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Category: Campus Life

  • Making Music Happen: A Profile of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

    Making Music Happen: A Profile of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

    Musicians bring songs to life for ears around the world. But they can only do so if their musical instrument is working the way it should. Repairers and tuners of musical instruments make sure pianos, guitars, saxophones, and more work properly and sound great. This can be a wonderful career that lets people meet different music makers in many different locations.

    Repairers must figure out the problems with an instrument that is not working properly, and determine what parts need to be replaced. They must know about all the parts, big and small, that make up an instrument, including strings, bridges, felts, keys, and more. Tuners work on the pitch of the sound that comes out of each instrument. They make sure that the sounds match the music notes they are supposed to play. Repairers and tuners work at shops, or travel to homes, concert halls, and more in order to work on instruments of all sizes.

    Most people in the industry are piano technicians and focus on that instrument and its strings. According to the Government of Alberta, the average salary for the career is $42,713. One may start out making around $17.41 per hour, and work their way up to an hourly wage of around $25.62. Many people work for experienced repairers and tuners or take training programs in order to be qualified for the job. Employers usually look for people who have graduated high school. There are not many training positions with employers compared to the number of people looking for work, so it can be hard to find opportunities. After years of working for an employer, people in the field can eventually do work for major concerts or even work on rebuilding high-quality pianos.

    The duties of repairers and tuners might take place in a shop, factory, school, music store, or someone’s home. Those who work for an employer will have a regular 40-hour work week. Some may choose to be self-employed and go to homes and places with instruments that need fixing; this would mean a different schedule every week. Repairers and tuners get to meet many different people and help talented musicians create music that makes players and audiences happy.

    Repairers and tuners usually focus on one type of instrument, and this can include string, bass, or percussion instruments. They often lift heavy equipment or instruments, and must make sure their hands and ears remain healthy in order to do their job. It is important that they get along with the musicians they help and fellow repairers and tuners, as they are working closely together to get the job done.

    Young children learning music in school, music teachers helping others discover the joys of music, and talented musicians playing for large audiences all depend on their instruments. Musical instrument repairers and tuners help to make sure that pianos, guitars, organs, and more are working and ready to be played by people of all ages. This can be a very challenging and rewarding career, and one that does not take many credentials. Those interested in this field should start studying music and becoming familiar with instruments they want to focus on. Repairers and tuners may not be the ones on stage or in the classroom, but they play a very important role in making music happen.

    Sources:

    Government of Alberta. “Musical Insturment Repair Technician.” https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/musical-instrument-repair-technician/

    Mywage.ca. “Musical instrument makers and tuners.” https://mywage.ca/home/career/canada-job-salary/canada-musical-instrument-makers-and-tuners

  • Career Profile: Web Developer

    Career Profile: Web Developer

    Almost every company, television show or hobby exists online as a web page, forum or content provider, but where do all these online items come from?

    Web developers are the professionals who create, design, maintain and operate websites and other Internet and Intranet-based resources for companies and individuals. They are responsible for building both the front end (user interfaces) and the back end (server interfaces) for web sites and other networked applications.  This means they need to be familiar with many different coding and programming languages, including HTML, Java and JavaScript, CSS, Python, Perl, Ruby and PHP, to name just a few.  Developers will also need to understand how to create, maintain and query databases.

    Web developers need strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, as they will regularly work in teams and deal with clients to create websites and manage projects.  They also need to be detail oriented and have a good attention to detail for testing and debugging code.  Web developers are often either part of a marketing team, or an IT team, depending on their expertise.

    Typically, a web developer will work either in an office for a company, government agency or other organization, or they can work from their home as an independent freelancer.  Web development is especially suitable for freelancing, since much of the work is project-based with a defined beginning and end, and nearly all of the development process can be done digitally and remotely.

    Becoming a web developer doesn’t necessarily require a formal education, though in many cases getting a degree is still be a good idea.  Web development is an accessible career path without the need for a degree because there are many online avenues to learn how to code, provided you are willing to dedicate the time and effort into teaching yourself the necessary skills.  There are lots of free resources to help you learn to code websites, ranging from YouTube video tutorials, to online classes called Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs.

    A college or university degree may still be beneficial, however; especially if you want to eventually advance your career into project management, supervisory or other leadership roles.  Many post-secondary schools offer diplomas and degrees in web development, which will cover the necessary practical skills and coding languages, and also teach you topics such as graphic design, marketing, social media strategy, project management, and database management.

