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  • Trades Make the Grade!

    Trades Make the Grade!

    With so much attention brought to the business and management industries during Canada’s rekindling economic climate, many core fields of work are being overlooked by the students; one of these being the trades.

    The skilled trades are a growing field of work that is in constant need of well-trained workers.

    What exactly is a skilled trade? It can be defined as an expertness of a specific skill, usually attained through years of training and commonly related to construction and repair. The skills that are considered “trades skills” range broadly from carpenter, electrician, automotive technician, plumber, pipe fitter, welder and much more.

    There is a common misconception that the trades are considered “blue collar” jobs done through informal training. In reality there are a plentitude of academic institutions that provide education and preparation in the trades.

    Although it is common to get into the trades through practical training, it doesn’t mean you will be making less money than someone who attended university. Tradespeople are some of the highest paid employees in Canada. Not only is a customer paying for your knowledge about a trade, but they are also paying for expert performance.

    If you enjoy learning new lessons everyday and aren’t afraid to be challenged, a career in the trades might suit you. Trades jobs are considered demanding and will put your mind and body to the test daily. If you enjoy a hands-on work environment, and are interested in how things work, this field may be what you want to look at.

    There is an increasing shortage in the skilled trades. According to careersintrades.ca, 67% of young adults choose university over a college education in the trades because it was encouraged more by friends and family. There were also instances in which a lack of information about the trades swayed students away from the sector.

    So, what exactly are the steps to take to become a tradespeople? The most efficient and reputable manner to becoming certified in the trades is an apprenticeship. This way, you are getting one-on-one experience with a master in the trade who can help you further your knowledge and skills. Many college programs that deal with the trades have their own apprenticeship training programs. So go and check out your local college to see what they offer, or look on Jobs People Do to see what colleges offer certain apprenticeships.

    The best thing to do in your early years of education is to look at high schools that provide introductory training of a trades skill you are interested in. Julian Finbow Westlane graduate, claims that: “Taking the refrigeration course at such a young age was extremely beneficial for the jobs I am interested in.”

    Julian is looking to develop his trade skills in refrigeration, and is planning on either taking a apprenticeship or going to college.
    Become involved and research trade skills you think will peak your interest. It may be beneficial to shaping your career path! So put on that thinking cap (or hardhat for this situation) and immerse yourself in the trades.

  • Why Trades? Labour Shortages in Canada

    Why Trades? Labour Shortages in Canada

    The trades are one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada and, as such, there are projected labour shortages in the coming years. This means there are more jobs than there are people to fill them. For this reason, a career in trades is a great way to ensure you will have employment when you leave school.

    Red Seal Trades:
    Based on the Canadian Occupations Projections for Red Seal trades, there are 24 Red Seal trades with projected labour shortages.

    Construction:
    The national construction labour force is estimated to rise by 100,000 workers between 2012 and 2020. The industry will need to replace 219,000 workers that are expected to retire over the next decade.

    To address expansion and replacement demand requirements, industry will need to recruit an estimated 319,000 new workers to construction.

    Growth in construction will be concentrated in the non-residential sector related mostly to resource projects. Trades required for this type of construction work include: boilermakers, carpenters, construction estimators, construction millwrights and industrial mechanics, crane operators, electricians, gasfitters, ironworkers, plumbers, sheet metal workers, steamfitters and pipefitters, and welders.

    Oil and Gas:
    By 2015, employment in the oil sands sector is projected to increase by 29 per cent over 2011 levels, or approximately 5,850 jobs.

    The pipeline sector will add about 530 jobs over the same period.

    The industry will need to do significant hiring to replace retiring workers and for turnover.

    Mining:
    The mining industry will need 112,000 new workers by 2020.

    Forty per cent of the industry are 50 years old or older. One third of the workforce will be eligible to retire by 2015.

    In Ontario, for example, employers will have significant hiring requirements– almost 16,000 workers over the coming decade will be needed just to replace retiring workers and people who leave the mining workforce in Ontario for other reasons.

    Automotive:
    In the automotive industry, cumulative shortages over the next ten years are projected to range between 43,700 to 77,150 positions.

    Overall, almost one-half (48.1%) of employers reported that the insufficient supply of qualified staff to hire was a significant or very significant issue for their organization.

    Labour shortages were seen as a major problem among employers in the motorcycle repair sector (57.1%) and auto body/collision repair sector (54.3%).

    Tourism:
    By 2030, demand for labour in the tourism sector will grow to 2.1 million jobs, an increase of 33 per cent.

    The growing gap between labour demand and the number of available workers will cause a significant number of jobs to go unfilled over the next 20 years.

    By 2030, shortages in the tourism sector could grow to 228,000 jobs, leaving 10.7 per cent of potential labour demand unfilled.

