, but don’t take our word for it. Get out there and discover the value of volunteering for yourself!

  • School vs. Life

    School vs. Life

    When you  make the move to junior high and high school, everyone seems to think that there is no way to balance both having a social life and excelling in you academics. However, there is always a way – as long as there is a will!

    The way I see it, you need to earn your breaks, vacations and time off; That is what used to drive me to finish up my last essays and my final projects. I would look at the calendar and mutter to myself, “It’s almost March Break – I got to work hard now so that I can fully enjoy my time off school”. Then I would put all of my effort into my work until the very last class and forget about (almost) everything! Essentially, you want to be able to relax during your breaks and long weekends, so you just have to think of this as a “crunch time”.  Even now, in university, I do this to myself – I work and study hard and once I finish the exam, I shop! Sounds odd to some people, but I call it a “Celebratory Spree Day”, the day when I get to relax after pushing myself to study so hard for my exam period.

    One can also practice time management by planning when you will study and setting aside a few hours for fun with friends, too. For example, give yourself some hours to hang out with your friends before heading home to finish assignments and study.  It’s possible to have great academic standing and a social life, you just need to have the determination and the planning.

    Always remember to enjoy life!