    Most of these college or university programs will take between one and four years to complete, depending on the degree or diploma program, and whether you are enrolled full time or part time.  Many of those degrees can also be done entirely online, so it’s not a requirement for you to live in a town or city that has a college campus.

    Web developers usually start their career with a salary of around $35,000 per year, which breaks down to a bit more than minimum wage, at the hourly scale, for full time employment.  As you gain work experience and seniority, salary can reach up to around $72,000 per year.  The national average salary is about $49,000 to $50,000 per year.  Your salary will also depend on the hours you work, and this can vary significantly depending on the individual job.

    When employed by a company or government office, hours are likely to be regular daytime hours, but there will often be on-call or overtime hours during busy periods and important project deadlines.  Freelance web developers can have more control over their hours, but certain projects may still require long hours, including evenings and weekends, in order to complete them on time.

    To learn more, check out our video HERE.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Web_Designer_%26_Developer/Salary

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

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_developer

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=2175&action=final&ln=n&s=0&source=6#job_opps

  • Career Profile: Biologist

    Biology is a broad field of study that encompasses the study of plants, animals, and people — essentially every living thing in the world.  Because biology covers so much information, there are many paths to follow when you want to work as a biologist, with lots of specialties to suit whatever your area of interest might be.

    If you want to understand how living things work, how they interact with each other, and with their environment, then a career as a biologist could be for you.

    Most biologists specialize in a specific area, such as:

    • Microbiology, the study of microorganisms
    • Ecology, the study of large-scale organisms’ interactions with each other and their environment
    • Zoology, the study of animals
    • Evolutionary biology, the study of evolutionary change in organisms
    • Botany, the study of plants
    • Genetics, the study of plant, animal and human genomes and DNA
    • Biochemistry, the study of the chemical processes of living organisms

    This is only a sample of possible specializations; basically, if something belongs to a living thing, biology has a specialty for it.  There is also a lot of overlap between different specializations in biology, so often biologists will work, study or research across a number of different topics.

    Biologists can work in academic settings as professors or researchers, or work for companies and government agencies. They can teach at all levels of education, from high school to colleges or universities, teaching biology and other sciences.  Biologists commonly work in labs performing research and creating experiments to test theories.  They will also write grant proposals to apply for project funding.

    Some biology careers involve travel and field research to study plants and animals in their natural habitat, which can take you all over the world.

    The hours a biologist works will vary depending on the type of biology career they are pursuing.  Teachers will have regular schedules tied to the school year and class times, which will mostly be during the day.  Researchers’ hours will vary depending on whether they are on a project or out on field research, which can involve long hours on location with no set schedule, including working on nights and weekends.

    Average salaries start around $40,000 to $45,000, and will also vary depending on your career choice between teaching or researching.  Wages for biologists in Canada start around $17 to $25 per hour, and can reach an average of $50 to $65 per hour for experienced workers or highly funded research projects.

    Biologists need to study the sciences and math throughout their schooling, starting during high school, and there are biology careers available at every level of education.  College graduates in biology can work as teachers, or as technicians or assistants in labs and on field assignments.  University graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree can work as academic researchers, professors, researchers, consultants and advisors on policy or large projects for companies or the government.

    To learn more, check out our video HERE.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=2121&ln=n&s=3#report_tabs_container2

    https://www.academicinvest.com/science-careers/biology-careers

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biologist

    https://professionalbiology.com/about-apb/

  • How You Can Have an Out-Of-This-World Career as an Astronomer

    There are marvels in our universe extending far past than what we can see on earth, and there’s a dedicated team of people working to crack its secrets. On this team is a very important member of the science community called the astronomer – a person who studies the cosmos and the science behind stars and the universe. An astronomer needs a strong background in math and physics to be able to calculate the characteristics and movements behind different bodies moving in space including planets, moons, satellites, stars, and other unknown entities.

    Astronomy is largely a standard full-time job with a significant amount of the work happening at night when more of the celestial bodies are more visible. You can expect to work in a team environment on a project that analyzes data, strings together hypotheses, and uses data collected early in the experiment to propose other research topics. To acquire this job, you must attend 5 to 7 years of schooling and earn a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics, as well as having some experience in a post-doctoral research program, which can typically last from 2 to 3 years. Students who succeed in graduating from this strenuous schooling will find a highly rewarding career that will provide stability for the rest of the student’s life. 

