Category: Jobs and Apprenticeships

Every room in your home or school likely has furniture in it. The tradespeople who make this furniture look and feel good are furniture finishers. As the name shows, these people work at the end of the process of making furniture. If you have abilities in design, skills in working with your hands, and an interest in helping to keep furniture comfortable and safe, the job of furniture finisher might be right for you.

Furniture finishers generally work in factories, retail stores, or repair shops. Some furniture finishers are self-employed, but others work for large companies. In factories, they normally work with new furniture, applying stains and varnishes to wood or paint to metal.  Elsewhere, they might work with either new or used furniture, anything from a small stool to a large dining room table to the frame of a sofa. Sometimes, older furniture might be fragile, and furniture finishers need to be especially careful to avoid breaking anything.

Except in factories, furniture finishers work mainly with older furniture that people want to renew so that it looks better. Sometimes, furniture finishers might need to file or sand down rough areas on chairs or tables so that the people using the furniture will not get splinters in their hands or cut themselves on rough edges.  In large factories, they might work on only a small part of the process, but in smaller companies, they might also do other jobs, such as assembling the furniture or working with sales.  Being able to work with others and to deal well with the public is important for many people in this job.

Generally, furniture finishers need a high school diploma or its equivalent to work in their business. Mathematics and English courses are helpful. Some additional training at a trade school can be helpful, but most people learn on the job. Having a good sense of colour and style is useful for being able to match wood stain with the colour of the upholstery or the shade of metal with the rest of the piece of furniture. Skills in mathematics can help with calculating the amounts of necessary supplies or for bookkeeping if necessary, and a fairly high reading level can help workers understand written instructions on paint cans and other supplies.

Working as a furniture finisher is not a very dangerous job, although small injuries such as cuts and sprained wrists are some of the main hazards. The fumes from paints and stains can also be harmful, and furniture finishers might need to wear special masks to avoid harming their lungs. The days can be long if a job is in progress, especially since stains and paints look better if they dry evenly. Wages for furniture finishers start at about $18.00 per hour and can rise to $29.00 per hour with experience, or between $37,000 and $59,000 per year.

Finishing furniture is the kind of work that people can do for many years if they want. Reasonably good vision and a basic level of strength are important, and people in this field should be able to bend and stretch without too much trouble. However, the work can become too difficult for older workers, and they might want to move to an office-based aspect of the job as they age. If this trade appeals to you, working as a furniture finisher can be a good career choice.

Bibliography:

Career One Stop. “Furniture Finishers.” https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Furniture%20Finishers&onetcode=51702100&location=Maine.

Job Bank. “Furniture Finishing in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/12759/ca.

Payscale Canada. “Furniture Finisher: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Furniture_Finisher/Hourly_Rate.

Every day, accidents happen on roads all over Canada. They might be minor and barely dent or scratch the vehicles involved, or they might badly damage cars or trucks. For many kinds of accidents, auto body repairers help restore vehicles so that they look good and help protect the people inside the vehicle, as well as the engine and other parts that make the vehicle work. If you enjoy repair work, this job could be a good choice for you.

Driving can have many small and large dangers. Minor accidents might involve a bit of scraped paint from a car door or a small dent in a bumper from running into a pole or a fence. Major accidents could involve crushed front or back ends of vehicles, broken bumpers, or more. Repairing the damage is important, especially with Canadian weather. Rust can easily form at places where the metal is buckled or the paint is gone, which can leave delicate mechanical parts exposed and cause the vehicle to fall apart quickly.

Auto body repairers can help preserve vehicles for many years. Most people in this trade work in automotive garages, where they might be part of a large group of workers in the same field. Some repairers might start their own business in this trade, but the equipment and facilities can be too expensive for one person to afford.

When an accident happens, the first task for an auto body repairer is to assess the damage and decide what to do. Often, a part will need to be replaced, and the repairer will need to do that job or assign it to someone else. Sometimes, it may be possible to hammer a dent out and repaint the spot. Part of the job is also completing other maintenance tasks such as replacing damaged head or tail lights, testing the shocks, checking the brakes, and anything else that might affect the safety of the vehicle.

Most people in this trade learn on the job, but some extra training might also be required. In small businesses, knowing about accounting and customer service may be necessary. Most of the work happens during the day, but the hours can be long when a job needs to be finished. Typical workweeks can be either five or six days, depending on the size of the business, the number of other repair shops nearby, and other factors. Sometimes, people in this trade might need to supervise other workers, as well as manage the inventory and perform similar daily tasks.