    If the expected shortages are not mitigated, the sector could forgo $31.4 billion in potential revenues by 2030.

  • A Career in Trades: Automotive Service Technician

    A Career in Trades: Automotive Service Technician

    Do you…
    • Enjoy working with your hands?
    • Enjoy fixing cars, trucks, motorcycles or small engines?
    • Want to learn more about electrical, hydraulics (fluid power), pneumatics (air power) and mechanical components in machines?

    If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, then a career as an Automotive Service Technician may be right for you!

    What Is An Automotive Service Technician?
    An Automotive Service Technician is a certified and skilled tradesperson who diagnoses and repairs motor vehicles (e.g. cars, minivans, SUV’s, light duty trucks and medium duty trucks).

    An Automotive Service Technician performs various duties that help maintain a vehicle as well as repair it. Some of these job activities include:
    • Engine maintenance and repair
    • Transmission maintenance and repair
    • Exhaust system repair
    • Body repair and adjustments
    • Brake maintenance and repair
    • Steering, suspension and alignment repairs

    Where Does An Automotive Service Technician Work?
    An Automotive Service Technician may work in:
    • Dealerships
    • Independent automotive shops, repair shops and garages (owned by other people or themselves)

    Some Automotive Service Technicians may prefer to work as:
    • Teachers in high school teaching automotive class
    • Teachers in colleges that offer an accredited Automotive Service Training program

    What Does A Typical Day For An Automotive Service Technician Look Like?
    A typical day for an Automotive Service Technician in a dealership or automotive shop usually begins when a customer brings their vehicle to the shop. The customer tells the service advisor what the problems are with their vehicle. The service advisor documents the problems on a work order. The vehicle and corresponding work order is then given to an Automotive Service Technician who begins to work on this particular job.

    An Automotive Service Technician follows a certain procedure when working on a new job. He/she:
    1. Reads the work order written up by the service advisor.
    2. Examines the vehicle to further assess the problems mentioned on the work order.
    3. Provides the service advisor with an estimate on how much it will cost to fix the problems.
    4. Waits for the service advisor to confirm that the customer is OK with the repair costs before fixing the problems.
    5. Fixes the problems once the service advisor gives the go ahead.
    6. Takes the vehicle for a test drive and/or performs operational checks to ensure that the customer’s concerns are resolved.
    7. Informs the service advisor that the customer can pick up their vehicle.

    How Do You Become An Automotive Service Technician?
    1. Attend a college that offers a certified Automotive Service Technician training program.
    2. Complete the Automotive Service Technician program successfully.
    3. Find a suitable employer who will hire and train you as an Automotive Service Technician apprentice. (Complete your apprenticeship booklet/hours/activities at work and get it signed off by your employer).
    4. Write the Automotive Service Technician certification exam put out by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
    5. Pass the exam, obtain your 310S license and become a licensed Automotive Service Technician!

  • A Look at the Trades from Insiders

    A Look at the Trades from Insiders

    With a plethora of career paths available to students once they leave high school, it can sometimes be difficult to determine where you should turn. You can go to university and spend four years gaining a Bachelors degree, you can obtain a diploma through college, or you can decide to study a trade. Increasingly, the latter option is becoming more and more popular with young people. But why?

    According to Line Breton, counsellor with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, a job in a trade is a stable career path. “Trades will always be needed in any economy,” she told us, “and your certification will always be recognized.”

    While going to school to obtain your certification, you will have the opportunity to work as an apprentice in your chosen field. JobsPeopleDo.com spoke with Bob Benner, owner of Hamill Machine Shop in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Benner has been regularly hiring apprentices for over 14 years and gave us the scoop on why the experience is so valuable.

    “An apprentice has the benefit of watching how the job is done and being able to go back to class with that experience,” said Benner. “They go to school to learn the right way to do things, but then get the practical experience and learn new methods while on the job.”

    Another often-overlooked benefit of a career in the trades is your ability to move up quickly and earn more money.

    “Once you start working, it gives you a chance to prove your worth,” says Benner. “In our shop, you may start at $14 per hour but can move up to as much as $27 per hour. If you work hard and keep your certification up-to-date, there is really nothing holding you back from earning more money. That is a big incentive for many students interested in trades.”

    The trades cover a wide array of different career paths, from mechanics to hairdressers, electricians to carpenters. No matter what path you decide on, both Benner and Breton agree that you need to follow your natural instincts.

    “Spend a semester working in a trade that interests you. It will expose you to both the positive and negative aspects of the job,” says Breton. This will help you to decide if this is the right trade for you.

    “Love what you do,” says Benner. “If you like working in trades, there will always be a place for you if you have your papers.”

    So why not discover the different options available to you in the trades sector? Check out all of the editorials and career profiles that we have for you right here on the JobsPeopleDo.com trades page!