    What are the perks of the job?

    If you have a passion for math and science, the perks write themselves out. Other benefits that come with this job is its particularly high median annual salary: a whopping $104,100 as reported in 2015 by according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you enter into the astronomy profession, you enter into a job that is always interesting, always fulfilling, and also allows you to do some traveling as you present your findings to international conferences.

    What are some of the setbacks?

    Some of the setbacks to this career can include the difficult it is to get into. Research institutes want the best astronomers on their team and with a projected growth rate of 3% between 2014-2044, it can be a highly competitive field. As well, it requires many years of very expensive schooling, in-state costs in the U.S. can range from $16,575 to $68,230 while out-of-state can range from $27,735 to $68,230.

    How can I grow with this career?

    Being an astronomer is a highly celebrated profession and allows you to gain international recognition. You could also win a Nobel Prize for your findings if you excel in your work! There are also other fields you would have the skills for within the scientific community or inspire the next generation of scientific minds with a career in teaching the subject at colleges or universities. Many astronomers also write non-fiction books to present their findings or engage with the literary community as another way to self-promote and earn extra passive income.

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

    Being an astronomer will open up other doors in the scientific community that require a similar set of skills: analysis, mathematics, sciences, etc. As well, you will be qualified for a teaching job in this field after a few extra years in teacher’s college should you choose to work for colleges and universities.

    Reference:

    CollegeCalc: “Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other”

    http://www.collegecalc.org/majors/astronomy-and-astrophysics-other/

    Study.com: “Astronomer: Job Info & Career Requirements”

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

  • Career Profile: Aerospace Engineer

    Career Profile: Aerospace Engineer

    The aerospace engineer is an engineer that specializes in aircraft and other air-based mechanic parts. This includes developing propulsion or control systems for different forms of aircraft like fighter jets and commercial airliners, running maintenance and repairs on existing engines, and designing and developing missiles and other airborne weapons. These engineers have a strong knowledge of aerodynamics, mechanics, robotics, thermodynamics, military and commercial aircrafts and systems, etc. To prepare to embark on this career, students will have to earn a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering up to a master’s degree in the same field.

    What are the perks of the job?

    For students who enjoy taking apart machines, finding out how they work, and putting them back together, this career already has its fair share of perks. Other perks include a hefty annual median income of $110,570 as of 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau or Labor Statistics (BLS). However, it is important to consider that novice engineers or technicians who pursue a lower standard job in the same career will earn significantly less. Another benefit, especially for those who are passionate about the field of aircraft and aerodynamics, is that as an engineer creating designs that will be used in real life, you can ensure that you work will be making a difference in the world. Finally, if you know math and science like the back of your hand, the career has been expected to soar in the next few years, raising 6% between 2016 and 2026 since new aircraft development is looking to create a less pollution-creating model, according to the BLS.

    What are some of the setbacks?

    A few of the setbacks include the fact that it is a special-interest kind of career, which means that if you do not have an aptitude for math and science, this job will not come naturally to you. Some other setbacks could be having to relocate around the country to an airfield, major airport or military base that focuses on aircraft development. In testing jet engines and aircraft, the engineer could potentially be put in harms’ way or be exposed to dangerous chemicals on the job. While such instances tend to be rare, there is an element of a risk factor there.

    How can I grow with this career?

    Many engineers get into positions as flight or aircraft technicians who perform regular maintenance and repairs on aircraft models. Engineers can grow in this profession by excelling and becoming aerospace designers who create blueprints to military craft and commercial designs and are expected to earn more as an annual salary.

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

    If trained in other forms of engineering, it’s likely that an aerospace engineer could cross platforms and pursue other forms of engineering (for example, nautical engineering). However, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch, you only have a leg up because of the similar set of fundamental skills required for both jobs. If you were an aerospace engineer looking to change specializations or careers, you would still need an extra amount of schooling and on-the-job training to be able to pursue the vocation of your choice.

    Reference:

    Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Aerospace Engineers”

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

    Chron: “Pros & Cons of Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technicians”

    http://work.chron.com/pros-cons-aerospace-engineering-operations-technicians-28075.html

    Study.com: “Aerospace Engineer: Job Description, Duties and Outlook”

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

  • Exploring Your Options in Post-Secondary Online Courses and Programs

    Exploring Your Options in Post-Secondary Online Courses and Programs

    With the ever-growing list of companies and organizations becoming more and more reliant on technology-based solutions, it’s only expected that educational institutions follow suit and embrace the benefits of digital learning methods.