Like in many trades, working as an auto body repairer can be physically demanding. People in this trade should be able to lift heavy objects and handle a variety of tools. Good eyesight with or without glasses is important, and steady hands make the job easier. Although people can stay in this job for many years, they might find it difficult as they age.

Wages for auto body repairers begin at about $15 per hour or $32,000 per year. With experience, wages can rise to $35 per hour or $87,000 per year. Jobs are more likely to be available in large cities than in small towns, but almost any community can have opportunities in this trade. This might be the right job for you.

Bibliography:

Centennial College. “Auto Body Repair Technician.” https://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/auto-body-repair-technician/.

Job Bank. “Auto Body Repairer in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/occupation/7662/ca.

Payscale Canada. Average Auto Body Repair Technician Hourly Pay in Canada https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Auto_Body_Repair_Technician/Hourly_Rate.

Talent.com. “Auto Body Technician Average Salary in Canada 2022.” https://ca.talent.com/salary?job=auto+body+technician.

The world is full of hazardous chemicals and other dangerous materials which can damage the environment and harm people. When manufacturing, mining, or other processes produce hazardous waste, people have to come and clean it up. This job can be difficult and potentially dangerous, but it is essential. If you like the idea of helping in this way, you should consider becoming a hazardous waste removal worker.

When you work on an assignment at school, you might have a computer printout or glue bottle that you discard after using them. Throwing something recyclable into the garbage is harmful in a small way, although the hazards add up quickly. However, the waste coming from processes like mining can be immediately poisonous to people and animals while destroying trees and streams. Hazardous materials removal workers help to clean up these types of materials.

The first step in removing hazardous materials is to find out what they are and how to deal with them. People in this field need to study different types of waste and know what to do with each of them, or they can specialize in one type. They could choose to learn about mining waste or the dangerous substances that come from nuclear plants. Some people can even get jobs sorting out hazardous waste like batteries from the regular garbage, like orange peels and chocolate wrappers.

Most hazardous materials removal workers need at least two years of training after high school to get jobs in this field. Throughout their career, they might need extra training to be able to work with certain types of hazardous waste. If an oil spill happens, for example, someone in this career might need to learn about that type of material.

When disasters happen or hazardous waste builds up, people in this field assess the damage and decide how to deal with the trouble. They use various tools and cleaning solutions to remove the waste and store it in containers where it can be safe. People in this job often have to work long and tiring days, frequently outside in all kinds of weather. Sometimes, however, they need to be prepared to spend hours in an office, making plans, organizing work, and writing reports.

Working with hazardous materials can be dangerous, and people in this field need to know about keeping themselves and others safe. Accidents can happen while people are cleaning up the waste material.

Protective equipment is necessary in this job. Workers might need to wear thick rubber gloves, goggles, and other equipment to keep themselves safe. Even then, they should be careful not to touch the hazardous materials or breathe in the fumes from them. Besides the dangers, it can be very unpleasant and smelly work. Although it is possible to stay in this job for many years, it can become more difficult as people get older.

Annual salaries for hazardous waste disposal workers average $68,000. Job prospects are limited right now, but they will likely improve in the next few years as older workers retire. If you like the idea of this job, you could already start to prepare to work in the field by researching further, looking into training, and becoming more aware of the hazardous materials that our modern way of life produces and how they affect us and the planet.

Sources:

ALIS. “Hazardous Waste Management Technologist.” https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/hazardous-waste-management-technologist/.

Career Planner. “Hazardous Materials Removal Worker.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Hazardous-Materials-Removal-Workers.cfm.

PayScale Canada. “Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal: Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Hazardous_Waste_Treatment_and_Disposal/Salary.

Almost every building has metal and glass in it, whether in small sections or covering entire walls. Architectural glass and metal technicians are the people who install these features. For people with the stamina and physical ability, this job can be a good career choice.

Most buildings have at least some metal and glass, whether it covers the entire outer layer of a skyscraper or just a few mirrors inside the building. Architectural glass and metal technicians work with blueprints to measure and cut glass and metal to the right sizes and shapes. Often, people in this trade cut the glass and metal themselves and even assemble and dismantle scaffolding. They may work in teams or work alone.

People in this trade should be in reasonably good physical condition and have good dexterity with their hands. Being able to manage heights is important, as much of the work can be far off the ground. Sometimes, however, technicians may need to work in small spaces. The job can be unpleasant in hot, windy, cold, or rainy weather. During winter, when construction usually ends, people in this trade might still be able to work on jobs inside buildings, but the possibilities are limited.

