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Category: Jobs and Apprenticeships

  • Learn a Trade Skill (Whether You Use It or Not)

    Intellectual pursuits are all the craze. Even well-intentioned teachers and professors will put exorbitant weight on language, math, and science. In a world of growing automation and technology, hands-on work has a tendency to be neglected. However, learning a trade skill, regardless of your ultimate career path, is something to strongly consider.

    We rely more and more on technology that we understand less and less. From the many components to the cars we drive, to the mysterious inner-workings of the phones we use for virtually everything, we are more and more dependent on items that could malfunction at any time. What then? What happens when your car breaks down halfway to class? Or when something goes wrong in your home at the worst possible time?

    Trades can make you quite popular in times of need. Your know-how can help put people at ease before a licenced electrician or mechanic is on the scene. Learning a trade skill is more than just a popularity contest, though. The education can give you a greater appreciation for the world around us that operates under the hood.

    Electricians hop from house to house, building to building, to ensure the electricity is doing as it should. While you sleep, an emergency call at 3:00 a.m. will be attended to and the issue resolved before you even wake up. This is the result of years of practice, apprenticeships, and dedication to a trade. This is the side of society that keeps things running – the very things some people will praise as more important.

    Learning a trade skill through a course or short program lets you see this other side in full force. It does not have to be a full-time pursuit. It could be a night course on car mechanics, or perhaps a weekend carpentry class. You may never earn a dollar from it. Then again, you could save a dollar or two when you are able to make or fix something all on your own.

    In an economy shifting towards short-term work, juggling multiple jobs, and entrepreneurial efforts, diversifying your skillset is abundantly useful. The stability of long-term jobs until retirement may be a thing of the past, but this change paves the way for more adventurous and less predictable career paths. Your trades skill could become a crucial part-time job, or even be incorporated into the larger plans of your own business as an entrepreneur.  Someone in theatre could build parts of their own set, while someone else with their own store can fix little problems without having to call for help.

    The simplistic and flat-out incorrect notion that the trades are a second resort for those who could not get into university is quickly fading. Trades skills are gaining the respect they have thoroughly deserved. Now is the perfect time to check out classes and courses in your area to try your hand at a skill. It could be for a career, as an additional talent for use down the road, for simple enjoyment, or to gain appreciation for the oft-neglected work that goes into making our society function.

    Sources:

    Clarkson, Natalie and Daniel Orton. “Want a good career? Become a plumber, electrician, or learn any other trade.” GoThinkBig. https://gothinkbig.co.uk/

    Geremia, Anthony. “The Value of Skilled Trades.” Centennial College. http://www.centennialcollege.ca/centennial-college-blog/2014/october/22/the-value-of-skilled-trades/

  • Killing the Stigma of the Trades

    Killing the Stigma of the Trades

    There is an unfortunate stigma surrounding the trades and it’s been present for several years now. Branded as a career path meant for those who failed to do well in school, many students diverge from trades jobs in order to find a career deemed more rewarding or “professional.”

    Despite the negativity surrounding the trades, there are plenty of available jobs that not only come with a hefty paycheque but also the reward of knowing that you’ve contributed to the construction of a building, ensured the quality and delivery of everyday products and building the furniture that shows up in everyone’s homes.

    The stigma associated with the trades lives around the rumour that people don’t need to be educated or experienced for these careers. But, the reality of the situation is that these jobs require degrees, hands-on experiences, and a dedication to the work in order to be successful. Being a hands-on worker doesn’t make a worker any less experienced than someone who entered into the workforce as a teacher or a business executive. A lot of trades positions require physical work, which may not speak to everyone but at the very least squashes the theory that trades workers don’t earn their money.

    Don’t believe me? In 2014, Trent Soholt, executive director of the NSCSC told Maclean that he was trying to encourage high school and elementary students to get more involved with the trades. He gave some background information into what you learn as an apprentice, “Students can test electrical circuits, lay a brick wall, cut and fit pipes, use a welding simulator, mix and finish concrete and draft plans in a trailer made to look like one that might be on a real job site.” He added that many students leave his institution with a feeling of surprise at the fact that so much education and dedication went into trades careers.