    In fact, a survey done by Global Affairs Canada revealed that a whopping 93% of Canadian institutions already offer online and distance learning, of which 68% are undergraduate. Majority of Canadian schools adopting technology to provide education have afforded them of increased enrollment without additional infrastructure costs. On the other hand, post-secondary students who choose online courses and programs enjoy the advantages of learning at their own time and pace, which is truly a blessing if they are working full-time or have family commitments to attend to.

    However, not all courses or programs are available online, as some of them do require practical or hands-on learning more than anything else. Still, there is a wide array of choices, and it can be quite difficult to decide on those which students can enjoy while at the same time provide them benefits in the long run at the most minimal costs possible.

    A good source to help them pin down which path to best choose when it comes to online courses and programs is to look at the demands in Canadian work force in a few years’ time. Workopolis.com has a list of the jobs in high demand in Canada. Here is a brief glimpse at those careers and the options for the institutions offering them without students having to leave their homes.

    Nursing

    Registered nurses can earn an annual salary of $44,686 up to $86,110 a year, and they are entrusted to deliver holistic and patient-centric care across hospital, clinic, and home environments. They are expected to be well-versed in nursing best practices and have familiarity with public health issues. Apart from knowledge and practical experience, registered nurses must also be attentive and possess an interpersonal approach to build relationships with their respective patients.

    Some well-known institutions that offer online nursing programs are Athabasca University in Alberta and University of Ottawa, Algonquin College, and Ryerson University in Ontario.

    Pharmacy

    Pharmacists can earn a median salary of $45,000 and up. They are professionals with keen interest in managing distribution or development of drugs. They should also possess strong analytical skills and detail orientation to provide patients with sufficient information and guide about the administration of drugs.

    Enrolling in a pharmacy program or course can very well pay off in the end as it is one of the most potential to gainful and stable employment in the country. However, studying pharmacy will set students back an average of $10,279 per academic year. Online pharmacy courses or programs are offered at Athabasca University in Alberta as well.

    Sales

    Sales associates can earn an annual salary of $21,253 up to $45,189. These professionals are equipped with arsenal of strengths in business development, account management, and relationship building. They should have a talent to align product or service offerings to client needs and leverage expert sales skills to achieve their target.

    Online sales-focused curriculum is offered in Centennial College, Seneca College, and Algonquin College in Ontario and at Athabasca University in Alberta as well.

    Administration

    Administration professionals can earn an annual salary of $27,428 up to $50,579. They are usually the go-to persons in an organization as they provide the support needed to ensure the smooth flow of operations across various office environments. They should be well-knowledgeable in administration process from file management, report writing, client relations, and budget administration.

    Administration courses and programs are offered in Algonquin College in Ontario and Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia.

    Retail and Merchandising

    Front store supervisors can earn an annual salary of $23,755 up to $47,581 while merchandisers can earn $22,943 up to $40,297. Front store supervisors are responsible for panning and coordinating day-today operations in sales, customer service, visual merchandising, and inventory management. Apart from that, they should also be experts in retail buying/purchasing. On the other hand, merchandisers should have expert knowledge in product inventory, product placement, and product promotions and should be able to manage operating standard guidelines according to image and trends in store.

    Retail and Merchandising-related programs and courses are offered in Capilano University in British Columbia and Ryerson University in Ontario.

    SOURCES:

    https://contactnorth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/external-presentations/an_overview_of_online_learning_in_canada.pdf

    https://www.tonybates.ca/2016/03/23/a-national-survey-of-university-online-and-distance-learning-in-canada/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/3721173/tuition-fees-canada-2017-2018/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/3755628/canadian-student-loans-regrets/

    https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-12-most-in-demand-jobs-in-canada-and-what-they-pay/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/1496842/what-to-study-today-for-the-jobs-of-tomorrow/

  • Career Profile: Social Housing and Property Management

    Career Profile: Social Housing and Property Management

    Everyone needs a place to live, and people who work in social housing and property management can help them find a home. Working in this area can involve various tasks and require different skills, but they all help to deal with one of the most basic human needs: affordable shelter.

    People live in all kinds of homes, including houses, apartments, houses, and condominiums. Some of these homes can be very expensive, but social housing homes are designed for people with very little money to spend on rent. Managers who work in social housing help to make sure that people with low-income have a chance to live in a good home.