  • Making the Case for Trades

    Making the Case for Trades

    Times have changed in the world of jobs. You might have heard from your parents or teachers that the best way to get a high-paid, reliable job is through a university education. Sometimes that still holds true. These days, however, a better choice for both men and women might be a skilled trade, where there are many opportunities for a rewarding career.

    What comes to your mind when you hear the term “trade”? Do you think of low-paid labourers, barely making enough money to pay their bills and never sure how much longer their jobs will last? Many unskilled labourers work under these conditions, but the situation is different for skilled tradespeople. They are often well-educated, with diplomas or certificates in their fields.

    Tradespeople might have as much education as university graduates. Unlike many university programs, however, training in the trades is geared specifically to learning the practical skills needed on the job. Tradespeople might be trained as carpenters, auto mechanics, electricians or any of the other trades. Through practical work and classroom studies, they learn everything they need to know to work in their trades. Another important part of the training process in the trades is an apprenticeship, in which students work together with an experienced person to learn practical skills for the job. For some trades they might also need to get an official license or certificate.

    Becoming qualified in a trade can take from one to three years of classroom education, between two and four years of apprenticeship, and two or three years of on-the-job training. Many university programs are just as long or even longer and more expensive. Graduates can also have trouble finding work in their field. In contrast, tradespeople can usually find work soon after they finish their studies and can easily pay off any loans they received for their school tuition.

    Almost anyone can become qualified to work in a trade. Most tradespeople, about 97 % in 2007, are men. However, more women are joining the trades and becoming qualified to work in carpentry, welding and other skilled trades. Possibly up to 320,000 people in Canada currently working in construction alone will be retiring in the next few years and that could open up good opportunities for both men and women. Becoming a journeyperson (someone with official qualifications in a skilled trade) could be a wise career move.

    How do you know if you could be successful in skilled trade? Natural ability and interest are important places to start. If you love to take things apart to see how they work, you might want to choose to be a mechanic or electrician. If you have a fear of heights, on the other hand, you might not want to choose the construction industry. The best way to decide whether or not a trade would suit you is to research it and to talk with people about it. Then, if you decide to pursue a trade, you’ll have a good basis for a stable and rewarding lifelong career.

  • Apprenticeships: Finding An Employer

    Apprenticeships: Finding An Employer

    Finding an employer is the first and often most difficult step in an apprenticeship. If the employer you’re interested in approaching doesn’t employ apprentices, check out our list of resources for employers and know your facts when you go meet with them. They might be willing to consider hiring an apprentice, once they are aware of the business case that supports apprenticeship training.

    Network
    Just like any job seeker, talking with people who are already employed in the trade for a good source of information about becoming a skilled tradesperson. Some apprentices find employers through family and friends. Another good place to meet potential contacts is through organizations such as trade unions, professional association or training institutions. Don’t forget to consider local employment offices, programs and agencies, especially those that specialize in trades-related training and employment. You may also want to consider approaching an employer or training instructor to ask for an informational interview. This is a great way to learn about job opportunities and connect with potential employers.

    Upgrade your job
    Some skilled tradespeople start working for an employer in a different capacity, then apply for a trades position when one becomes available. For example, one man began working as a general delivery person for a construction company. After a year or two, he decided to approach his employer about hiring him as a plumbing apprentice. Today, several years later, he is a fully qualified journeyperson plumber working for the same construction company and earning more than twice the pay.

    Search job boards/internet
    Job leads can also be found on major job boards, such as Monster.ca, Workopolis and working.canada.com. Search using terms such as “trades,” “construction” and “manufacturing” or go to sections designed for jobs in these fields. While you’re there, check out their resources for résumé and interview tips.

    Once you’ve found an employer, you still have to:
    – Register at your local apprenticeship office
    – Apply for grants and supports

  • Choosing A Trade

    Choosing A Trade

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

    Consider a wide range of trades

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

    The Government of Canada also offers a comprehensive, searchable catalogue of trades you may want to check out.

    Narrow your choices down to 5 or fewer trades

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

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

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

    Talk to people who work in the trade

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

  • Facts on Apprenticeships

    Facts on Apprenticeships

    Are you young and still in high school? Maybe you’re finished school and are looking for a new direction? Or, you are already working and looking for a career that suits you better?

    If any of this applies to you, an apprenticeship could be what you’ve been looking for. Thousands of people like you register as apprentices every year. Why? It’s simple. An apprenticeship is your ticket to a challenging and rewarding career in skilled trades.

    RESPECT
    Skilled trades play an important role in Canada’s knowledge-based economy. Think about it. They touch almost every aspect of our lives from the homes we live in, to the cars we drive, to the food we eat.

    OPPORTUNITY
    With over 200 careers to choose from, there is a skilled trade for everyone. The demand is high, you get to travel, and you could become your own boss!