    For example, you need quite a bit of education. First, you’ll need to complete your GED. Once you earn your high school diploma, you need to complete an electrician apprenticeship, which takes about five years. 9,000 hours are required before you complete your apprenticeship and those involved are usually paid around $15-20/hr. You also need a good understanding of math and mechanical abilities. You also need to understand how to read technical drawings and building plans.

    Women are also becoming more involved in the trades thereby welcoming in more students and allowing for the stigma around trades to finally dispel given that it’s no longer a boy’s club. Due to a lack of skilled tradespeople (retirement and competition are usually to blame), the trades industry is going through a bit of a recession. But by opening the door for women to get involved, the industry is pitching trades as a first choice for young women.

    It doesn’t take much to look into the trades careers and understand just how much dedication and education is required in order to make a difference.

     

    Sources:

    Best Accredited Colleges. “Electrician: Education Requirements and Career Profile.” https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/electrician-educational-requirements-and-career-profile.html

    Bouw, Brenda. “I want to be an electrician. What will my salary be?” The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/i-want-to-be-an-electrician-what-will-my-salary-be/article20640423/

    Buck, Genna. “The tricks-and the stigma-of the trades.” Macleans. http://www.macleans.ca/education/college/jobs-report-the-tricks-of-the-trades/

    ECAO. “Become an Electrician.” https://ecao.org/electrician.asp

  • Not Your “Typical” Welder: Women In The Trades

    Not Your “Typical” Welder: Women In The Trades

    Let’s be honest – how many of us girls grew up dreaming of being a mechanic or a welder? The answer is probably not many, and if you did you probably didn’t tell anybody because of the possibility of them thinking you were weird. When I was little I first wanted to be a marine biologist; I loved animals and wanted to work with them very badly. Then my life goal changed from a stunt car driver to a photographer to a mechanic and finally a welder.

    One of the things I was most excited about going to high school for was that I was now able to take the auto mechanics and construction classes. I took them all through high school and loved every minute of it. I learned, fixed and made things that a lot of people didn’t. How many of you can honestly say you are comfortable with changing a flat tire on your own? I can say with all honesty I am and that’s because of my awesome auto teacher. My technology teachers not only gave me the skills and knowledge about their trades but also the courage to love the trades; to not be scared of trying something totally out of my comfort zone and to not care about what people think.

    I got the smart remarks in class – “Girls can’t do that” and the classic, “Don’t break a nail!” Taking those courses gave me the courage to pick something not many girls pick for a college program – Welding Technician. I knew two things that I wanted for sure out of what I picked for a program. I wanted to be able to get a job and I wanted to make money. I know those are not the best reasons for someone to pick a program, but they were honest. I had originally wanted to be a mechanic because of how much I loved my auto class but I soon realized there were a lot of mechanics and not a lot of jobs. So I had cut up an exhaust pipe about two times in auto with an old oxy-acetylene torch and I knew welding was an in demand job, so I decided on being a welder. The only knowledge I had on welding was what I learned from those two experiences using the torch, so not a whole lot.

    I remember showing up for my first welding class and them telling me that I would need safety boots, safety glasses and a welding helmet for tomorrow. The first thing I thought to myself is, “What have I done?! I have gotten myself into something I can’t handle, I know nothing about welding! This is a horrible idea.” Then it got worse after I got all my equipment and they asked me to actually weld something. I don’t think I have ever sweated that much for a school assignment and it wasn’t from the heat of my torch. But with practice, some really great teachers and perseverance, I got the hang of it and now I am actually a very good welder. I am able to weld in shielded metal, arc welding in flat, horizontal and vertical positions. I can use gas metal arc and flux core arc welding machines and I am learning tungsten arc welding at the moment.

    For those of you out there wondering what kind of woman I am, I would say I am not your typical looking welder, but then again isn’t that what we are trying to change? The notion of what the “typical” welder looks like? So this is what the typical welder looks like – a petite 19-year-old woman, who stands at five feet and two inches, has a boyfriend and loves to go shopping just as much as anyone. The moral of the story is look at trades when you are deciding on college programs – any trade! Believe me, it’s a rewarding experience that is challenging.