    For this kind of job, people usually get a university degree in an area like social work or even history or psychology. Having a background in business management can also be useful in property management, although educational requirements vary. Salaries for people working in social housing can also vary a lot. Some organizations pay about $40,000 or less per year for managing social housing, but others pay close to $100,000. However, working with social service organizations usually means having a fairly low salary. A lot of organizations that provide help to those who need housing are non-profit.

    Property management outside the social housing field often has a similar range of salaries. Generally, the wages are between about $32,000 and about $76,000 per year, but it depends on where the job is located and the company. Another factor that affects people’s pay is commission. Property managers often receive a percentage of the profits from the buildings they care for. A very successful property manager could earn large amounts in commission, but it depends on many factors, such as the state of the economy and housing market.

    Many jobs in social housing are connected to an organization or a government, but a large number of property managers outside this field work on their own. This can allow them a lot of freedom to decide on their own hours and working conditions, but it also means that they have to deal with all of the problems themselves. Whether they deal with single-family homes or apartment blocks, they need to know how to solve a variety of issues.

    Housing seems like it should be a simple thing to manage, but it can raise many questions, whether in social housing or the regular market. With apartment blocks, for example, there could be major repairs or complaints about the cleanliness of the building. Tenants might complain when their rent goes up, and they might ask for additional parking spaces or better air conditioning or many other things. Although most buildings also have a caretaker or resident manager to take care of these needs, the property manager might also need to deal with people’s complaints.

    One of the main requirements for people working in any kind of property management is the ability to solve problems. The issues might be leaky water pipes, tenants who refuse to pay their rent, or decaying apartment blocks. Working in social housing or other branches of property management might not be able to depend on regular hours or a quiet job, but it can be a rewarding career.

    Bibliography:

    Indeed.com. “Social Housing Jobs.” https://ca.indeed.com/Social-Housing-jobs

    Learningpath.org.  “A Property Management Career: Pros and Cons.” http://learningpath.org/articles/Property_Manager_Career_Overview.html

    Payscale Canada. “Property Manager Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Property_Manager/Salary.

    Toronto Community Housing. “Why Work Here.” https://www.torontohousing.ca/careers/Pages/Why-work-here.aspx.

     

  • 4 Smart Steps to Improve Your Sources for Research

    4 Smart Steps to Improve Your Sources for Research

    We all know that almost all information is at our fingertips. Did you get lost on your way to the local coffeeshop to meet up with your study group? Not to worry, just reach for your smartphone and check Google Maps. Did you forget what time the movie you want to watch with your best friend starts? No big deal, simply grab your mobile device and check for the screen times. We’ve all been dependent on online solutions in our day-to-day life that we’ve probably adopted that thinking, “If it’s online, it must be true.”

    Well, hold on to that thought because that is certainly a myth. We should be smarter in verifying our sources when there is more at stake like when we are doing our research paper or completing our school requirements. You don’t want to appear like a fool in front of your classmates or teachers/instructors. So how exactly do you distinguish credible sources from dubious ones? Here are 4 easy steps:

    Create an outline of what you need to research for.

    Before going online to do research, have an outline ready on what you feel is necessary to complete your paper or thesis. Understand why you are seeking the information and assess whether you need facts, opinions, interpretations, or statistics. Are you aiming to corroborate or dispute a theory or idea? Or are you targeting to have your own opinion on a theory or idea? Knowing these things beforehand will help you choose the right path to do your research.

    Choose your sources carefully.

    Wikipedia might be a good site to go to when you’re short of celebrity trivia, however, it’s certainly not the place to go to when you want to know the recent effects of global climate in Asia or the recent health food trends in North America. In these cases, it’s always smart to rely on websites that are both familiar to you and are highly respectable such as Globe and Mail, the New York Times, or Washington Post and academic journals. Be careful though because some fake websites assume the look of trusted websites by a difference of a few letters in spelling in their domain name or try to appear legitimate.

    Check for the information in as many reliable websites as you can.

    There used to be a time when respected websites like CNN feature stories that are factual and verified 100% of the time. Well, times are a-changing. What used to be credible before may not be credible now, so it’s best to check for the information you’re looking for in as many respected websites as you can. Think of it as something similar to channel surfing when you want to find something interesting to watch. If you find a common thread among the sources you read, then chances are, you are on the safe side.