Architectural glass and metal technicians can work almost anywhere, although they are more likely to find work in large cities than in smaller places. Generally, wages start at $20 per hour and can rise to over $38 per hour, or $42,000 to $81,000 per year. These technicians work with mirrors, prefabricated glass, and metal frames. Some of the work is indoors as people manufacture the items, and outside while they install the windows.

A Grade 10 education is the minimum for people in this trade, but high school graduation is better. Courses in math, English, science, and technology are helpful. Following high school, many people enter an apprenticeship program, which normally takes four years of both practical work and classroom studies. It is also possible for people with some experience to challenge the Certificate of Qualification.

Like in many trades, architectural glass and metal technicians can be part of the Red Seal program if they pass the Interprovincial Standards Examination. This means that they will be able to work in any province or territory without any additional training except for special tasks specific to the employer. That way, people in this trade can easily move to where the jobs are.

Architectural glass and metal technicians need a certain amount of physical fitness to be able to lift heavy objects and to work with potentially dangerous machines. Being able to stand for long periods of time is important. As physical stamina fades with age, people might want to move on to other jobs.

Like many trades, opportunities in this field depend on the economy and how many people start construction projects. Work is easier to find in large cities than in small towns, but some people may need to combine more than one job to earn a living. If this career sounds good to you, why not consider pursuing it?

Bibliography:

Durham Workforce. “Architectural Glass and Metal Technician.” http://durhamworkforceauthority.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Architectural-Glass-and-Metal-Technician.pdf

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. “Architectural Glass and Metal Technician.” https://oyap.ca/trades/?fuseaction=Profile&appnum=131

Payscale Canada. “Average Glazier Hourly Pay in Canada.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Glazier/Hourly_Rate

Some people like working with engines, taking them apart to see how they work and then putting them back together. These machines come in many different types, including marine engines. Working with these engines can be a rewarding career for people who enjoy mechanical work. If that describes you, why not consider becoming a marine engine technician?

Engines have many connected parts that help the machine to work properly, but these can also break or wear out. They need people to inspect, service, and repair them. Marine engines might be slightly different from other engines, but they have the same basic structure. Learning to build and repair other engines can help people deal with the types of issues they might face in working with marine engines.

Normally, marine engine technicians need at least a high school education with courses in topics like mathematics and English. For trade certification, people need a three- or four-year apprenticeship, or five years of work experience with some courses in machine repair or millwright work. In some parts of Canada, official certification is necessary. For that designation, people should be able to work with gasoline and diesel engines, electrical systems, steering systems, and other aspects of engine maintenance.

Since marine engines are for boats and ships, most of the work in this trade is close to the water on the east and west coasts of the country. Cargo ships and other large boats can provide work for many people in this trade. However, some work might be available near lakes and rivers, where people ride small boats for pleasure. Being willing to work with other types of engines can help provide a steady income, especially in winter when lakes and rivers are frozen and only the large ships can sail.

Attention to detail is an important quality for marine engine technicians. Making even small mistakes can cause an engine to break down, and technicians need to be careful. Good eyesight with or without glasses and steady hands can help people avoid making errors, and curiosity about machines can make the job interesting. Since machines can change over the years, marine engine technicians should be sure to keep up with the latest developments.

Like with most trades, people who work as marine engine mechanics can increase their pay and level of responsibility as they develop their skills. Wages usually begin at $21 per hour or $44,000 per year and can rise to $39 per hour or $81,000 per year with experience. People can specialize in a certain type of marine engine or work more generally with whatever is available. Choosing to specialize is easier for mechanics who work with mechanics who can take over other tasks, but it can be possible even for people who work alone.

The work of a marine engine technician can be tiring and sometimes stressful, especially if a job needs to be finished quickly. Sometimes, clients have tight deadlines, and mechanics have to get the work done before the ship has to leave the harbour. However, it can also be a very good job for people who enjoy working with their hands and solving problems. If this career sounds good, you can already start to prepare for a career as a marine engine mechanic through your schooling or work experience.

Bibliography:

Boating Industry in Canada. “Careers.” https://boatingindustry.ca/careers.

Georgian College. “Inspect, service and repair marine engines as a marine mechanic.” https://www.georgiancollege.ca/academics/programs/mechanical-techniques-marine-engine-mechanic/.

Job Bank. “Marine Engine Mechanic in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/requirements/17112/ca

Payscale Canada. “Marine Mechanic: Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Marine_Mechanic/Hourly_Rate.