    If I can do it, you can do it.

  • Why the Trades Are Great for Entrepreneurship

    Why the Trades Are Great for Entrepreneurship

    Not everyone wants to graduate from school and go on to work in an office or company owned by someone else.  Instead, these people would rather work for themselves.  If you’re someone who wants to pursue entrepreneurship, then the trades might make for an excellent career path.

    When you hear the word “entrepreneurship” it might bring to mind the idea of a “start-up” company, usually in software, gaming, or technology. While it’s true that these fields receive a lot of attention, entrepreneurship isn’t limited to these areas. There are many great entrepreneurship opportunities for people working in the skilled trades who want to own their own business.

    What makes entrepreneurship so appealing to skilled tradespeople?

    You Get to be Hands-On

    Chances are if you’re interested in the skilled trades, it’s because you’re the type of person who like to be hands-on and deeply involved in their work.  This is an essential quality of successful entrepreneurs, since (especially in the early days of a new company) you will likely be covering multiple roles and a wide variety of tasks–everything from performing the actual work, to bookkeeping and accounting, to marketing yourself.

    You Have Independence and Control

    Becoming an entrepreneur also means that you get to make the decisions, choosing how to run your business, what your schedule will be, and which jobs you accept.  For many people, this independence if preferable to working for someone else where their control over their work is limited.  You also have control over your career trajectory; rather than having to work your way up through an established company until you reach a point where you can make the decisions, as an independent business owner you’re already in charge.

    Ongoing High Demand for Skilled Tradespeople

    The job market can be tough, but there is an ongoing, increasing need for skilled trades workers, especially in areas like plumbing, electrical, metalworking, and construction.  This is from a combination of increasing infrastructure and housing projects, as well as the trend of older workers retiring with fewer young workers to take their place.  This is an ideal situation for a trades entrepreneur, because it means that there will be lots of work opportunities to choose from to keep you and your business thriving.

    Room for Your Aspiration, Whatever That Might Be

    While you may start out as a one-person operation, very few entrepreneurial businesses remain a solo employee for long.  Growing your business to increase profits will necessarily require taking on more employees to help distribute the workload. However, entrepreneurship is great because you can grow your business at your own pace, and the sky is the limit.  You want to stay small and local, with regular hours and a reliable schedule? Once you build a solid team of employees and a good roster of customers, you can maintain your business at that scale.  Or do you want to one day own a huge company that operates on a national scale? Entrepreneurship is perfect for these ambitions, too.

    Sources:

    https://start-up-booster.com/skilled-trades-entrepreneurs-next-big-thing/

    https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/how-to-get-from-journeyman-to-ceo-learning-a-trade-is-a-natural-for-setting-up-a-business

  • A Look into Co-op programs for the Trades in Ontario

    A Look into Co-op programs for the Trades in Ontario

    The skilled trades industry continues to thrive in Canada, but unfortunately, there are major gaps in the workforce. For the past few years, particularly in the province of British Columbia, the labour shortage hit such a critical level that it was a major headline in all news outlets and companies started to get more creative in recruiting people such as offering thousands of dollars in bonuses to anyone who could refer skilled workers. Others truly went the extra mile and brought on workers from Ireland to fill in the gaps. TimesColonist.com reports that as of 2016, a total of 5,885 immigrants from Ireland were living in B.C. as of 2016, and majority were employed in the skilled trade sectors.

    Ontario is also affected by this crisis, and the Globe and Mail reported that in February 2018, finding welders, tool and die makers, machinists and millwrights for industrial companies in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, are now a top concern.  Business owners affected offer a number of reasons attributed to the scarcity. One common reason they deduced is that there is a large number of skilled workers who are retiring and the number is not being replaced because today’s youth are shying away from these types of jobs because they are misinformed and are unaware that skilled trades could be a viable career path.

    Fortunately, the Ontario government has recognized the issues plaguing the skilled trades industry and thus has implemented measures to ensure its steady growth. Skills Ontario, for instance, has launched several programs like in-school presentations that promote trades among students. Some of these programs also call for the participation of the students’ parents, who plays a pivotal role in educating their kids about multi-career paths offered by skilled trades.