    Dig deep into the author’s credentials.

    Majority of the time, articles indicate the writer or author or a news agency like the Canadian Press or Reuters. When you don’t see either of these, it might very well be a red flag. If you do see a writer or author that you’re not familiar with, it’s best to find out what you can about the individual. Check if the qualifications are specified, links to information about title or position, contact information such as email address or social networking identities, and affiliations with reputable institutions or organizations. You can also check if the author or writer has published other articles. If so, you are in the clear, and if not, better look for information somewhere else.

    While it is true that classifying sources as credible and reliable takes time and effort, it will be worthwhile on your part once you hand in your paper. You’ve made sure what you’ve gathered from the Internet is factual and correct and from a trustworthy source of information too so you will know your grade will be in good hands.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.library.georgetown.edu/tutorials/research-guides/evaluating-internet-content

    https://www.whoishostingthis.com/resources/credible-sources/

    http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/research-using-internet/

    http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/advice-for-students-10-steps-toward-better-research.html

    https://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

    http://library.buffalo.edu/help/research-tips/evaluate/

  • Career Profile: Network Technician

    Career Profile: Network Technician

    Nearly everything has a computer in it these days, from homes to businesses, and with the growing Internet of Things connecting devices to each other, the design and maintenance of computer networks is more important than ever.

    Computer network technicians are professionals who set up, operate, and maintain both local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) that allow computers and other electronic devices to communicate with one another.  They are also knowledgeable about the hardware and software used to run a network, and the tools and equipment used to complete the work.

    Network technicians know how to set up and maintain Internet and intranet websites, monitor and optimize network traffic, and troubleshoot problems with networks and computer devices.  They can also be familiar with how to assess a computer network for security, determine what security solutions should be put in place, and installing software and hardware to protect networks from cyberattacks.

    To work as a network technician, you will need a college degree from a computer related program such as computer science, network administration, or web technology.  There are also software-specific and vendor-specific training programs that may be required, such as learning certain computer programming languages, pursuing certification in software such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX or Linux, or taking independent networking courses such as the Cisco Networking Academy.

    Apprenticeships aren’t common for network technicians, though on occasion you may come across the opportunity for one.  It is more likely that you will have a co-op opportunity through your college program to get some work experience alongside your schooling.  Finding a senior employee willing to act as your mentor when you first enter the workforce can be very helpful in ensuring you learn the job and gain all the knowledge you need.

    Most network technicians work for individual companies as part of their IT support department, or as part of a technical support company that serves multiple businesses.  Network technicians can also work for telecommunications companies and help set up and maintain network technology for customers.

    Wages for network technicians range from an average of $18 per hour for a beginner, up to around $60 per hour for an experienced technician. This means network technicians earn a yearly salary of approximately $30,000 to $70,000, depending on experience and the province in which they work.

    The hours a network technician works can vary depending on the position and company.  If you work for a business and perform network support services on-site, you will likely work the same regular business hours as other employees, such as daily from 8am to 5pm.  However, if you work for an IT support services company that offers remote assistance, you may be responsible for actioning support requests late at night, on weekends, and holidays, depending on the job requirements.

    Sources:

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

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/search_occupation-eng.do?area=9219&lang=eng&noc=2281&action=Search&ln=n&regionKeyword=Toronto%2C+ON&s=1&source=0&titleKeyword=computer+network+technician#report_tabs_container2

    https://appliedtechnology.humber.ca/programs/computer-and-network-support-technician.html

  • If I Knew Then: Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School’s Class of 1963

    If I Knew Then: Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School’s Class of 1963

    Each month, JobsPeopleDo will be featuring a special quote from a graduate of the Harvard Business School Class of 1963. The following quotes are insightful and can be used to inspire and encourage the right career path for you…

    “No surprise: Succeeding in business is the polar opposite of winning the lottery (pure luck, no effort). Blood, sweat, tears early on and consistently throughout. Become very knowledgeable about your product, service, or industry, and cultivate lasting relationships with people. Be completely honest in all dealings — even if it’s painful.”

    ~ Carol Nicholson Fryeberger ~

    “While still a teenager, make a list of all the things you like doing, and those you don’t like. Then find a job or study that maximizes the activities you like and minimizes the others. A happy and fulfilling job should feel like indulging in a hobby. Success is a result of true enjoyment and effort.”

    ~ Eyk Van Otterloo

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