    GOOD PAY
    Tradespeople are rewarded with great pay – often better than average!

    The BARE FACTS on Apprenticeship Training
    Apprenticeship is a form of post-secondary education like university or college. But there’s a big difference. Apprentices not only learn skills in
    a classroom, but receive paid on-the-job training with an employer.

    • Depending on the trade, an apprenticeship can take two to five years to complete.
    • Apprentices usually spend 40 to 44 weeks a year on the job and go to school for six to eight weeks.
    • Apprentices must find an employer and may need to pay tuition fees for in-school training.
    • Apprentices earn a salary on the job from their first day.
    • Apprentices receive a Certificate of Qualification in a designated trade.

    Did You Know?
    Pre-apprenticeship training is available in some regions. These work placements allow students who are still in high school to get a running start on their careers in skilled trades – not to mention earn school credits at the same time!

    Work Anywhere in Canada!
    Depending on their trade, apprentices who have obtained their certificate can write an inter-provincial exam to obtain a Red Seal endorsement and practice their trade across the country.

    • The “Red Seal” allows qualified tradespersons to practice the trade in any province or territory in Canada where the trade is designated without having to write further examinations.
    • To date, there are forty-five trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national basis.

  • What is “Red Seal”? Why is it Important?

    What is “Red Seal”? Why is it Important?

    What is the Red Seal Program?
    The Red Seal Program is Canada’s standard of excellence for skilled trades. Obtaining a Red Seal endorsement acknowledges a journeyperson’s competence and quality workmanship, and facilitates recognition of his/her trade certification across Canada. Upon successful completion of a Red Seal examination, the endorsement is affixed to the provincial or territorial trade certificate. To date, there are fifty-five occupations included in the Red Seal Program.

    What are the benefits of the Red Seal?
    The Red Seal provides confidence to both employers and consumers that a tradesperson is skilled and knowledgeable. It is widely recognized and respected by the trades industry across Canada. A Red Seal endorsement is an employment advantage that opens the door to job opportunities, higher wages, sustaining employment, and career advancement.

    How to obtain a Red Seal?
    To obtain a Red Seal endorsement, a candidate must pass the Red Seal examination administered by a provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority. Red Seal examinations are trade-specific and cover the skills and knowledge required in the trade. The examinations are used to determine whether apprentices and tradespersons meet the Canadian standard. To qualify to write a Red Seal examination, a tradesperson must have completed one of the following:
    1. Graduated from a recognized provincial or territorial apprenticeship training program;
    2. Obtained a journeyperson level Certificate of Qualification from a province or territory;
    3. Provided confirmation of the requisite time and experience working in a Red Seal trade.

    What other benefits come from enrolling in a “Red Seal” Trade Apprenticeship?
    You have probably heard the radio commercials from the Government of Canada recently about the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant program. Right now there is a very high demand for tradespeople of all varieties. This is why the Government of Canada created the Incentive Program to attract people to learn a trade.

    That’s right – you can get paid twice to learn a trade, instead of running up high tuition bills while you learn! To learn more about the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant Program, please visit www.red-seal.ca or the HRSDC website.

  • Types of Careers in Trades

    Types of Careers in Trades

    Are you wondering what types of careers are available to you in the trades sector? There is literally thousands to choose from. Check out just a few of the careers we found on CareersInTrades.ca!

    Construction
    Construction and Maintenance is the best known skilled trades sector. These jobs are available across Canada in both urban and rural areas. Some of its apprenticeable trades are:
    – Bricklayer
    – Heavy equipment operator
    – Painter and decorator
    – Ironworker
    – Mechanic
    – Plumber
    – Welder

    Transportation
    Transportation trades cover vehicles ranging from automobiles and motorcycles to airplanes and cranes. These jobs are anywhere vehicles can be found, which can be a farm, an airport, a harbour or any street! Some of the apprenticeship trades include:
    – Agricultural Equipment Technician
    – Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic
    – Auto Body Repairer
    – Motorcycle Mechanic
    – Transport Trailer Technician

    Manufacturing
    Manufacturing trades can lead to careers in many different sectors, including cars, textiles and even food production. These careers can secure a job in many manufacturers and bring you to the root of product development. Some of the apprenticeable trades include:
    – Automotive Machinist
    – Graphic Arts (Pre-Press, Press and Bindery)
    – Industrial Electrician
    – Power System Operator
    – Sawfiler/Fitter
    – Tool and Die Maker

    Service
    The service sector offers jobs for those interested in working more closely with the public. From chefs to hairstyling, this sector offers many career opportunities. Some of the apprenticeable trades include:
    – Arboriculturist
    – Baker
    – Barber
    – Graphic Arts Technician
    – Hairstylist
    – Jeweler and Goldsmith
    – Upholsterer