    Another method adapted by the Ontario government to foster growth in the skilled trades industry is to provide free education for 1,200 people to join apprenticeship programs. The program is open to all, including newcomers, high school students, graduates, or dropouts, as well as those who are already attending college.

    Here’s a closer look at these Co-op programs for the trades in Ontario:

    Pre-Apprenticeship Training 

    This program’s duration is one year with an additional work placement for eight to 12 weeks. The program also completely covers the costs of textbooks, equipment and tools and includes safety training for skilled trades, improvement to academic skills, and basic level apprenticeship in-school training.

    Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

    The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is an ideal program for students aiming to get their foot in the door to work in apprenticeship occupations via the cooperative education program. Through OYAP, students gain the chance to become registered apprentices and pursue becoming certified journeypersons in a skilled trade while completing their secondary school diplomas. There are three types of OYAP programs, and the most common of which is the Regular OYAP which is open to any student who are over 16 years old with at least 16 credits to their name and are registered full-time in school, working on secondary school credits, and be signed up for cooperative education in one of over 150 apprenticeship trades.

    Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program

    The Co-Op Diploma Apprenticeship Program is another initiative implemented by the Government of Ontario to increase access to the skilled trades. This program aims to provide individuals opportunities to train as apprentices in a specific trade while in pursuit of an associated college diploma. Those who want to apply to the program must be attending a college program that offers the Co-op Diploma Program to see if they qualify for an individual school and the trade of their interest.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.collegeoftrades.ca/links

    http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/programs/coda.html

    http://oyaptdsb.com/

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/talent/canadian-factories-say-shortage-of-skilled-workers-is-hurting-growth/article37848454/

    https://www.narcity.com/news/ontario-is-begging-for-skilled-trade-workers-and-is-looking-to-give-free-education-to-get-1200-people-in-the-workforce

    Skilled trade shortage remains a concern

    https://www.timescolonist.com/construction-companies-get-creative-to-find-skilled-workers-1.23529071

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/looking-for-a-job-why-you-should-consider-a-trade/article9117896/

  • A Crisis in the Construction Industry: How Does This Job Shortage Benefit You?

    A Crisis in the Construction Industry: How Does This Job Shortage Benefit You?

    So many of us young people are facing an uncertain future: enormous debt, skyrocketing rent, job opportunities that are at best part-time purgatory or at worst one casual contract after another. Unlike previous generations, it may be years and years before we experience anything close to stable work with benefits and pensions.

    To all of you students unsure if your chosen major will yield a steady job after graduation, what if I told you, there is a field where the current labour shortage virtually guarantees you a job? To all of you juggling multiple part-time jobs, what if I told you, you could have one full-time permanent job? To all of you working in the gig economy, what if I told you, you could have a job with benefits and bonuses? Let me tell you about a field that will check all these boxes: the construction trade industry.

    The numbers do not lie. This year, Canada’s construction labour force has 1.4 million workers. This sounds like a lot, right? Unfortunately, even with over a million workers, the construction field currently has the second highest job vacancy rate in Canada.

    Moreover, in just nine more years, more than 20% of that 1.4 million group will be eligible to retire. The situation is even more critical in the Maritime provinces: 25% of the construction workers there are expected to retire in a decade.

    Increasing numbers of building projects is also a contributing factor to increased demand for construction professionals. Toronto, for example, has the more number of cranes on the entire continent. Who’s operating them?

    What all this translates to is: “The message is clear: if you want to work in construction, there’s a job out there for you,” as Chris Gardner, CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of British Columbia, so succinctly puts it.

    This presents an amazing opportunity for you. The construction labour shortage is current and impending, which means if you start your apprenticeship (which is paid!) now, your job will still be in demand by the time you graduate as a journeyperson. This eliminates the pitfall of discovering your future job is no longer wanted after spending years on the necessary education. Ontario alone needs 170,000 construction workers over the next decade.

    At the beginning of your career, you may expect an annual salary of $37,500, but as you gain more experience and/or join a unionized job, you can expect to earn more than $60,000 a year plus benefits. Salaries go even higher if you specialize in a specific construction trade, such as glazing, pipefitting, and welding.

    If these incomes do not impress you, keep in mind that due to increasing demand and desperate employers, wages for general construction labourers are expected to increase 4.5% this year and again 5.1% in 2019. For more specialized construction tradespeople, wage hikes are even bigger: ironworkers will get a 7.7% increase this year. In addition, firms will want to offer more and better incentives to hire and keep talent.

    Stop dreaming of winning the lottery. If you are looking for job certainty and stability, look no further than the construction industry. The continuing labour shortage will mean you have no difficulty finding jobs—all across Canada! Think of the traveling opportunities! When you are inevitably faced with multiple job offers, you can have your pick of the best pay and benefits.

    References:

    1. https://www.equipmentjournal.com/construction-news/canada-faces-construction-labour-crunch/
    2. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/03/13/labour-shortage-canada-job-vacancies_a_23384818/
    3. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/02/05/these-are-the-most-in-demand-jobs-in-canada-in-2018-according-to-randstad_a_23353385/?utm_campaign=canada_dau
    4. https://www.immigration.ca/severe-shortages-in-the-2018-canadian-labour-market/
    5. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-construction-industry-survey-1.4535411
    6. https://globalnews.ca/news/4161338/canada-labour-shortage-job-vacancies/
    7. https://www.randstad.ca/construction-jobs/
    8. http://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/careers/getting-started/apprenticeships
    9. https://globalnews.ca/news/4027263/b-c-construction-jobs-offer-entry-wages-up-to-27-31-hour-and-theyre-growing-survey/

    https://globalnews.ca/news/4027263/b-c-construction-jobs-offer-entry-wages-up-to-27-31-hour-and-theyre-growing-survey/

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Construction Project Manager

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Construction Project Manager

    In Canada, there are strong initiatives to building more environment-friendly infrastructure and increase the nation’s readiness against the effects of climate change. Currently, the Government of Canada are eyeing more public building energy retrofits and multi-use path systems throughout the nation.

    With these efforts on the horizon, the need for construction project managers are greater than ever. Construction project managers are the main professionals responsible for overseeing any type of building project. Without an efficient construction project manager, blueprints from architects and engineers—no matter how well-designed or well thought-out they are on paper—will not come to fruition.

    Construction Project Managers – What You Need to Know

    The construction project managers are the jugglers of any ongoing construction project as they deal with multiple tasks all at the same time, often with competing priorities. They are the ones who perform job and cost estimates, carry out quality control, plan workers’ schedules and project completion schedules, review designs, and create proposals. A construction project manager conducts all business professionally and should have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of constructions methods and requirements. They have to stay on top of every item in the project and possess top-calibre attention to detail capabilities, otherwise, everything will fall apart.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a construction project manager can earn an average of $74,883 per year with potential for bonus, profit sharing, and commission. Typically, 10 years of experience as a construction project manager can lead to a role as a construction project director provided they have gained a reputation as a leader and a solid track record of directing teams appropriately through project development and project life-cycle and in the development and implementation of various project plans, including scope, schedule, risk resource and project costing.

    Skills

    To kick off a career as a construction project manager, it is a must to have a degree in either civil engineering or structural engineering. Afterwards, one will need to earn a PMP designation from the Project Management Institute or PMI. This non-profit professional membership association, founded in 1969, offers eight certifications that acknowledge competency in the project management industry. It’s also a boost to earn a Construction Project Management certificate, and Canadian educational institutions like Algonquin College and George Brown College offer those programs.

    As a construction project manager is seen as the leader on a building project, it pays to have an effective leadership style and expert communication skills to ensure that everyone involved has a clear understanding of their tasks and accountabilities. In most cases, construction project managers also have to draw upon their negotiation and persuasion abilities to make sure the project is completed according to timelines and specifications.

    Pros and Cons

    A construction project manager can be a financially rewarding and prestigious career. However, it can be mentally exhausting as one would have to attend to several issues or tasks simultaneous under time pressure or challenging environments. It is definitely important to have a calm demeanor to be able to cope with the expectations of the job.

    It can be physically draining since construction project managers have to often work on site to ensure everything runs smoothly. They also carry on their shoulders the big responsibility of overseeing the implementation of occupational health and safety practices, ensuring all personnel avoid job hazards or injuries.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Project_Manager%2C_Construction/Salary

    https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-funding-supports-better-community-infrastructure-across-canada-690274341.html

    https://www.smartsheet.com/construction-project-management-101

  • Career Profile: Glazier

    Career Profile: Glazier

    Nearly every building and vehicle you pass each day has glass windows or doors. The unique properties of glass mean that most uses require a specialized professional to perform installation and maintenance. This is done by skilled tradespeople known as glaziers.

    Glaziers are skilled tradespeople who are responsible for cutting, fitting, installing, and replacing glass inside and outside all kinds of buildings, including commercial and residential, as well as other types of structures. Glaziers will assemble and install prefabricated glass and glass substitutes for windows, mirrors, doors, skylights, cabinets, and aquariums.  They will also be trained to build wood or metal frames for windows and other glass installations.

    Other aspects of construction-related glasswork also fall under the duties of a glazier.  This includes tinting glass, working with stained glass for churches or museums, and specialty glass such as glass railings, smoke baffles, or shower enclosures.  The automotive industry also employs glaziers to work with the glass in windshields, sunroofs, and doors.

    However, most glaziers are employed by construction companies to install glass, or manufacturing companies where they perform fabrication of unitized panels.  Working on construction projects involves working both indoors and outdoors, depending on the project.  Depending on the job, glaziers will need to know how to use equipment including lifting equipment, scaffolding, cranes and hoists.  Many tasks a glazier performs are considered heavy labour, and so glaziers must be physically fit and capable of bending, lifting, kneeling, standing, and maneuvering suspended loads.

    Tradespeople who work as glaziers will often work closely with other construction professionals and members of the skilled trades, such as architects, bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, ironworkers and automotive vehicle repair people

    Most glaziers will work regular hours with a construction or fabrication job, such as 9am to 5pm.  However, depending on the job or the needs of a specific project, occasional overtime or working in evenings and weekends may be required.

    Entering the trade is usually accomplished through completing an apprenticeship program after graduating from high school, which requires a combination of approximately 8,000 hours of on-the-job and in-school training, followed by a certification exam.  The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is one group that offers glazier internship programs.

    This kind of trade apprenticeship requires you to train under an experienced mentor while you learn the work involved.  The benefit of this is that apprenticeships are paid positions in Canada, so you are able to earn a wage while you learn the trade.  There is also a Red Seal accreditation program and exam available for glaziers, which is optional, but will often be considered a significant benefit as it means you have all the current standards and can work in any province in Canada.

    Salaries for glaziers in Canada range from around $28,000 for apprenticeship and entry-level workers, up to around $69,000 for those with experience.

    Sources:

    http://www.red-seal.ca/trades/gl.1z.3.2r-eng.html

    http://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/career/glazier

    http://www.routestotrades.ca/glazier

  • Grinding and Polishing Worker

    Grinding and Polishing Worker

    Sometimes, the smallest jobs can make a huge difference. Grinding and polishing workers are only a part of what goes into making objects from clay, plastic, metal, wood, or stone. Still, what they do is very important.

    When you move your hand over a rough piece of wood, you can easily get a splinter under your skin. Unpolished stone can cut your hand, but a grinding and polishing worker can help. People in this trade work with hand tools like files or small power tools to polish off the edges that might cause problems to the people who use the containers or other objects.

    Being a grinding and polishing worker involves more than just rubbing a file or sandpaper against an object. People in this trade might have to read blueprints and mark defects like cracks that need to be repaired. They might work on small surfaces like bowls or large ones like floors. They have to choose the right kind of tool for each job and be able to work with a variety of materials to make them look as good as possible.

    Working in this type of job normally involves learning on the job rather than taking courses. Still, taking a course at a trade school in how to use various tools can be useful, and looking for an apprenticeship is also a good idea.

    Salaries for grinding and polishing workers start at about $26,000 per year and can rise to about $52,000. The average salary is over $37,000, and the hourly wage is normally $19 once people have some experience.

    Some people might be able to stay in this job for many years, but others might find that they need to move on to other work after a few years. Because the job involves working with their hands, many workers might find that it becomes too difficult for them as they get older. Accidents, arthritis, and all kinds of problems might also mean that people in this type of work are unable to continue.

    Job prospects for grinding and polishing workers are not as good as they once were. In 2014, the number of jobs declined, and no one is guaranteed a spot. Having a second job option is a good idea for grinding and polishing workers, but they should not feel that their skills are useless. This type of work is very important for making products as beautiful and usable as possible. Whether in construction or in making gravestones or plaques for buildings, people in this field can find many places to use their skills.

    In addition, grinding and polishing workers develop many useful skills that they can use in other jobs. The ability to use hand tools is important for many trades, and being able to finish off a job can help others who might not have those skills. If you like to make objects look good by smoothing off the rough edges and making them shine, the job of grinder and polisher might be right for you.

    Bibliography:

    Career Planner.com “Hand Grinding and Polishing Worker.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Grinding-and-Polishing-Workers-Hand.cfm

    College Grad.com. “Grinding and Polishing Workers.” https://collegegrad.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers.

    Neuvoo.ca. “Polisher Salary in Canada.” https://neuvoo.ca/salary/polisher/

    Recruiter.com. “Salary for Hand Grinding and Polishing Workers.” https://www.recruiter.com/salaries/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand-salary/.

  • Career Profile: Brick and Stone Mason

    Career Profile: Brick and Stone Mason

    Imagine being part of building something like the CN Tower in Toronto or the Empire State Building in New York. Not everyone has the chance to work with something that famous, but brick and stone masons have a chance to work on all kinds of buildings. They help people find places to live, work, and go to school.

    Brick and stone masons work with different kinds of materials that are part of many buildings. They might help build a brick or stone wall, install concrete steps, or build fireplaces, smokestacks, or chimneys. To do that work, they need to be able to read blueprints and to calculate how much they will need of each material for the project. For most jobs in this field, a Grade 12 education is required, although some require only Grade 8. To prepare for the work, people need mathematics courses to learn to do the calculations of the amounts of materials they need and English classes for reading and writing skills. Certification is not usually necessary, but some employers might ask for special training.

    Experience with tools and construction is important in this type of job. Brick and stone masons do much of the work by hand, using hammers, chisels, and masonry saws, as well as some power tools. They put mortar between bricks and build up walls by hand, sometimes indoors and sometimes outside. The work requires some strength, but it mostly needs stamina to stand for long periods of time, to bend down and stand up, and to lift heavy objects. Some of the work can be quite complicated, especially when masons work on skyscrapers or install ornate section of outdoor walls.

    Salaries for brick and stone masons usually start low, often at minimum wage. For the next five or ten years, pay can increase a lot, but after that the salary increases are usually quite slow. In Canada, the average wage is just under $26.00 per hour, although that varies from one region to another.

    Finding work in this field depends on many factors. When the economy is slow, people are less likely to do much building, and this means fewer jobs for brick and stone masons. Large cities are likely to have more opportunities for people in this type of work, but also more competition. Small towns are likely to have a slower pace of life, but also not as many jobs.

    One advantage for brick and stone masons is that they are likely to have skills that they can use in other types of work, such as working on road construction or similar areas. For people who are willing to work at the tops of tall buildings or to do other jobs that others might be unable or unwilling to do, finding work might be relatively easy.

    Being a brick and stone mason involves many skills and abilities that you can already start to practice. Keeping yourself physically fit is important, and being able to work with your hands is essential. If you like the idea of working with brick and stone to help construct towns and cities, you can already start to practice for the future.

    Bibliography:

    Apprentice Search.com. “What Does a Brick and Stone Mason Do?” http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?TradeName=brick-and-stone-mason&tradeId=3

    Canada Masonry Centre.com. “Building the Future: What We Do.” http://canadamasonrycentre.com/.

    Manitoba Masonry Contractors’ Association. Association. “What We Do.” http://www.manitobamasonry.ca/content.php?navigation_id=2289.

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